 Brooke Burke never envisioned herself in the entertainment industry. "When I was young, I wanted to do something more low-key, like become a drummer in a rock band," says Burke, whose French, Irish and Portuguese descent make up her stunningly exotic look.Name : Brooke BurkeProfession : Model, TV/Radio hostDate of Birth : August 8, 1971Place of Birth : Hartford, ConnecticutHoroscope Sign : LeoFan Mail : Brooke BurkeAttn: E! Wild On5750 Wilshire Blvd.Los Angeles, CA 90036Brooke Burke Photo GalleryBrooke Burke never envisioned herself in the entertainment industry. "When I was young, I wanted to do something more low-key, like become a drummer in a rock band," says Burke, whose French, Irish and Portuguese descent make up her stunningly exotic look. While accompanying a high school friend to a modeling agency in Scottsdale, Arizona, Brooke was discovered by a talent scout who happened to be there.After pursuing modeling near her hometown and going on to win an acting scholarship, Burke moved to Los Angeles where she studied broadcast journalism at UCLA. In between classes during her first year at school, Burke signed with the industry's highest profile agencies including Ford, Wilhelmina, and Cunningham-Escott-Dipene. In addition to gracing dozens of magazine covers, billboards, swimsuit editorials, catalogues and posters, Burke has also starred in a string of popular commercials. She is the "beautiful body" in the Bally's Total Fitness commercials as well as Yankee's shortstop, Derek Jeter's dream date for Discover Card. Her other credits include Coca-Cola, Anheuser-Busch, and M Professional Cosmetics.ADVERTISEMENTAlthough she kept busy and content with modeling, Burke took an interview with E! Entertainment on the insistence of a friend. The producers were looking for a real person that could go to exotic locations, interact with the people, and be spontaneous. Brooke had a very casual meeting with them, which led to a trial show that they all loved. Before she knew it, she had signed a three year deal and was packing her suitcases. Now, rated the second highest show on the network, "Wild On" continues to expose Brooke Burke to a variety of cultures, people, food and personal challenges. "The only thing I've refused to do is go on a lobster dive. I have a bug phobia and they remind me too much of bugs," says Burke, whose introduction onto the show was a shoot in Spain to participate in La Tomatina -- the tomato war. "It's the world's largest food fight you can imagine with forty thousand drunken Spaniards and one hundred and twenty tons of tomatoes." "Wild On" airs six nights a week at midnight, with two new segments a month premiering on Saturdays at 11:00pm.
As evidence of Burke's emerging popularity and fan base, she gets the fourth most hits on E! Online (after Britney Spears, Fashion Emergency and Howard Stern), and she was recently selected as one of three women in the world to be photographed for a 2002 At A Glance Calendar.
During the fifteen days a month she spends at home in Los Angeles, Brooke Burke enjoys doing pilates and yoga, taking long walks, scuba diving, horseback riding, reading psychology books, cooking holiday meals and going to see movies and plays. She is also regularly volunteers her time to work with such charitable organizations as Athletes & Entertainers for Kids and the Entertainment Industry Foundation.
Despite her hectic schedule, however, Burke is obviously not adverse to new challenges. "I never intended to make the cross-over from modeling to hosting, let alone acting, but when an incredible opportunity comes along, I'm up for it." And the sky's the limit for this gorgeous and talented ingenue for whom film, television and modeling doors continue to open in her path.
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