Ria is an actress and the daughter of veteran actress Sylvia Sanchez and businessman Art Atayde. She is a Communication Arts graduate from De La Salle University and assumed leadership in the University Student Government for two terms as batch president and executive secretary. During her term, Ria led the university’s donation drives, especially during calamities. In 2016, she volunteered with Save the Children in raising funds for children dying of hunger and malnutrition in Metro Manila and Southern Mindanao. In 2020, she is officially appointed as the children's rights organization’s ambassador.