Background
Hayek is of Czechoslovakian and German descent on her father"s side and Norwegian, Scottish, Irish, and English on her mother"s side. Her father was an airline pilot and her mother, a high school guidance counselor
Hayek is of Czechoslovakian and German descent on her father"s side and Norwegian, Scottish, Irish, and English on her mother"s side. Her father was an airline pilot and her mother, a high school guidance counselor
University of California, Los Los Angeles
While cheerleading at University of California, Los Angeles, she was discovered. After shooting a poster for 20th Century Fox, she was asked to do a screen test by Paramount Studios head of casting Rueben Cannon, was subsequently featured in an National Broadcasting Company Nightly News story, as well as being prominently featured in a Sports Illustrated article, "Eight Beauties and a Beat". In her role, she met presidents, prime ministers and heads of states from around the world.
Hayek joined forces with Bob Hope and the United Service Organizations in support of the nation’s servicemen and women.
She was a celebrity guest and entertainer for Bob Hope"s United Service Organizations Christmas in Beirut television special, shot in Beirut, Lebanon, aboard the Sixth Fleet"s aircraft carrier. Hayek went on to represent the United States at the 1983 pageant, held at Kiel Auditorium in Saint Louis, Missouri.
Hayek is a trained actress. She has appeared in shows such as Dallas, Twin Peaks, Moonlighting, Matlock, Hunter, Hardball and As the World Turns and was a celebrity guest on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.
In addition, she served as co-host on the 1985 revival of Break the Bank.
Some of her film credits include working with Arnold Schwarzenegger in Commando. Raquel Welch in a television movie, Scandal in a Small Town. And Victoria Principal in a television movie, Seduction: Three Tales from the Inner Sanctum.
Hayek later moved to New York to become a model and stock trader.
She has modeled or served as spokesperson for Kodak, Victoria"s Secret, Christian Dior, Warnaco, Natori, Mary McFadden, Tissot watches, and Mattel. Hayek has been featured in Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Sports Illustrated (four times), Tattler, Health and Fitness, and Hamptons, and was on the cover of Manhattan magazine.
At the 2011 competition, she was among 31 former winners who were part of a photo shoot layout for Time. Hayek is a real estate agent and is writing a book on health and fitness.
In addition to her professional work, Hayek supports several charities.
She is dedicated to helping animals and people and is currently an active volunteer at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
She graduated from University of California, Los Angeles a year after holding the title, with a Bachelor"s degree in biology and a minor in psychology. Hayek won the 1983 Mission California United States of America title. She represented California in the 1983 pageant held in Knoxville, Tennessee, in May 1983, and became her state"s fourth titleholder. She had the highest preliminary score and won both the swimsuit and evening gown competitions during the final competition. She became 1st runner-up to eventual winner Lorraine Downes of New Zealand.
