She spent her formative years attending grammar school in Portland, Oregon, before her family relocated to Fort Worth, Texas, where she subsequently graduated from Fort Worth Polytechnic High School. Following her high school graduation, she made the bold decision to relocate to the iconic city of New York, with the ultimate goal of pursuing a career as a model. Her endeavors in the modeling industry were met with tremendous success, as she graced the cover of numerous national magazines, earning her the prestigious distinction of being selected as the model for the esteemed Chesterfield Girl. Her likeness was prominently featured on Chesterfield advertisements and billboards across the United States, cementing her status as a household name.
Her impressive modeling career was further solidified when she won the coveted "Miss America Aviation" crown in Birmingham, Alabama. This triumph led to her being hired as a hostess/model for the renowned Trans-World Airlines (TWA),before she was subsequently signed to a contract at the illustrious Paramount Pictures.