I'm told I was extremely quiet and spent most of my time alone in my room drawing animals or Snoopy; I loved Snoopy. I used to show all my drawings to my parents. There were a few times my father accused me of tracing, which I took as a compliment. My favorite show was The Muppet Show; I even joined the fan club. I was really into Miss Piggy. I attended Christian school for third through seventh grade, even though we never went to church, and I was baptized Catholic.

In sixth grade, my art teacher was very encouraging. It was the first time that I was the teacher's pet. She told me that one day I was going to be an amazing artist, and entered me in a statewide art competition without telling me. One day she called my mother and told her she entered me and that I placed. I was so excited; I was thinking I got second or third, or even fourth would've been exciting. I won first place out of hundreds of entries. I got some money and a medal; it's hanging on my easel today.

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Me at age nine with my big brother, Bryan, in Boston where he grew up.

Me at two and a half years old -- look at that hair! For all the men who wanted to know if I am a natural blonde, this one is for you!

Me in third grade.

Age 11, practicing for the Dolphin Team, on which I swam for eight years.