Leeann Velez Tweeden is an American model. Tweeden was born in Manassas, Virginia. She graduated from Osbourn Park High School in 1991. Tweeden skipped college altogether and instead pursued a career in modeling. Just two years after leaving her Virginia High school, while working as a hostess at a Hooters restaurant (she was in their 1994 calendar) in Colorado Springs, Colorado, she won first place in the Venus International Model Search in 1992. This break led to national exposure. Tweeden modeled for promotional work for Hooters and Venus International along with Frederick's of Hollywood and Playboy.