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. As one can see, 1994 was a hefty year for Leeann, who was bursting with offers. Who was next to come calling? None other than Hef himself, as Leeann made her Play boy cover girl debut. Since Leeann was a pro at modeling lingerie, the exotic beauty also appeared on the cover of Play boy's Book of Lingerie in November/December 1994. In 1997, Leeann moved on to a whole new genre of posing, as the model for the lead character in the comic book, Coven 13, courtesy of No Mercy Comics. That same year, she appeared in the Personal Watercraft Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and the Frederick's of Hollywood Model Calendars in 1997 and 1998, and modeled for Carushka Bodywear and the 1998 Leeann Tweeden Calendar.
Apart from holding the record for having graced the cover of Frederick's catalogue the most, Leeann has also maintained a working relationship for Play boy over the years, bearing more than her soul for the Bunny mag. Her work for Play boy includes: Girls of Summer (1995), Book of Lingerie (1996), Hardbodies (1996), Cover Girls (1997), Girls of Summer (1997), Book of Lingerie in October and December of 1998, and Barefoot Beauties (1999). Leeann has also made her presence felt on television, with an appearance on EdenQuest (co-starring Pamela Anderson), Star Search (in the model category), The Vicki Lawrence Show, Entertainment Tonight, and Jerry Springer. Her most respectable and biggest break to date was her role on ESPN2's (the network that made Kiana Tom famous) Fitness Beach, in 1996.
An avid dirt bike rider and traveler, Leeann spends January and May of every year announcing Motocross events for Pace Motorsports. While she has realized parts of her dreams, Leeann would love to become a female sportscaster. She does, however, have her own column for Racer X Illustrated, a motorcycle newspaper which also featured a layout of hers. Leeann hosts Bluetorch, a television show showcasing extreme sports such as surfing, snowboarding, and skateboarding. Covering everything from lingerie, playing cards and comics, to fitness and bikes, Leeann has been romantically involved with road racer Ben Bostrom and surfer Shane Dorian.
