One of the head shots I sent to
Playboy to be considered for a Playmate

One of my modeling photos
I sent to Playboy

An outtake from my Playmate pictorial
Photo by Stephen Wayda

Although writing was a lot of fun, I realized at the age of 17 that I was impatient for a career. Or at least one where I made more money! Having already moved out of my parents' home, I packed up and set off for California with one thing on my mind: work. After about a month in Los Angeles, I posed in my first magazine and pounded the pavement for mostly commercial and print auditions -- I hadn't branched out into TV yet. One of my auditions was for Playboy's Book of Lingerie -- but I was rejected! There was a lot of competition, and I decided that before committing to it full time, I should try the professional, "real" career avenue first.

While growing up, I'd always wanted to attend college. But I moved out at the age of 15, and that made the process a little more complicated. I thank my mother for letting me be independent -- there was no stopping me! I looked for work once again in a more mainstream field. It was always a dream to go to an Ivy League school, but I had to focus on the immediate future.

I had toyed with the thought of posing for Playboy; the photos seemed so glamorous. But no one else I knew supported the idea at the time -– of course, these were usually boyfriends! My high school boyfriend was adamant I could never pose in the magazine, and another boyfriend insisted I get cosmetic surgery first (to be specific, breast enhancement) and then submit photos. Not very encouraging.

Back in Arizona, I was hired by one of the largest mutual fund companies in the country, the Vanguard Group, as a financial representative. Soon I became the youngest person at the company to become licensed. Although it was a great position for someone without a college degree, I started evaluating other avenues that could change my career entirely. I loved the company but couldn't stand the cubicle. Shortly thereafter, with my mother's support, I mailed some shots from my modeling portfolio -- including one topless photo -- to Playboy.

This idea turned into something big. A few months later, Playboy called and flew me out for a one-day test shoot in Santa Monica to become a Playmate. The follow-up call was promising, but with a request for me to gain 10 pounds (I weighed 100 pounds at the time, but I was still curvy).