Kathleen Benanti was born and reared on the New Jersey Shore . She spent much of her youth swimming at the beach and playing sports including basketball, softball and field hockey. She then moved to Sarasota , Florida and attended the University of South Florida in Tampa where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology, graduating with departmental honors. She also achieved a double minor in anthropology and women\'s studies.
In 1997, Kathleen moved to Texas and currently resides in the Lakewood area of Dallas with her Pitbull, Boston Terrier, Tabby cat and African parrot. An avid runner, she has completed both the Dallas White Rock marathon and the Oklahoma City Memorial marathon. She has also completed several half- marathons as
