TORI Petry combined her passions of modeling and football to forge a successful journalism career.
The Emmy award-winning reporter worked for the Detroit Lions after playing the sport and competing for Miss Florida Teen USA.
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Petry graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor of science degree and graduated Summa Cum Laude with the highest honors in the top 10 of her class, per her LinkedIn page.
Before going to school, though, the eventual TV host and sideline reporter played semi-pro football while entering pageants.
“I didn’t do my first pageant until my senior year of high school,” Petry said.
“I had actually applied for a scholarship that required me to read an essay on stage at a community event.
“One of the organizers – her daughter was a pageant girl. And she kind of pulled me aside afterwards and was like, ‘Have you ever thought about doing pageants?'”
Petry hadn’t thought about it but decided it would be a good idea and to give it a shot.
Her best finish came in 2011 when she was the first runner-up to the 2011 Miss Florida Teen USA.
After college and her pageant career, Petry ventured into sports media.
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She was a host, anchor, reporter, and writer and is currently a freelance sports broadcaster based in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Petry’s worked for ESPN, espnW, WUFT-TV in Gainesville, Florida, and NBC’s Florida Sports Talk Radio.
Her most prolific stint came with Detroit and the Lions, however.
She worked for the NFL team from 2014-2021, producing video content and providing analysis.
Petry’s most recent Instagram post details she’ll be heading back to Detroit temporarily – except in a different role.
“Detroit: I’m coming home,” she wrote.
“For the Quick Lane Bowl.
“So, so fun that my college football reporting career is taking me back to the start of it in Detroit.
“On the sidelines at The Swamp and Ford Field in one season?! What more could I want?!”
The Quick Lane Bowl takes place on December 26.
The Bowling Green Falcons will face the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
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