Gomez-Preston was born in Detroit to a Puerto Rican American mother, Cheryl Gomez, and an African-American father, Bennett Preston. She has a younger brother named Kyle.



When Gomez-Preston was young her mother worked for the Detroit Police Department. Cheryl Gomez was one of the first women assigned to street patrol. Due to verbal abuse, written racist epithets, death threats, and a commanding officer expressing interest in a relationship with her, she quit, and filed a sexual harassment suit against the Detroit Police Department, which she won, receiving an award somewhere between $800,000 and $1.2 million. After this Cheryl Gomez moved the family to Philadelphia. There Gomez-Preston was enrolled in acting, dancing, and singing lessons at Philadelphia's Freedom Theatre. Her parents eventually divorced. In 1994, she moved from Philadelphia to Los Angeles with her mother and Kyle, so that Gomez-Preston could pursue an acting career.



Gomez-Preston is a writer of feature films, with her own business and production company. Cheryl Gomez lives in California, where she and her daughter run Chery Creative Concepts.com. Gomez-Preston's father, Bennett Preston, is a medical examiner/pathologist in Philadelphia.



Gomez-Preston began her career in The Parent 'Hood, as Zaria Peterson. She guest starred on UPN's One on One as Flex's younger sister/Brianna's Aunt. She also played Francine opposite Holly Robinson Peete in the short-lived UPN sitcom, Love Inc. She is also a former cast member of The Amanda Show.



She has been featured in King magazine twice, first in the September 2003-October 2003 issue, and again in the December 2006-January 2007 issue. She was one of five cover girls in her second appearance.



She also appeared in music videos "Sorry 2004" by Ruben Studdard, "No Better Love" by Young Gunz, and "Whatever You Like" by T.I.



She is currently in the animated series The Cleveland Show as Roberta Tubbs, Cleveland's stepdaughter. Gomez-Preston replaced actress Nia Long.