Allie LaForce, 26, is one of the youngest top female sportscaster on the rise. Her enthusiasm for sports comes from her close relationships with her father and mother who were also college athletes and big sports fans. Her mother wanted her to explore her feminine side influencing her to enter a beauty pageant when she was 16 years old. LaFore was crowned Miss Ohio Teen USA in 2005 and received a one-year modeling contract with Trump Modeling Management and scholarship to the School for Film and Television in New York City. Though she attended Ohio University and graduated with a degree in journalism. Allie also was a member of OU’s women’s basket team and graduated with honors.
Laforce really became noticed when she was reporting on last year’s March Madness and is known for asking many smart questions to top coaches. LaForce worked as a broadcast sports anchor and reporter for the Cleveland, Ohio WJW. And even won an Emmy award for anchoring FOX 8’s “Friday Night Touchdown” high school football show. Allie currently is the co-host of “Lead off,” CBS Sports Network’s late night hour-long show and was found in 2012 by Doug Gottlieb from CBS due to her Youtube demo reel.
Due to her past beauty pageant winnings and being what is recognized as beautiful it is hard to get peoples attention not only for her looks but for her knowledge as well. Working in an industry dominated by men, Allie is forced to deal with many stereotypes against her. She often takes people by surprise with her deep knowledge and understanding of the game.
Allie was interviewed by Kirsten Fleming from New York Post where she was asked about some of her experiences working with people who underestimate her talents, “Sometimes I say, ‘Thank you,’ and i turn to my co-worker [and ask], ‘Did they assume i didn’t [know about sports]?'” she says. “That does bother me. I am not a huge fan of stereotyping. I know it’s come a long way, and I respect what women did before me. “All I can do is prove people wrong with my knowledge, and do my job and do it well.”
LaForce is an inspiration for many women out there to help tear down the gender barrier in not only sports broadcasting, but many male-dominated industries, and she continues to move to the top and turn heads.
Sports Journalism 