Biography: Brooke Burke: birth name: Brooke Lisa Burke; born on September 8, 1971 in Hartford, Connecticut and was raised in Tucson, Arizona; height: 5 feet 7 (170 cm); Zodiac Sign: Virgo.

photo: PR Photos

Burke was born as the first of nine children. She has Jewish, Irish, French and Portuguese ancestry. She studied broadcast journalism at UCLA and started as a model in the entertainment business.  She was signed to some very top modeling agencies including the renowned Ford Models Agency.

The next installment of Dancing With the Stars will begin in a few short weeks.  And they just announced who the contestants will be….did you hear??

More pictures after the jump…

The contestant list ranges decades across their ages…the list includes:

Cloris Leachman – actress who is 82!!!

Kim Kardashian – reality show star with a sex tape and cut foot

Susan Lucci – actress

Misty May-Treanor (Olympic gold medalist in beach volleyball)