About Cherie

To anyone looking through her childhood photo albums, it isclear that Cherie exhibited aspirations of her future modeling career at an early age. "I was one of the smart kids, definitely not the prom queen type, but I was always fascinated with beauty pageants and shows like Star Search. I really wanted to be a teacher or a dancer. Then I auditioned for Teen Board in my junior year of high school. Teen Board was a program that gave teenagers the opportunity to perform in fashion shows at Burdines Department Stores. I didn't make the cut junior year, but I came back the following year and somehow got in. I guess you could say that's where I got 'discovered'."

Cherie was spotted by an up and coming photographer in the crowd named Scott Teitler (now a top fashion photographer). "Scott took some photos of me in which I looked a lot like Christie Brinkley, and it was the first time I ever saw myself as photogenic." Cherie didn't give much merit to the thought of modeling professionally. "I was an English major and a writer in school, and I wanted to go to college and become a teacher but didn't qualify to get a student loan, so I started working full-time, first at odd jobs and then as a secretary." But there was something she missed about the stage, and Cherie entered a couple of local pageants and modeling contests on weekends. "I used to stand in front of the local Lillie Rubin store window. I wished I could wear one of their gowns in a pageant, but I couldn't afford them. I never even dreamed that I would be modeling in their catalogs someday."

After two years of working as a secretary, Cherie felt it was time to quit her job. "By that time I knew I really wanted to try modeling instead of teaching. I also knew I would have to get by for at least a couple of months before getting any work as a model. So, I saved up and quit my job. It was definitely a long shot, but in the long run I think I made the right choice." She did. Within two months of modeling full time in South Beach, Miami, Cherie had appeared in Elle magazine and her client list was growing fast. "I spent two months in Barcelona, Spain, which was a great learning experience. I got to do a lot of traveling, something I never could have afforded on my own." Cherie soon appeared for the first time (out of three) in Cosmopolitan magazine. "Some of the breaks I got in the beginning were because of the modeling boom in South Beach, but I missed being on stage and kept doing pageants. I really wanted to be Miss Florida, but I only got as far as third runner-up. I didn't know at the time that bigger things were going to happen."

Ed McMahon?s Star Search had moved its studio from Los Angeles to MGM in Orlando, Florida, when they handpicked Cherie to compete as a Spokesmodel. "It was so exciting! I had watched that show since I was a little girl, and I had seen Sharon Stone as the very first Spokesmodel. When I got picked I was still watching it every week with my grandmother. She was so proud of me, and it was a very special moment when Ed mentioned that during my second show. It was such a valuable experience for me, and a memory that I will not forget." With all of her new success as a model, Cherie soon found herself auditioning for commercials and small television parts. "I asked my modeling agents if I should be taking acting classes, and they actually said no! I decided to take some classes anyway at the University Center for the Performing Arts with Gilda Pianelli." It was there that Cherie discovered her love of theater. "I was doing a lot of physical comedy, and wore kneepads under my clothing to help stop the bruises, but it didn't work that well. Boy, were my agents mad! It didn't matter to me, I just wanted to be on stage, and it really did help with my on-camera body movement."

Cherie became a member of the Screen Actor's Guild with a small part on the hit show Frasier. "I was basically hired as a walk-on 'model', but because of my stage experience I naturally reacted to what was going on in the scene. I thought I was going to be in trouble, but instead I got an upgrade. Later I talked with James Burrows and Kelsey Grammar, and they gave me some really great compliments on how funny, talented and spontaneous I was. I think I am still in shock."

Cherie is currently modeling and acting full-time. "I am very busy with ads, catalogs and editorials, and I have also gotten into parts modeling which has opened up a whole new market for me. Hopefully there will be even more groundbreaking projects in my future." She has recently returned to her literary roots and is persuing a writing career. "I have two television shows currently in development, two shorts which have been picked up and produced, and much more in the works. I just love telling stories and entertaining audiences, and writing is another great way for me to do that." So, what does Cherie do in her free time? "What's that? Seriously, I like to spend time with my family and friends. They have all been so supportive and they truly are what keeps me going. I like to read, watch movies, and write. Lately I've been spending a lot of time outdoors and a little time behind the camera learning new things. I love my job, traveling, meeting new people. As you can tell I like to stay busy, and I really look forward to the joys and challenges each new day brings."

To contact top model/actress Cherie Wimberly for serious acting or modeling projects, email Discovergirls (admin@discovergirls.com). Provide your full name, corporate name, address, and telephone number. Also provide a detailed description of your modeling or acting project.

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