Leeann Tweeden Pictures

Leeann Velez Tweeden was born June 13, 1973, in Manassas, Virginia.

The Osbourn Park Senior High graduate headed to Colorado Springs to try her hand -- or her body -- at a modeling career. Fresh out of school, Leeann got a job at Hooters, and allegedly deferred her acceptance to Harvard in order to concentrate on modeling full-time.

Finally, 2 years after moving out to Colorado, Leeann won the Venus International Model Search contest in 1992. The aspiring model/actress headed west to Los Angeles, and made her television debut for Tony Little, the Venus Model Search fitness trainer.

While modeling for Frederick's of Hollywood in 1993, Leeann paid homage to her modeling roots as the video and TV host of the 1993 Venus Model Search. She later returned to co-host the event in 1994, and was the host of the 1995, 1996 and 1997 finals.

Her work with Venus Model Search helped her land her first magazine cover, as she graced the cover of Swimwear USA Magazine. Although Leeann is said to not have worked with Hooters for a long period of time, her relationship with the restaurant chain did extend for several years. Leeann appeared in the 1993 and 1994 Hooters Calendar, as well as the 1994 Hooters card set and Women of the World card set that same year.