One-time professional cheerleader and childhood beauty pageant contestant, Charisma Carpenter made it big by playing – not surprisingly – a beautiful high school cheerleader. After several years as Cordelia Chase on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (WB/UPN, 1997–2003), and further exploration of the character on “Angel” (WB, 1999-2004), Carpenter finally left the real “Buffyverse,” but did not stray too far away from what made her famous in the first place.

Charisma Lee Carpenter was born on July 23, 1970, in Las Vegas, NV to Don and Chris Carpenter. She began studying ballet at five and was a