Tiffany Michelle

Tiffany Michelle (born 1984) is an American actress, writer, television host, and professional poker player, named one of MAXIM's Top 20 Hottest Celebrity Poker Players.^[1]

Michelle is widely known for being the last woman to bust out at the 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event (televised on ESPN), and for competing as the only all-female team on the Emmy Award winning 15th season of The Amazing Race. She was also a series regular on season 4 of the Emmy nominated online soap opera series DeVanity,^[2] portraying villainess Scarlett Kane.

Born and raised in Los Angeles County, California, Michelle received formal training as an actress and worked extensively an on-camera host before she gained fame at the 2008 World Series of Poker. She was the "Last Woman Standing" in the 7-day WSOP Championship Event, finishing 17th from a field of 6,844 players. Her 17th-place finish broke the record for the largest field ever conquered by a female in live poker tournament history and earned her a payday of $334,534.^[3] She was later named one of the Top 10 Most Fascinating People in Poker of 2008.^[4]

In 2009, Michelle was invited to compete on the 15th season of the CBS competition reality show, The Amazing Race.^[5] She teamed up with her best friend, and fellow WSOP Last Woman Standing (2007) poker pro, Maria Ho. The two were known as the Poker Girls and finished just three episodes shy of the finish line finale, which was located in Las Vegas, Nevada. They were the season's only all-female team.

One of few poker personalities to cross over into mainstream media, Michelle has been featured on the covers of Steppin’ Out Magazine, Ocean View Magazine, Rounder Magazine, and Casino Player Magazine.

She has appeared on a several of television programs and reality shows, including Food Network's Worst Cooks in America,^[6] LA Ink, World Series of Blackjack, and as a recurring expert on the Fox Business Network.^[7] Notable acting credits include, Days of Our Lives , ER, American Dreams and DeVanity.

As a writer, Michelle's work has been featured as a sports columnist for All In Magazine, a lifestyle columnist for Bluff (magazine), an inspirational and relationship columnist for Converge Magazine, and in 2008 she co-authored a scripture reference book with her mother Merry Graham.

Career

Born and raised in Los Angeles County, it was while working as an actress that Tiffany got her start in poker, playing Hollywood house games with fellow actors, which included Zachary Levi and Joel David Moore. With a knowledge of poker, coupled with her television background she began booking jobs as an on-camera poker host and commentator.^[8]

In 2006, she was heard nationwide on Sirius Satellite Radio as an on-air reporter for Bluff Magazine's live broadcast of the 2006 WSOP. In 2007, she became the first ever female hired as the resident, and full-time on-camera host for Pokernews.com,.^[9] She traveled the poker circuit internationally providing tournament updates, player interviews and red carpet coverage for poker tournaments and events worldwide, on the European Poker Tour, World Poker Tour and World Series of Poker tours.

On the heels of her 2008 record-breaking WSOP finish, Michelle made another deep run at the World Poker Tour season 7 Borgata Poker Open Main Event. Over the next few years she continued to put up results in live and online tournaments, including three final tables in November 2010; two at the North American Poker Tour and one final table at the Heartland Poker Tour.

In 2009, she competed on season 15 of The Amazing Race. The show won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program, that season.

In 2012, she appeared alongside Bobby Flay as a competitor on season 3 of Worst Cooks in America, on the Food Network.

In 2013, she wrote, produced and starred in the short film Breaking Up and Away - also starring Zack Conroy and CariDee English.

In 2014, she was a series-regular (and resident villainess) on the Emmy nominated soap opera DeVanity.

In 2015, she returned to her on-camera poker hosting roots, as a guest host and sideline reporter for the Heartland Poker Tour.

Acting

Tiffany began acting in theatrical productions at the age of ten. She performed in several productions at the Lancaster Performing Arts Center, with roles in musical adaptations of Pinocchio, Beauty and The Beast, Cinderella, and played the starring role in Alice in Wonderland. She was recognized by the Missoula Children's Theatre, two years in a row, as one of their "Best Young Performers."^[10]

In her adolescence, she competed on the pageant circuit, winning the titles of Miss Teen Newhall (2000), Miss Teen Santa Clarita Valley (2001), and was voted Miss Congeniality at the 2001 Miss Teenage California pageant, where she was a Top 10 finalist.^[11]

While studying Theatre and Communications at College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, CA, Tiffany continued performing in stage plays, as well as spearheaded the school's Speech & Debate Team. As the Speech & Debate team captain she competed, primarily, in Individual Events and won trophies nationally for her Dramatic Interpretation and Prose Interpretation performances. After two-years with the C.O.C. theatre program, then studying with UCLA's Film & Television Department, she embarked on a film and television career, booking roles on ER, Guilty or Innocent, the 2002 remake of Family Affair and American Dreams.^[12]

One of Michelle's biggest roles, and most dramatic performances, came in 2005 when she starred opposite One Life to Live's David Fumero in the award winning independent film Carrie's Choice, based on a true story.^[13] The following year she landed a lead role in the horror film The Thirst: Blood War, starring Sean Connery's son, Jason Connery. The production was later halted and put on hold until 2008, at which point it was recast.

After a sabbatical from acting (2008–2012), Tiffany Michelle returned to the screen in early 2012 with appearances on Days of Our Lives and a guest-starring role on the award-winning soap opera series, DeVanity.^[14] In 2013, she wrote, produced and starred in the short film Breaking Up and Away. In 2014, Michelle return to the fourth and final season of DeVanity, as a series regular. She portrayed the resident villainess, Scarlett (Kane) DeVanity, the TV daughter of acclaimed Dallas (2012 TV series) actor Steve Kanaly.

Music

Tiffany Michelle is also a singer/songwriter. She plays piano and guitar and has performed at several legendary Hollywood music venues, including BB Kings, and Hotel Cafe.^[15] In 2010, Tiffany headlined a special collaborative music show with guest performances by celebrity music artists and friends, including Maria Ho, American Idol's Chikezie and 90210 actor, Ryan Eggold.

Reality Television

The Amazing Race

With notoriety as a female professional poker player, and competitive personality Tiffany has been invited to compete on a variety of reality shows. In 2009, she missed the World Series of Poker Main Event to film the 15th season of the CBS seven-time Emmy Award winning reality show The Amazing Race.^[16] Alongside best friend and fellow poker player, Maria Ho the two made up the season's only all-female team and they traveled to Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Dubai, and The Netherlands, exiting the competition in 6th place.^[17] The show won the Emmy Award that season for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program.

Worst Cooks in America

In 2012, Tiffany competed as one of 16 contestants on season three of Food Network's Worst Cooks in America. She was picked by chef Bobby Flay to compete as a member of his "Blue team." Tiffany won the Main Dish breakfast challenge in episode one^[18] as well as a pizza making Skill Drill in episode three.^[19] She made it down to the final three contestants on Bobby Flay's team and was sent home in episode six.^[20]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tiffany Michelle.

• Official site