New York City and raised in Harlem's Abraham Lincoln NYCHA housing complex, Underwood's interest in entertainment was sparked in childhood. First appearing in local fashion shows and being cast in commercials, Underwood landed a supporting role in the 1998 film The 24 Hour Woman, but caught her big break with a voiceover role as Fuchsia Glover in Bill Cosby s Nick Jr. show Little Bill.

In 2005, Underwood returned to Nickelodeon for All That s tenth and final season, but faded from the spotlight soon after, eventually creating cause for concern due to her erratic behavior, bouts with homelessness, and drug abuse.

In 2023, fellow Nickelodeon alum Angelique Bates called for Underwood's friends and peers in the industry to intervene in the fallen star's downward spiral.  I don't know what the whole situation is,  Bates said at the time.

 You don't know if there's addiction. You don't know if there's mental illness. You don't know what is at play right now,  she said, adding that fundraising wouldn't be enough.  There has to be a plan to make sure that they're getting all the proper assistance. 

In addition to Little Bill and All That, Underwood's credits include a voiceover role as Dakota in the animated TV movie Santa Baby and a minor appearance in Death Of A Dynasty, Damon Dash's 2003 film inspired by the fall of Roc-A-Fella Records and a foreshadowing of his eventual split with Jay-Z.