Leslie Bibb
Born in Bismarck and raised in Virginia, Leslie Bibb won a 1990 nationwide modeling search sponsored by Oprah. Bibb has had roles in the WB TV series "Popular" and movies such as "Iron Man."
Tom Brosseau*
Grand Forks native Tom Brosseau is a singer, songwriter and guitarist who records and performs in the U.S. and Europe. In Los Angeles, his home club is Largo. He'll perform as a special musical guest on "A Prairie Home Companion" radio show on Saturday.
Shannon Curfman
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Blues/rock guitarist and singer Shannon Curfman released "What You're Getting Into" in 2010. 2010 also was the 10th anniversary of her first CD release, "Loud Guitars, Big Suspicions," when she was 14. The Fargo native has toured with John Mellencamp, Buddy Guy, the Indigo Girls and many more.
CariDee English
Born and raised in Fargo, she won "America's Next Top Model" in December 2006 and was host to Oxygen's "Pretty Wicked." She works as a model, actress and musician (performing and recording with Better than Ezra) and is the spokeswoman for the National Psoriasis Foundation.
Corn Fed
In 2008 Fargo hairstylist Abbie La Noah, aka Corn Fed, was a contestant on "Real Chance of Love" (VH1), one of 17 women vying for the affection of brothers Real and Chance. Real selected Corn Fed but they ended their relationship a few days after the reunion show.
Ashlee Hewitt
A country girl from Lancaster, Minn., Ashlee Hewitt grew up singing at county fairs and other events and, in 2008, finished near the top in TV's singing competition "Nashville Star." Hewitt has starred in one movie (still trying to find a distributor) and continues to write and record country music.
Wiz Kahlifa
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Rapper Wiz Khalifa was born in Minot to parents serving in the military. Based in Pittsburgh, he reportedly has relocated to Los Angeles, where he and Snoop Dogg have released a song called "That Good" about their L.A. lifestyle. His "Black and Yellow" is No. 3 on Rolling Stone's Hot List.
Jonny Lang
Blues singer and guitarist Jonny Lang of Fargo played with his first band (Kid Jonny Lang and the Big Bang) when he was 12 and released his first album at 14. He's won a Grammy, played the White House and toured with some of music's biggest names. In 2010, Lang collaborated with Carlos Santana on Santana's new album "Guitar Heaven."
Nicole Linkletter
Nicole Linkletter of Grand Forks won "America's Next Top Model" in 2005. Now living in Los Angeles, she spent most of 2009 working in Singapore, Hong Kong and London doing both print and runway work. Among her recent clients are Forever 21 and Ann Taylor.
Kellan Lutz
Kellan Lutz, born in Dickinson, N.D., plays the vampire Emmett Cullen in the very hot "Twilight" movies series. A Ford agency model, he was featured in the 2010 super sexy Calvin Klein X underwear campaign. He enjoys all kinds of sports and supports the animal charity PETA.
Adam Monley
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Adam Monley will play Mr. Knightley in "Jane Austen's Emma -- A Musical Romantic Comedy" set to open Saturday at Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, The East Grand Forks native has appeared on Broadway in "Mamma Mia!" and toured nationally with "Phantom of the Opera."
James Otto
As a youth, Grammy-winning country singer/songwriter James Otto lived for a time on his grandparents' farm near Finley, N.D., and still has relatives in the area. His third album, "Shake What God Gave Ya," was released in September. His latest single is "Soldiers and Jesus."
Danica Patrick
Danica Patrick grew up in Roscoe, Ill., but her mother, Bev, was born and raised in Roseau, Minn., where Patrick still has family. A race car driver, model and advertising spokeswoman, Patrick was on the June 6, 2005, Sports Illustrated cover as an Indianapolis 500 driver and appeared in the 2008 SI swimsuit issue.
Jordin Sparks*
American Idol sweetheart (and 2007 winner) Jordin Sparks is recording her third studio album with John Legend and others and will join the Broadway cast of "In the Heights" in August. She recently celebrated her 21st birthday with a benefit for charity. Sparks' mother was born in Grand Forks, and Sparks has grandparents and many other relatives in the area.
Gabby West
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Born and raised in Bismarck, Gabby West attended North Dakota State University for one semester. Beginning in 2006, she had roles in front of and behind the camera. In 2009, she won the VH1 reality series "Scream Queens" and won a role in the horror film "Saw 3-D."
* In the small world department, Tom Brosseau and Jordin Sparks are second cousins once removed. Brosseau's grandmother, Gladys (Rutherford) Brosseau of Grand Forks, and Jordin's great-grandfather, Jim Rutherford of Fargo, are siblings.
