Her mother was mentally disturbed and lost custody of Charlotte, her brother, and her sister Diana.

Charlotte was an out-of-work actress when Ricky Martin picked her head shot from the hundreds submitted last year for his romantic video.

Spokeswoman for foster children.

Won Miss Teen USA in 1993 wearing a $37 evening gown.

Miss Vermont Teen USA.

Spent sixteen years of her childhood in foster homes.

Impoverished as a child.

Changed her last name to Ayanna when she learned that Lopez was the last name of her maternal grandfather, who she discovered abandoned her mother. Ayanna means "blessed" and Charlotte feels she has been blessed. Attended the University of California at Irvine. Moved to Vermont with her mother and siblings in 1977.

Charlotte lived in a group home as a teenager and was adopted at 17 by a Vermont couple. That year, she was reunited with her brother from whom she and her sister Diana were separated in different foster homes as small children.

Has a brother named Duane and a sister named Diana. Diana is one year younger than she is.