Q: What motivated you to become a newscaster?

A: Interviewing Matt Dillon when I was in 8th grade! I was an extra in his movie Liar's Moon, filmed near Houston. I introduced myself to his manager, explained that I was a reporter for my junior high school paper an desperately needed an interview. A week later I was having lunch with Matt. Of course, it took a lot more interviews to earn an anchor seat at FOX4.

Q: How did you prepare for your career?

A: I prepared just like anyone else would, who is passionate about what they do. I wanted it badly enough to ignore 97 rejections before landing my first job, "Heather with the Weather" in Yakima, Washington. I have a degree in behavioral sciences and a master's in TV and film. I also served in several internships while in college.

Q: You've been honored with many prestigious awards. Do accolades increase or decrease pressure on you as a professional?

A: I call it "personal motivation." I have always wanted to be the best I can be and it's probably my best and worst attribute. I want things to be perfect, but there's no such thing and that's extremely frustrating for me.

Q: With your public persona, do you ever feel your privacy is diminished? And, if so, is that just part of the terriotory or can it become burdensome?

A: Sure, anytime a person is a public figure, part of their private life is taken away. But that doesn't mean you can't have any private life at all. People seem to recognize me. I don't see that as a burden, I see it as a job security. That means they watch FOX4. So please, recognize me!

Q: What do you consider the greatest advantage, and conversely, disadvantage to celebrity?

A: I don't consider myself a celebrity. I just happen to have a careeer that puts me in front of a lot of people. The biggest disadvantage is that when I whave a bad hair day, a lot of people know it! The advantage is the voice that my profession gives me.

Q: Professionally speaking, do you subscribe to, "We've come a long way, Baby"? Or do you consider yours still a male-dominated industry?

A: I have been fortunate to have worked with some very strong men and women, and have learned something from all of them. The objective is to bring diversity to a newsroom through the eyes of men, women, African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians, etc. and I think television news is doing that.

Q: Whom do you credit as being a pioneer for women in your industry?

A: Barbara Walters who interviews like no one else, Christiane Amanpour who truly is grace under pressure, and Oprah who has gone where no woman has gone before.

Q: How do you blalance family and career?

A: I have never married and have no children, but it would be great to take that step one day. I truly admire those who can manage raising children and working. Those people are inspirational, especially the single moms and dads.

Q: Speak to career women versus career men when it comes to family responsibilities.

A: In any relationship, there has to be equality, however that couple defines equality. A stay-at-home parent has one of the most important jobs in the world. Just because the other parent leaves the home to go to work, makes that person's job no more or less important. It's all give and take. What works for one family, might not work for another.

Q: You obviously take great care of yourself. How do you manage the trilogy of body, mind and soul with such a demanding schedule? Exercise, food choices, relaxation, spirituality...

A: I thank my grandmother and parents for good genes. They gave me a great foundation, but the rest is up to me. I work out with an amazing trainer and my dad and I are training for the Rockwall Triathlon this summer. I'm a firm believer in getting plenty of sleep whenever I can. I love to travel...nothing better than a sunny beach with a great look!

Q: So often immersed in "bad news," how do you maintain your perspective and a healthy outlook on humankind?

A: Sure, it would be easy to become bitter and angry at negativity and sadness in the world, but who wants to live like that? Why not take our experiences and try to make things better? I don't want to sound like a Pollyanna, I just believe we can all make a difference.

Q: Give us the skinny on your fashion sense, beauty routines and the "maintenance" demands of your public image.

A: FOX tends to let us dress a little more edgy, which is great! I love color and fabulous jewelry, so I have fun with those trends. On weekends you'll catch me in a pair of jeans - not a suit. My beauty routine is all about getting lots of sleep, drinking lots of water, and washing my face before bed. Some viewers like me as a blonde, some a brunette. I try to please them all therefore, I have a standing date every four weeks with my hairstylist.

Q: What luxury item would you take with you to Survivor?

A: I know it's totally 80's, but a "chip clip" for my hair.

Q: Confess a personal vice.

A: I am addicted to chips and salsa.

Q: What's your most outrageous indulgence?

A: I have a chip clip from a wonderful uptown boutique that cost $50. It's covered in gorgeous stones. I know it was a lot of money, but it spoke to me!

Q: Share a little-known fact about yourself.

A: My favorite store is Home Depot. I love spending weekends doing things around my house. I shop at Home Depot in the morning, go home to do a project, then go back to Home Depot to buy what I need to fix what I messed up! Let's just say, I am not much of a do-it-yourselfer.

Q: Favorite words of wisdom or life mantra?

A: I try to follow that feeling in my stomach. Too often we ignore our own intuition.