Donna Rice
Donna Rice
Donna Rice Hughesis president and CEO of Enough Is Enough. In her work with Enough is Enough, Hughes has appeared on a variety of outlets as an Internet safety expert and advocate for children and families. She first became known as a key figure in a widely publicized 1987 political scandal that contributed to end the second campaign of former Senator Gary Hart for the Democratic Party nomination for President...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionCelebrity
Date of Birth7 January 1958
CountryUnited States of America
At an awkward time in junior high, when I got braces, my mom encouraged me to take a modeling class so I'd learn to walk properly and wear makeup.
I'd gone through a lot of guys in the past year, trying to get over my old boyfriend, but Gary was the one who swept me off my feet.
I couldn't go to South Carolina because the media had staked out my parents' house, so they encouraged me through long-distance phone calls.
Over the next few years, as I worked through my depression and the shock related to the scandal, I still struggled with relationships.
Shortly thereafter, some friends encouraged me to try out for the Miss South Carolina World beauty pageant. To my surprise, I won - and was sent to New York City to compete nationally.
Since it was too difficult to get into the Screen Actor's Guild in New York, I moved to Miami in 1982 and started a successful career as a television commercial actress, obtaining my SAG card there.
After graduating in the summer of 1980, I knew I wanted my life to count.
I'm stronger knowing that while Donna Rice could be sold, she could not be bought.
It was hard to turn down the money since I didn't have a job, but I didn't want to exploit my notoriety because I knew the way I'd been living was wrong.
At thirteen I began modeling, doing my first television commercial in ninth grade for Pizza Hut.
I had gained so much confidence through my college achievements that I wanted to tackle the world.
I've had to recover not only from a single well-publicized incident, but several years of press aftermath.
A month after the scandal broke, I tried to go back to work at the pharmaceutical company after a leave of absence. But because of all the publicity and resulting pressure and stress, I finally resigned.
Before the group left, Gary asked for my phone number, and the next day he called to ask me to dinner that night. I had no idea he was married, but I found out that night.