Career
She represented her state at the Mission United States of America pageant televised live from Biloxi, Mississippi in 1980. Ford delivered a solid performance in the preliminary round of competition, and placed eighth among the top twelve semi-finalists who advanced to compete in the final night of the pageant. Ford performed consistently during the pageant, placing among the top five in each of the interview, swimsuit and evening gown competitions: her strongest showing was in the evening gown competition where she ranked second.
As the two competitions are allied, the two American beauties completed their respective reigns living in the same apartment in New York, provided as part of their prize package.
After passing on her crown to Kim Seelbrede in 1981, Ford went on to work in the entertainment industry. She joined KPNX 12 News in Phoenix in 1991 where she co-anchored 12 News Today and 12 News Midday.
She is also a business owner, having purchased the oldest log lodge in Arizona, restoring it and opening it back up for business. She left anchoring full-time at KPNX on January 2, 2007 in order to spend more time with her family and to take care of her business.