| Vital Stats and Favorites | |
|---|---|
| Birthdate | July 23 |
| Birthplace | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Siblings | Michael, Troy, and John Kenneth |
| Origin of Name | Name of an Avon perfume |
| Favorite Cordelia Line | "Tact is just not saying true stuff. I'll pass."--KBD |
| Color | Yellow |
| Movie | Wings of the Dove |
| TV Show | Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Felicity |
| Song | "Sympathy for the Devil" -- The Rolling Stones |
| Book | The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks |
| Sport | Rock-climbing |
| Food | Anything Mexican |
While working as a waitress to support her way through junior college, Carpenter was discovered by a commercial agent, and her career was launched. She appeared in over 20 commercials, including a Secret antiperspirant ad that ran for two years.
Charisma's breakthrough role came when she was cast as a guest on the series "Baywatch." Shortly after, she auditioned for and gained the role of the snobby high schooler Ashley Greene on the NBC series "Malibu Shores." Theatre credits include a production of "No, No Nanette."
As a teenager, Carpenter participated in pageants. Her talent routine featuring ballet, a cha-cha, and a variety of jazz steps earned her the title of Ms. Perfect Teen San Diego.
Upon graduating from high school, Carpenter traveled through Europe. She returned to further her schooling and held several jobs, including working in a video store, teaching aerobics, and waiting tables. Charisma has trained in dancing and gymnastics,
and worked as a Charger Girl for the 1991 San Diego Chargers.
A Las Vegas native, Charisma moved to Mexico at the age of 15 and then to San Diego where she graduated from the School of the Creative and Performing Arts. She arrived in Los Angeles in 1992 on the day of the riots and began acting a year later.
Charisma's original name is derived from an Avon perfume. For three days, her name was undecided until her grandmother brought her parents a bottle of Charima perfume. Although her mother thought the perfume was horrible, she loved the name. "Hence, my curse," Carpenter laughs.
In her free time, Charisma enjoys rollerblading, hiking, sky diving, rock climbing, running, and horseback riding as well as traveling and cooking. She currently lives with her golden retriever, Sydney, in Los Angeles.