She appeared in the 1983 Miss Teen USA Pageant telecast from Lakeland, Florida and was a press favorite.
Born in Fairbanks, Alaska, United States, to William and Lillian Fickus, she was crowned at age 17.
She spent much of her childhood growing up on a ranch in the southern foothills of the Brooks Range in the Alaskan "bush".
She was the third child of four, and the second daughter in the family to win a state pageant title.
Her older sister, Mrs.
Deborah Luper was Miss Alaska USA in 1980.Following her year as Miss Alaska Teen USA, she began a career in business & government that ultimately led to political appointments by Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski, who she served as Deputy Director of Boards & Commissions, and as Special Assistant.
She also served in Governor Sarah Palin's Fairbanks office, was president of a local Republican Women's Club, and was a member of the Rotary Club.
Prior to her death, she appeared as a special guest at the 2007 Miss Alaska Teen USA pageant.