FACTOIDS
Full Name: Tara Lipinski
Nickname: Tara
Birthday: June 10, 1982
Hometown: Sugar Land, Texas
Sports: Figure Skating
PROFILE
As an amateur skater, Tara Lipinski was the best in the world; graceful on the ice, friendly away from it, and always the media darling that America could warm up to. She has appeared in Sports Illustrated, did Leno and the Today show, and even stretched her acting muscle with stints on soap operas, sitcoms, and dramas like Touched by an Angel. And this was all before her 21st birthday.
The remarkable success that Lipinski experienced during her teenage years was out of a storybook, as was the cash that came along with all the royalties. By the time she turned 20, Lipinski cashed in on more than $2 million worth of sponsorships and endorsements, made her way through the professional ranks on different tours (including Skate TV and Stars On Ice), and recovered from excruciating hip surgery to rebound and return to the professional skating tour.
Lipinski also took advantage of her icon status. America's Sweetheart -- who once scooped up teddy bears on the rink -- has become savvy in business and in the public eye.
More recently, Lipinski made a cameo appearance on HBO's Arli$$ and appeared on VH1 Where Are They Now: On Ice. While it seems like acting might be her next career of chioce, she maintains that she wants to have fun no matter she is doing.
America's girl next door wouldn't have it any other way