Phina was born in Liverpool, England, to Nigerian parents.

She began her career as a fashion model. In London before she emigrated to NYC. She represented Gap for five years in the United States, and was featured as a cover model on many US magazines. But had a special relationship with Essence magazine and was often featured on its pages and doing a cover. She was discovered for the TV screen by British commercial turned film director Tony Kaye he featured her in many of his TV commercials and her desire to be an actress was born.

Phina started her acting career in the States after an education at the Actors Studio in Los Angeles. She is best known for her role of Liberty Baker in Footballers Wives for which she won a Screen Nations award. She has appeared in American and British television shows including Footballers Wives, The Bill, Nip/Tuck, Charmed, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Diagnosis, & Hollyoaks.