A former model and beauty title winner, she also spent her time working on original clothing lines involving leather outfits and incorporating Native American styles.
Born Judy Rhea[1] as a fifth generation Texan,[2] Barbour attended Wharton High School and was the salutatorian of her class before earning a Bachelor's degree at the University of Houston[3] in education.
[3] In 1978, Barbour published the book Elegant Elk, Delicious Deer, a cookbook on how to prepare different types of wild game and aimed at women who are married to hunters.
[8] During her time spent in both locations, Barbour worked on designing leather clothing in styles similar to the Native Americans of Wyoming.
[13] The hunting business Barbour and her husband owned in Jackson Hole, Wyoming was eventually sold in the early 1990's so they could focus on their restaurants in Texas.