Mathis grew up in the Detroit area where she said she formed a strong bond with her family . She has said , “ I 'm a definite Midwest kid . I like green grass and playing outside and all of that . My upbringing was very down home , ” Mathis briefly participated in beauty pageants , winning Miss Teen Michigan in 1998 , though she did not place in the follow up national pageant . Mathis then studied communications and business at Northwestern University . While there , she embraced acting and explored her talent off-campus . She later pursued her passion and moved to New York
follow up national pageant
Miss Teen USA 1998
Elizabeth Mathis