Raised in Moorestown in southern New Jersey and graduated from the Bishop Eustace Preparatory School.
Her father served on the Miss America national pageant's board of directors when she won the title, but he was on a leave of absence during the time of the pageant. The judges, none of whom had ever met her father, stood firm on their decision.
She has two kittens, Howark Roark and Vivvie.
Miss America 1998.
Is playing the part of Vivienne Thelma Kensington in the upcoming
Broadway musical "Legally Blonde: The Musical", opening on Broadway
April 29, 2007.
After completion of her year as Miss America, graduated from Northwestern University in 1999 with a bachelor's degree in Theatre/Music Theatre. Has done graduate level work at NYU and UCLA.
During her year as Miss America, focused on official lecture appearances
for HIV/AIDS awareness and education. Participated in and chaired a
session at a conference at the World Health Organization in Geneva,
Switzerland.