Her first big break in TV came with a guest shot on the popular series "Baywatch." The next day, talent agent Wendi Green tracked her down at home to sign her. Not long after, she auditioned for Aaron Spelling, who cast her in the role of Ashley in the series "Malibu Shores."

      Carpenter was born in Las Vegas, and lived there until she was 15, when her family moved to Mexico. She had studied classical ballet since the age of 5, and pursued dance as part of her high-school curriculum by commuting between Mexico and the US to take classes in San Diego at the School of the Creative and Performing Arts. She seriously considered ballet as a vocation.

      After graduating from high school, she traveled through Europe, then returned and moved in with her brother in San Diego, working in a variety of jobs to support herself through junior college. she worked in a video store, as an aerobics instructor, in property management and as a waitress, the job that ultimately led to her acting career.

      Offscreen, the brunette beauty continues to dance and is a former San Diego Charger Girl cheerleader. She enjoys rollerblading, sky diving, rock climbing, horseback riding and aerobics, as well as traveling and cooking. What a gal.