She was born in Wiesbaden, Germany and grew up in Sacramento, California. Her major in college was in quantitative economics. An accomplished dancer, she has performed with the Sacramento Ballet Company and the Jazz Unlimited Dance Company. She also models for the Lands' End company, and broke into acting during a trip around Europe. She said of the experience: "A few years ago, I was traveling in Europe modeling and starred in commercial over there in Italy and France." Nevertheless she has not abandoned modelling entirely, saying "I still do it when I can."