Allie LaForce Biography

Alexandra Leigh "Allie" LaForce (born December 11, 1988) is the co-host of "Lead Off", CBS Sports Network's live, hour-long late night show featuring commentary and debate on major sports topics. LaForce worked as a broadcast sports anchor and reporter for the Cleveland, Ohio FOX Affiliate WJW. She won a 2011 Emmy award for anchoring FOX 8's "Friday Night Touchdown" high school football show and just wrapped up anchoring the 2012 season. LaForce is a beauty queen from Vermilion, Ohio and won the Miss Ohio Teen USA 2005 title in September 2004, in her first attempt at the title. She went on to represent Ohio in the Miss Teen USA 2005 pageant held in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 8 August 2005. After becoming the first delegate from Ohio to make the semi-finals since 1993, LaForce competed in the evening gown, swimsuit and final interview competitions, and was crowned Miss Teen USA 2005 by outgoing titleholder Shelley Hennig of Louisiana. The first runner-up was Catherine Laurion, Miss Michigan Teen USA 2005. Laurion and LaForce were roommates and good friends during the pageant, and had the same directors for their state pageant.

Her winnings included a one-year modeling contract, with Trump Modeling Management and scholarship to the School for Film and Television in New York City. It also earned her a guest appearance in the NBC soap opera Passions. Her "sister" 2005 titleholders were Natalie Glebova (Miss Universe, of Canada) and Chelsea Cooley (Miss USA, of North Carolina). LaForce made numerous appearances throughout the United States, promoting causes such as drug and alcohol awareness, as well as continuing to attend high school in Ohio. One appearance involved riding 90 miles in the Best Buddies Challenge bike race from Boston, Massachusetts to Hyannisport. LaForce's reign ended on 15 August 2006 when she passed on her crown to Katie Blair of Montana.

Prior to winning the national crown, LaForce organized a successful fundraiser, Teens for Tsunami, which raised over $1,200, given to the Red Cross to support victims of the Boxing Day Tsunami. LaForce graduated from Vermilion High School in 2007, as valedictorian of her class. She graduated from Ohio University and played under head coach Semeka Randall as a guard on the Bobcats' women's basketball team. LaForce majored in broadcast journalism and has said that her career ambition is to be a sports commentator on ESPN. In 2007 she co-starred in an exercise & fitness video, "Teen Yoga", directed by Vivian Schilling and distributed by Hannover House. She worked as a sideline reporter for Sportstime Ohio during the 2010 Mid-American Conference's football season and the 2011 MAC men's basketball tournament, as well as the 2011 OHSAA basketball championships. After college LaForce signed with Cleveland Fox affiliate WJW channel 8 to be a sports anchor and reporter.

Her mother Lesa LaForce (née Rummell) was Miss Ohio USA 1977.