Meet Lina Esco who played Christina Alonso in S.W.A.T.: Why did she leave?
Lina Esco who played Christina Alonso in S.W.A.T., is an American actress, director, and producer. She left the show after Season 5 to pursue other acting projects. Esco is also active in social activism, making her career both diverse and impactful. Find out what she is doing now.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- Profile summary
- Meet Lina Esco who played Christina Alonso in S.W.A.T.
- Lina Esco's net worth
- Who played Officer III Christina Alonso?
- Is Tan from S.W.A.T. married in real life?
- Who is the new lady on S.W.A.T. season 8?
- Fun facts about Lina Esco
Key takeaways
- Lina Esco is an American actress, director, producer, and former model.
- She is best known for playing Officer III Christina “Chris” Alonso on S.W.A.T.
- The actress continues to work in film and television while keeping her personal life relatively private.
Profile summary
| Full name | Lina Esco |
| Gender | Female |
| Famous as | Officer Chris from S.W.A.T. |
| Birthdate | May 14, 1985 |
| Age | 40 years (as of 2025) |
| Zodiac sign | Taurus |
| Birthplace | Miami, Florida, USA |
| Residence | Los Feliz, Los Angeles, USA |
| Alma mater | Colegio Bolívar in Cali, Colombia |
| Profession | Actress, director, producer, and former model |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Ancestral roots | Hispanic |
| Marital status | Single |
| Sexuality | Bi-sexual |
| Height | 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) |
| Weight | 127 lbs. (58 kg) |
| Body measurements | 35-25-35 inches |
| Eye color | Hazel |
| Hair color | Brown |
| Famous TV appearance | S.W.A.T (2017 to 2022) |
| Role | Officer Christine “Chris” Alonso |
Meet Lina Esco who played Christina Alonso in S.W.A.T.
Lina Esco is an American actress, director, producer, and former model. She played Chris Alonso in S.W.A.T. and has been featured in numerous magazines as a model. She has also landed diverse roles in both films and television shows.
How old is Lina Esco?
Lina Esco's age is 40 years as of 2025. The actress was born on May 14, 1985.
Where was Lina Esco born?
Lina was born and raised in Miami, Florida, USA. Lina left home at age 15 and moved to France to pursue her acting dream.
What ethnicity is Lina Esco?
Lina has American nationality, white ethnicity, and Hispanic heritage.
Educational background
Lina attended Colegio Bolívar (a private, non-denominational, American school) in Cali, Colombia.
Source: Original
Career history
Her acting career began with a role in the 2005 independent feature film London as Kelly. Lina starred alongside Chris Evans, Jason Statham, and Jessica Biel in the production.
In 2006, she appeared in CSI: NY as Angie Watson and in one episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation as Angela Paulson in 2009.
Lina also played Janice alongside Demi Moore and Miley Cyrus in the romantic-comedy film LOL (2012).
Lina Esco on S.W.A.T. as Chris
Esco joined S.W.A.T in 2017 as Christina ‘Chris’ Alonso, a strict officer and the only female S.W.A.T. teammate on Sgt. Daniel "Hondo" Harrison’s team.
S.W.A.T. is an American crime drama series based on the 1975 TV series S.W.A.T.
The show premiered on CBS on November 2, 2017, and Lina appeared in five seasons and 106 episodes of the show.
What episode of S.W.A.T. did Lina Esco direct?
The actress talked about her experiences while directing Episode 99 of S.W.A.T. The episode was about a widower seeking justice after losing his wife and son to organ transplants done wrong or that had been denied.
Leaving S.W.A.T.
The show gave viewers the green light that the actress was leaving towards the end of the fifth season, where Sniper Christine “Chris” Alonso was seen turning in her badge.
Lina gave her a heartfelt send-off during the season five finale and wrote a farewell message on social media. Part of it read:
Bringing to life a strong, smart, bi-sexual character like Chris Alonso has been both a pleasure and a powerful opportunity to increase visibility for diverse women everywhere.
Source: Getty Images
Why did Lina Esco leave S.W.A.T?
In May 2022, Esco posted on social media that she was leaving the show to pursue new creative endeavors. The last part of her farewell message read:
Five years later, I am leaving S.W.A.T. to pursue new creative endeavors. Chris never backs down from the unknown and as an actor and director, I’m excited to step out of my comfort zone and embark on a new chapter, too.
Did Lina Esco return to S.W.A.T. season 7?
Lina Esco, who portrayed Christina "Chris" Alonso on S.W.A.T., departed the series after Season 5 to pursue other opportunities. Despite fan interest and discussions among the show's creators, Esco did not return for the seventh season.
Executive producer Shemar Moore expressed a desire to have her back, but as of now, there has been no official confirmation of her return.
Who replaced Lina Esco on S.W.A.T.?
As of September 2025, CBS has not introduced a new character to replace Christina "Chris" Alonso following Lina Esco's departure after Season 5. Instead, the show has chosen to focus on other characters and their development.
Lina Esco's movies and TV shows
The actress has been featured in the following hit films and TV projects since 2005:
Movies
| Year | Title | Role |
| 2005 | London | Kelly |
| 2008 | The Evening Journey | Maria |
| 2010 | Kingshighway | Lena Capriolini |
| 2010 | Where the Road Meets the Sun | Natasha |
| 2011 | Low Fidelity | TBA |
| 2012 | LOL | Janice |
| 2014 | Free the N*pple | With |
| 2016 | Fairy Dust | Lorna |
| 2026 | The Rip | Captain Jackie Velez |
Television
| Year | Title | Role |
| 2006 | CSI: NY | Angie Watson |
| 2007 | Cane | Katie Vega |
| 2008 | Heroes: Destiny | Elisa |
| 2009 | Drop Dead Diva | Lina Martinez |
| 2009 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Angela Paulson |
| 2011 | Exit Strategy | Mia |
| 2016 | Flaked | Kara |
| 2016 | Kingdom | Ava Flores |
| 2017–2022 | S.W.A.T. | Christina "Chris" Alonso |
Producer credits
| Year | Title | Genre |
| 2022 | S.W.A.T (Episode 99) | TV series |
| 2012 | Free The N*pple | Movie |
| 2010 | The Cove PSA: My Friend Is... | Documentary |
Production and directing
Lina produced a documentary titled The Cove: My Friend is... in 2010 to create awareness about the inhumane mass killing of dolphins in Taiji, Japan.
The massive hunting of dolphins is a major economic activity in the Japanese coastal village of Taiji.
The actress also directed the 2012 Free the N*pple movie to advocate for gender equality and freedom for women to not have to cover their upper body parts in public, just like men.
IFC bought the movie and released it in December 2014 in theatres. After that, the film premiered on Netflix in June 2015.
Source: Getty Images
Lina Esco's music videos
The actress appeared in Sinéad O'Connor’s music video, Jealous, and Halo’s Amalgam video in 2010. Sinéad is an Irish singer-songwriter, while Halos is a London-based modern, soul, and RnB music band. She was also part of American singer Southside's Clix video, among others.
Lina Esco's net worth
The actresses' net worth is unknown. She earns income through acting, producing, and directing various films.
TV advertisements
Esco was featured in the Ketel One ad campaign, Gentlemen, This is Vodka, directed by Academy Award Nominee David O. Russell on May 16, 2011. The actress was also featured in the NFL Women’s Apparel Collection TV advertisement in 2013.
Activism
Lina Esco's Free the N*pple Movement is a global campaign group advocating for equality, empowerment, and freedom for all genders.
The actress co-founded The Human Campaign with Trevor Neilson. The initiative champions equal rights for all genders. It also supports rights for sexes as explicitly stated in the U.S. Constitution.
She created a non-profit organization called Crossing Borders. After that, Lina helped her former co-star Miley Cyrus create the Happy Hippy Foundation in 2014. Miley Cyrus' foundation helps homeless transgender youth.
Esco also campaigned to overturn Cyntoia Brown's December 2018 murder conviction. Cyntoia was convicted of robbing and killing Johnny Michael Allen at age 16. Her initial sentence of 51 years was reduced to 15 years.
Lina Esco and Harvey Weinstein's abuse case
Lina was among over 40 women who accused film producer Harvey Weinstein of harassment in October 2017. Weinstein established the Miramax Films Corporation with his brother in 1979.
The company has produced numerous commercial hit films, including Pulp Fiction, Good Will Hunting, Shakespeare in Love, and My Left Foot.
According to the actress, she met Weinstein through a mutual friend in 2010. He allegedly pressed her for a kiss shortly after their meeting.
Other women who accused Weinstein of sexual harassment over the years were actresses Cara Delevingne, Ashley Judd, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Angelina Jolie. Weinstein is currently incarcerated at Rikers Island, awaiting retrial for the New York charges.
Source: Facebook
Who is Lina Esco married to in real life?
Lina Esco is not married and does not have a wife. Her partner was hairstylist Agnese Cabala. In 2023, she shared a photo of them kissing during Pride Month. There is no official confirmation about their relationship.
Another well-known Lina Esco’s partner was Fabrice Gautier. They dated in 2010. She is currently believed to be single.
The pairing of Lina Esco and Kenny Johnson on S.W.A.T. led some fans to speculate they were romantically linked. However, the two actors did not date.
Is Lina Esco LGBTQ?
Sniper Christine “Chris” Alonso of S.W.A.T is bisexual. Lina took up this role because it reflects who she is. The actress is bisexual in real life and is open about it.
Where does Lina Esco live?
Lina Esco is originally from Miami, Florida, but she now resides in Los Angeles, United States. She grew up in Miami before relocating to Los Angeles to advance her acting career.
How tall is Lina Esco?
Lina Esco's height is 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm). She weighs around 58kg (127 lbs.) and her body measurements are 35-25-35 inches. Lina's hair is brown, and her eyes are hazel.
What is Lina Esco doing now?
As of 2025, Lina Esco is active in film and activism. She will appear in Netflix’s The RIP with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. She signed with Buchwald agency in 2025. Esco continues her advocacy work with Free the N*pple and The Human Campaign, promoting social justice and equality.
Who played Officer III Christina Alonso?
Lina Esco played Officer III Christina “Chris” Alonso on S.W.A.T.. She appeared in multiple seasons. Fans know her for portraying a skilled and dedicated S.W.A.T. team member.
Source: Getty Images
Is Tan from S.W.A.T. married in real life?
David Lim, who plays Tan, is not publicly known to be married. He keeps his personal life private.
Who is the new lady on S.W.A.T. season 8?
As of 2025, CBS has not officially announced a new female cast member for S.W.A.T. season 8. Fans are speculating, but no confirmed information is available.
Fun facts about Lina Esco
- Lina was among the 16 top models selected worldwide for a Louis Vuitton Jewelry advertisement in January 2011.
- Esco has a dog called Ogee.
- Actress Lina likes boxing and has been practicing it for eight years. The skill helped her train for her role in S.W.A.T.
- The actress believes in the power of meditation and has been practising transcendental meditation for over a decade.
- Celebrities like Courtney Love and Miley Cyrus posted shirtless on social media to support her Free The N*pple campaign.
- She starred in one episode of Drop Dead Diva as a lingerie model who got fired for publicly sharing her mammary cancer survival story.
- Esco attended Audience Network’s Midnight Snack on Fullscreen in 2017, where guests removed clothes on camera while being interviewed.
Lina Esco who played Christina Alonso in S.W.A.T., is a hardworking and dedicated actress. She acts, directs, and appears in music videos. She also advocates for gender equity. Her career shows her talent, passion, and commitment to making an impact.
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