As a socialite, Hightower's gala 55th birthday party was covered in Vogue magazine by André Leon Talley.

Additionally, she had a minor part in the ABC TV series, NYPD Blue, in the 1994 Season One episode entitled "Zeppo Marks Brothers".

As a singer, she performed the lead vocals for the track, "Somethin's Comin' My Way", written by Dan Manjovi for the 2009 Precious movie soundtrack.

Hightower became a flight attendant for Trans World Airlines, attracted by the possibility of traveling and expanding her horizons.

In 1987, while working at Mr. Chow, an upmarket London Chinese restaurant and celebrity hangout, she met and began dating Robert De Niro.