Tiffany Michelle

Tiffany Michelle (born June 4, 1984) is a professional poker player, television host, writer and actress named one of Maxim's Top 20 Hottest Celebrity Poker Players.[1]

Tiffany Michelle
Tiffany Michelle – photo by Tiffany J Photography
Born (1984-06-04) June 4, 1984
Los Angeles, California, United States
OccupationPoker Player, Television Host
Known for2008 World Series of Poker Main Event, 'The Amazing Race' (season 15), Worst Cooks in America (season 3)
Height5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Websitehttp://www.tiffanymichelle.com

She is known for breaking records at the 2008 World Series of Poker as the last woman standing in the Championship Event, finishing 17th in a field of 6,844 players, which was the largest field beat by a female in live poker tournament history,[2] where she earned a payday of $334,534. She is also known for being the only all-female team on the Emmy Award winning 15th season of The Amazing Race,[3] where she and partner Maria Ho made up the "poker girls" team, ultimately finishing in 6th place of 12 teams.

One of few poker personalities to cross over into mainstream media, Michelle has been featured on the covers of Steppin' Out Magazine, Ocean View Magazine, Rounder Magazine, and Casino Player Magazine. She has appeared on several television programs, including being a series regular on season 4 of the Emmy nominated online soap opera series DeVanity,[4] portraying villainess Scarlett Kane, and competing on Food Network's Worst Cooks in America[5] LA Ink, where she finished in Bobby Flay's final 3.

As a writer, Michelle's work has been featured as a sports columnist for All In Magazine, a lifestyle columnist for Bluff Magazine, an inspirational and relationship columnist for Converge Magazine, and in 2008 she co-authored a scripture reference book with her mother Merry Graham.

Career

Born and raised in Los Angeles County, California, it was while working as an actress that Tiffany got her start in poker, playing Hollywood house games with fellow actors, which included Zachary Levi and Joel David Moore. With a knowledge of poker, coupled with her television background she began booking jobs as an on-camera poker host and commentator.[6]

In 2006, she was heard nationwide on Sirius Satellite Radio as an on-air reporter for Bluff Magazine's live broadcast of the 2006 WSOP. In 2007, she became the first ever female hired as the resident, and full-time on-camera host for Pokernews.com,.[7] She traveled the poker circuit internationally providing tournament updates, player interviews and red carpet coverage for poker tournaments and events worldwide, on the European Poker Tour, World Poker Tour, and World Series of Poker tours.

On the heels of her 2008 record-breaking WSOP finish, Michelle made another deep run at the World Poker Tour season 7 Borgata Poker Open Main Event. Over the next few years she continued to put up results in live and online tournaments, including three final tables in November 2010; two at the North American Poker Tour and one final table at the Heartland Poker Tour.

In 2013, she wrote, produced and starred in the short film Breaking Up and Away - also starring Zack Conroy and CariDee English.

In 2014, she was a series-regular (and resident villainess) on the DeVanity.

In 2015, she returned to her on-camera poker hosting roots, as a guest host and sideline reporter for the Heartland Poker Tour.

In 2018, she signed on as the Director of Programming,[8] Producer[9] and On-Camera Host[10] of The Gardens Casino's 13-week celebrity poker live stream series Gardens Poker Night[11] and, subsequently, appears as a co-host on the CBS Sports televised Poker Night Live celebrity poker program[12]

Acting

Tiffany began acting in theatrical productions at the age of ten. She performed in several productions at the Lancaster Performing Arts Center, with roles in musical adaptations of Pinocchio, Beauty and The Beast, Cinderella, and played the starring role in Alice in Wonderland. She was recognized by the Missoula Children's Theatre, two years in a row, as one of their "Best Young Performers."[13]

In her adolescence, she competed on the pageant circuit, winning the titles of Miss Teen Newhall (2000), Miss Teen Santa Clarita Valley (2001), and was voted Miss Congeniality at the 2001 Miss Teenage California pageant, where she was a Top 10 finalist.[14]

While studying Theatre and Communications at College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, CA, Tiffany continued performing in stage plays, as well as spearheaded the school's Speech & Debate Team. As the Speech & Debate team captain she competed, primarily, in Individual Events and won trophies nationally for her Dramatic Interpretation and Prose Interpretation performances. After two-years with the C.O.C. theatre program, then studying with UCLA's Film & Television Department, she embarked on a film and television career, booking roles on ER, Guilty or Innocent, Family Affair (2002 remake) and American Dreams.[15]

One of Michelle's biggest roles, and most dramatic performances, came in 2005 when she starred opposite One Life to Live's David Fumero in the award winning independent film Carrie's Choice, based on a true story.[16] The following year she landed a lead role in the horror film The Thirst: Blood War, starring Sean Connery's son, Jason Connery. The production was later halted and put on hold until 2008, at which point it was recast.

After a sabbatical from acting (2008–2012), Tiffany Michelle returned to the screen in early 2012 with appearances on Days of Our Lives and a guest-starring role on the award-winning soap opera series, DeVanity.[17] In 2013, she wrote, produced and starred in the short film Breaking Up and Away. In 2014, Michelle return to the fourth and final season of DeVanity, as a series regular. She portrayed the resident villainess, Scarlett (Kane) DeVanity, the TV daughter of acclaimed Dallas actor Steve Kanaly.

Music

Tiffany Michelle is also a singer/songwriter. She plays piano and guitar and has performed at several legendary Hollywood music venues, including BB Kings, and Hotel Cafe.[18] In 2010, Tiffany headlined a special collaborative music show with guest performances by celebrity music artists and friends, including Maria Ho, American Idol's Chikezie and 90210 actor, Ryan Eggold.

The Amazing Race

In 2009, Michelle was invited to compete on the 15th season of the CBS competition reality show, The Amazing Race.[19][20] Alongside best friend and fellow poker player, Maria Ho the two made up the season's only all-female team and they traveled to Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Dubai, and The Netherlands, exiting the competition in 6th place.[21]

Worst Cooks in America

In 2012, Tiffany competed as one of 16 contestants on season three of Food Network's Worst Cooks in America. She was picked by chef Bobby Flay to compete as a member of his "Blue team." Tiffany won the Main Dish breakfast challenge in episode one[22] as well as a pizza making Skill Drill in episode three.[23] She made it down to the final three contestants on Bobby Flay's team and was sent home in episode six.[24]

References
  1. "16 Hottest Poker Players". Maxim.com. June 28, 2012. Retrieved July 30, 2012.
  2. "Tiffany Michelle Eliminated from 2008 WSOP – Bodog Beat". Beat.bodog.com. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  3. "Tiffany Michelle Gives the Inside Scoop on Amazing Race". Pokernewsdaily.com. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  4. "Tiffany Michelle Joins Cast of DeVanity". blogger.com. April 14, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  5. "Worst Cooks in America season 3". MultiVu.com. January 3, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2012.
  6. "Tiffany Michelle Biography". Tiffanymichelle.com. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  7. Daniel Negreanu. "Tiffany Michelle – Poker Player Profile". Pokerpages.com. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  8. "Poker Night In America To Debut New Live TV Show". pokernews.com. March 8, 2018. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  9. "Gardens Poker Night cast". imdb.com. March 28, 2018. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  10. "Tiffany Michelle To Host New Live Stream Cash Game Show". cardschat.com. March 28, 2018. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  11. "Gardens Poker Night". gardenspokernight.com. August 15, 2011. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  12. "Poker Night Live". thegardenscasino.com. March 28, 2018. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  13. "Biography for Tiffany Michelle". IMDB.com. August 15, 2011. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
  14. "2001 Miss Teenage California Award Winners". webspawner.com. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  15. "Tiffany Michelle". IMDB.com. August 15, 2011. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
  16. "Carrie's Choice Home Page". Carrieschoice.homestead.com. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  17. "DeVanity Books Poker Hottie Tiffany Michelle for Season 2 Premiere". Free-press-release.com. August 15, 2011. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
  18. "Tonight's Top Five". LA.com. September 1, 2007. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
  19. "Tiffany Michelle Gives the Inside Scoop on Amazing Race". Pokernewsdaily.com. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  20. "heck-yes-i'll-miss-wsop-amazing-race"-111209.html "Heck Yes I'll Miss WSOP for Amazing Race". Gambling911.com. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
  21. Eng, Joyce (November 2, 2009). "Amazing Race's Maria and Tiffany". TVGuide.com. Retrieved March 30, 2012. Tiffany Michelle, 25
  22. "Best of the Worst". FoodNetwork.com. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
  23. "Blue Comes Up Big". FoodNetwork.com. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
  24. "Butchered, Literally". FoodNetwork.com. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
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