Jenny McCarthy was born in Chicago, Illinois on November 1, 1972. She studied nursing at Southern Illinois University Carbondale before being accepted as a Playboy model in 1993. Following her ensuing popularity, she moved to Los Angeles and hosted Hot Rocks and then Singled Out. McCarthy has also starred in The Jenny McCarthy Show, appeared in numerous films, and guest starred on many television shows. She promotes autism awareness through her activism and has written several books, including Belly Laughs, Mother Warriors, and Healing and Preventing Autism, which was co-written with Dr. Jerry Kartzinel.