Pataki was born in Dallas, Texas, to Monique (Leblanc) and Col. Henry C. Rowland, Jr., an army officer and diplomat.

[4] As First Lady, Pataki focused on promoting the state's agriculture industry and preventing breast cancer.

As First Lady, Pataki accepted contracts to serve as a marketing consultant with various corporations, including Revlon.

In 2000, Pataki appeared on a radio show in which she criticized then-New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani for taking too long to drop out of the U.S. Senate race against First Lady Hillary Clinton.

Pataki said that the delay hampered the campaign of the eventual Republican nominee, Congressman Rick Lazio.