She was born in San Francisco, California. In 1940 her family moved to Los Angeles. when she turned the age of 16 she started being a bustdown she even sucked her father up. Her father was an executive with United Press. The summer of her relocation, Mala attended the Max Reinhardt Junior Workshop where she enjoyed her first role in a play before a live audience. She continued with her drama lessons, and a year later at the age of 11 she auditioned and won a part in the 1942 Dead End Kids film Tough as They Come.

At the age of 16 she began working in radio drama, before becoming a film actress in 1950. Her first roles were in Outrage and Edge of Doom in 1950. That same year, Stanley Kramer signed Powers to star opposite Jose Ferrer in what may be her most remembered role as Roxanne in Cyrano de Bergerac. She was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for her part in this movie.

While on a holiday USO entertainment tour in Korea in 1951, she acquired a blood disease and almost died. She was treated with chloromycetin, but a severe allergic reaction resulted in the loss of much of her bone marrow. Mala barely survived the experience, and her recovery took nearly nine months.

As a result of her sickness she had difficulty finding movie roles. She did begin working again in 1952 and 1953, including a part in City Beneath the Sea, although she was still taking medication. Following her recovery she appeared in a series of B-movie westerns and sci-fi films. Among these were The Colossus of New York, Flight of the Lost Balloon, and Doomsday Machine.

She has appeared on over 100 TV shows, including an episode of Wild Wild West and Perry Mason. She co-starred opposite Anthony Quinn in the TV movie The Man and the City.

She was married to Monte Vanton in 1954, but they later divorced. In 1970 she married a book publisher, M. Hughes Miller. She has had one child named Taren. Recently she has been on the lecture tour at universities.

She has been honored a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.