Debra was raised in Texas and was a track runner, cheerleader and homecoming queen in high school, before attending the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in New York. She then became an airline attendant whilst in her 20s. Debra first appeared on TV in a brief appearance in Massacre à la tronçonneuse: la nouvelle génération (1994). She then went into WCW, between 1995 to 1998, as the queen of WCW, as well as a manager for Steve McMichael (aka "Steve Mongo McMichael"). In 1998, she went to WWF/WWE and was Jeff Jarrett's manager and was nicknamed "the puppies" by Jerry Lawler (aka "Jerry The King Lawler". She continued to grow and went on to win the WWF Women's Championship from Rena Mero (aka "Sable"), in an evening grown match. She held onto it for 5 weeks until Lisa Moretti (aka "Ivory") won it from her, after a long feud. She was then voted manager of the year, in both 1999 and 2000. She was the presenter at the The Teen Choice Awards 1999 (1999). In 2002, Debra had a problem with her marriage to Steve Austin and left wrestling for good in 2003. Debra later played a small role in the film, Just Another Romantic Wrestling Comedy (2006).