Gambill first won the Miss California Teen USA title in late 1993.
[2] In August 1994 she competed in the Miss Teen USA in the national pageant televised live from Biloxi, Mississippi.
Having impressed the finals judges, Gambill, aged 17, was crowned Miss Teen USA at the end of the pageant broadcast.
[4] Gambill then competed at Miss USA 1998, where she placed first runner-up to Shawnae Jebbia of Massachusetts.
[5] Gambill attended Highland High School in Palmdale, California and was valedictorian of her class.