Behind the Curls

​Born on Fort Benning Army Base in Columbus, Georgia, Samantha has been part of a military family from the very beginning.  Her father's military career is what gave her the opportunity to live in countries such as Spain and Japan.  Samantha, thanks to her parents, is a world-traveler.  She believes that having experienced different cultures while growing up has given her the gift of being able to adapt easily as well as understand and respect people of all backgrounds. ​

​Samantha was a Senior at Moanalua High School when she was crowned Miss Hawaii Teen USA 2013.  During her reign, she made several appearances and speeches at military community events, hosted a local cable show dedicated to helping the youth of Hawaii, and volunteered with The American Red Cross, The Hawaiian Humane Society, and other local charities. Somewhere between graduating high school and placing in the Top 15 at the national Miss Teen USA pageant, Samantha found the time to kickstart a modeling career. ​

After working as a successful model, Samantha transitioned into acting, appearing in feature films by Lionsgate, Sony and Lifetime in addition to her guest appearances on hit shows for CBS, ABC, and HBO. Commercially, she has appeared in over 20 national campaigns and has worked as a cover model for major brands like Skechers, MindBody, Maui Jim and many more. Samantha also found time to take on a producer role, producing a Short Film Festival and multiple short films of her own.

Dedicated to helping others feel accepted, Samantha works with elected officials as a political activist, speaking on behalf of underrepresented communities as well as today’s youth. In 2019 she founded "Time to Talk Hawaii," a program dedicated to helping teens learn to communicate more effectively in both personal and professional environments. She believes the power of communication can help bridge the cultural and political divides amongst Americans.