LeeAnne Locken

LeeAnne Locken, born on June 7, 1967, in Pasadena, Texas, was raised by her grandparents in Houston. Her early life included working in the carnival business from age three to sixteen. After graduating from J. Frank Dobie High School in 1985, she attended the University of Houston before moving to Chicago to pursue modeling and later to Los Angeles for acting. Her acting career features roles in films such as “My Best Friend Is a Vampire” (1987) and “Miss Congeniality” (2000), as well as television series like “Walker, Texas Ranger” (2001) and “GCB” (2012). She also appeared in “Broken Vessels” (1999), “Rain” (2006), “Beyond the Farthest Star” (2015), and “Carter High” (2015).

Locken’s career also includes a notable modeling and pageant history. At age 19, she began modeling and competed in the Miss Texas USA pageant in 1988, where she placed third. The following year, at age 22, she won Miss Arizona USA 1989 and subsequently placed in the top 10 at the Miss USA 1989 pageant. This foundation in competitive modeling contributed to her public profile. Her television career expanded into reality shows, beginning with “She’s Got the Look” in 2009, where she was a contestant. This was followed by a recurring role on “Big Rich Texas” from 2012 to 2013, where she represented the charity The Fashionistas. From 2016 to 2020, Locken was a main cast member on Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Dallas” for four seasons, which heightened her national recognition.

Beyond entertainment, Locken is involved in philanthropy and has authored two books. She has supported organizations such as the SPCA of Texas, AIDS Services Dallas, The Fashionistas, DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS, and the Housing Crisis Center. Her published works include “What’s Your Status?: Finding Your Way to a More Positive Life One Day at a Time!” (2012) and “Color Me Crazy: Adult Coloring Book” (2018). Locken has also hosted television programs like “Beautiful You HDTV” and “Luxury Dallas,” and served as an executive producer and director for these series. In 2019, she married Rich Emberlin. Locken openly discusses her past experiences with domestic abuse and mental health struggles, advocating for others through her platform.