Sharlene Wells Hawkes was born in Asuncion, Paraguay, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Wells. Her father, then an international banker, is an LDS general authority emeritus. She spent a dozen years of her young life in South America before returning to Utah to finish high school and attend Brigham Young University. Among her experiences and accomplishments:
1982 -- Utah's Junior Miss1983 -- Miss Salt Lake Valley, Miss Brigham Young University and a member of BYU's Young Ambassadors
1984 -- Miss Utah
1984-85 -- Miss America
1987 -- Graduates magna cum laude in communications from BYU
1987 -- Marries Robert A. Hawkes; they now have four children, ages 1 to 7
1985-present -- Motivational speaker
1987-present -- Sports broadcaster for ESPN
1989 -- Miller Lite Women's Sports Journalism Award
1990 -- Emmy nomination for hosting ESPN's "Scholastic Sports America"
1994 -- Releases the Christian album "When All Will Believe"
1996 -- Releases a second inspirational album, "Song of the Morning Stars"
1996-present -- Director, Utah Junior Miss scholarship program for seniors
1997 -- Governor's Centennial School Task Force member
1997 -- Publishes "Living In, but Not of, the World"