[1][2] Pappas, of Greek heritage, who is the middle of three children, was born in Marietta, Georgia, and shortly thereafter moved to Kentucky with her mother and siblings.

When she was twelve years old, her mother died of cancer and she relocated with her brother, Thomas, and sister, Chrissy, to Newnan, Georgia, to live with her father.

After high school she attended Georgia Military College and received a degree in General Studies.

She made it to the final rose ceremony, where bachelor Brad Womack rejected both women.

In the 2008 season of The Bachelorette, Pappas eventually rejected single dad Jason Mesnick and accepted the marriage proposal of professional snowboarder Jesse Csincsak.