Monica Day is NBC 4's traffic and entertainment reporter.

Monica was born in Palm Beach, Fla., but has lived in Columbus for 15 years.

Monica was crowned Miss Ohio USA 2008 in December 2007, and will represent The Buckeye State in the Miss USA competition in the spring of 2008.

The Whitehall-native has been featured as the National Anthem singer for the Columbus Crew, an emcee for the Columbus Destroyers in 2005.

She is also passionate about pageants. She was a top 10 semifinalist for Miss Ohio America and Miss Ohio USA, and was a former Miss Columbus and Miss Teen Columbus. She is an official emcee for the Cinderella Scholarship Program and the Miss Columbus Teen Pageant.

Monica said the thing she likes most about her job is the opportunity to be involved with local charities and events, adding that she loves to emcee.

Her first job was working the coat check at the Top Steak House.

Monica is the proud owner of a cat Bubba, and her dog Sierra -- officially known as "Aunt Mon" by the animals.

If she weren't working with NBC 4, Monica said she would be auditioning in New York or Los Angeles, possibly even working as an impersonator in Las Vegas for Cher, Tina Turner or Marilyn Monroe.

Favorites:

Food: Steak, Hot Dogs, My Mother's Chicken potpie and Spaghetti Squash
Movies: "Tombstone" and any Elvis movies, especially "Blue Hawaii."
Books: "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil"
Music: Paul Simon, Jack Johnson and, of course, "The King."
Hobbies: Fashion design, Golf
Sports: Golf, football, hockey, baseball
Travel Destination: Any beach
Central Ohio Place: The 'Shoe
NBC Show: "Law & Order"