Trista graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Exercise Science. In 1995 she was accepted at the University of Miami, where she pursued her Masters and graduated with honors. Her passion for dancing led her to audition — successfully — for the NBA's Miami Heat dancers. She spent two seasons on their squad while maintaining a full-time job at Miami Children's Hospital. Trista, a physical therapist at Miami Children’s Hospital, went from a typical woman searching for love to a celebrity in the limelight. Beating out a field of 23 other women for the affection of one man on last year’s hit reality series “The Bachelor,” she was ultimately unsuccessful in finding her love connection. But this season Trista is back on the Wednesday night primetime lineup with a chance to choose her potential mate via “The Bachelorette.” As the wildly popular show nears its end, viewers are hanging on to find out the conclusion of Trista’s adventure and discover which lucky finalist will win her heart.

She has hosted shows on VH-1 and Lifetime, made her way through the talk show circuit and made a guest appearance on “According to Jim,” starring Jim Belushi. She has even been featured in Maxim, US Weekly, Entertainment Weekly, People, TIME, Glamour and local publication, City & Shore.