Wherever Ali Landry pops up, there's water involved. The 24-year-old Cajun was raised in seaside Breaux Bridge, La., the Crawfish Capital of the World. Once she was all grown-up in an orange one-piece swimsuit, she paddled off with the Miss USA 1996 crown.article continued below....

• "The Oprah Winfrey Show" playing "Herself" 3 March 2004
• "The Sharon Osbourne Show" playing "Guest Co-Host" 16 February 2004
• "Pyramid" playing "Herself" 12 February 2004
• "Pyramid" playing "Herself" 10 February 2004
• "The Sharon Osbourne Show" playing "Herself" 6 January 2004

She has even done some laps on TV in what else other than Sunset Beach, and her tidal turn on the small screen took place in a laundromat. During last January's Super Bowl, she wiped out viewers in an ad for Doritos Puffs: Two cool dudes try to impress her with their prowess at catching the chips in their mouths, but Landry, who studied tap, ballet, and gymnastics for 15 years, outdoes them with a series of splits and leaps performed with a man-melting smile.

Her commercial costar Sean P. Hayes says, "We were shooting all day, and a lot of Doritos were consumed. I've never seen anyone look better with orange powder on her face."

The 5'8" Landry, who lives in L.A. and dates Phoenix Cardinals quarterback Stoney Case, still can't believe her impact. "It's absolutely crazy," she says, citing her imperfect vision ("I'm almost blind without my glasses"), and her bunions (she kept her favorite tennis shoes through a growth spurt).

Even her best beauty secret is low-priced. "I buy this teeth-bleaching stuff at Target and do it myself," she says. Her former apartment mate Brian Edwards swears it works: "When Ali smiled, I would say, 'Stop it, you're blinding me!'"

• Miss Louisiana USA 1996.
• Miss USA 1996.
• Borrowed a dress for the Miss USA pageant from photographer Kay Ouzts.
• Named by "People" magazine as one of 50 most beautiful people in the world 1998
• Graduated from Cecelia High School in Cecelia, Louisiana in 1991.
• Since her Doritos ad (aired during Super Bowl 1998) she had male fans toss Doritos bags like footballs to her.
• Member of Kappa Delta Sorority
• She met Mario López when he emceed the 1998 Miss Teen USA pageant and she was a commentator. He was instantly smitten. Though she was hesitant, he persisted.
• Engaged to actor/TV host Mario López (summer 2003).
• She is from the southwestern region of Louisiana, also referred to as "Acadiana"; this area is known as the "heart of Cajun country".
• Measurements are 36C-24-34