Talk about a big first impression. That was Tiffany Michelle, the "hot chick" behind the big stack, playing her way through most of the 6,844 entries in the World Series of Poker's 2008 main event, finishing 17th and going home with $334,534 in prize money.

As the last couple days of the no-limit hold 'em championship began, one of the Harrah's officials confided to a news media acquaintance, "We're really hoping Tiffany makes it to the final table."

The official had this fast-developing picture in mind: There were no widely known big poker names at the last couple tables, so why not root for the pretty woman with the outsized personality. She'd be a natural focus for the cameras and the crowds, who were dazzled by the millions in chips, but didn't really know one poker player from another.

A year later, Tiffany prepares for the 2009 version of poker's biggest party at the Harrah's Entertainment-owned Rio in Las Vegas and remembers how it was-having high hopes but no real expectations.

"I just wanted to take it one step at a time then ... you know, play my best and focus on trying to have a good time."

Mission accomplished.

This time she will not have the anonymity that makes it possible to slip in under the radar. She'll be a target wherever she's sitting. But in Michelle's world there's nothing wrong with some quality time in the spotlight. She was accustomed to being noticed long before she tumbled to the possibilities available in the world of poker.

"One could say that Tiffany was born to perform," to borrow a line from her official biography. And who but people looking for a spotlight have official bios and public relations people lining up interviews.

Born and raised in Los Angeles County, Michelle began putting on shows in her dining room as a child, casting herself in every role: singer, dancer and actress. By the time she was 18, Michelle was performing regularly and began participating in some of the "house games" popular with people working in LA's film and television business, a collection of interests that is loosely referred to as Hollywood. Those games helped her discover a feel for poker and offered access to the contacts that eventually brought her to the growing poker TV business.

"I enjoyed the house games, sitting there thinking that I could maybe win some money doing this. When I turned 21 I came to Las Vegas and entered and won a little tournament at Harrah's. It was a $70 buy-in thing with about a hundred people."

What did she do with that first big win?

"I'm a hoard it kind of girl, but I think drinks were definitely on me that night."

She stepped it up a big last year. A six-figure payday makes that possible. "I paid off some bills, saved some, and then broke down and bought myself a new car, an Audi A-4. A car broker friend got me a good deal."

Her first introduction to the World Series of Poker came in 2007 as an on camera host for one of the Internet media outlets covering the growing world of poker. She would also do televised interviews with World Series participants.

"The fact that I was playing gave me a greater value when it came to interviewing and talking about the game."

Michelle is playing in this year's WSOP as a member in good standing of the Ultimate Bet team, joining well-known pros such as Annie Duke and Phil Hellmuth.

Last year's success "... was definitely a confidence booster, but I tend to be a confident person anyway. My family raised me that way." The way Michelle sees it, things happened naturally, one opportunity leading to another. Playing the house games, noticing her feel for the game and then finding the niche that enabled her to get close to the game as a commentator and interviewer of poker's best players.

The next step seemed so natural. "I just said to myself, I can do this, I know I can. And so she did.

As a member of the Ultimate Bet team, the pressure to find the money that will put her in some of the World Series events has been removed. She expects to enter perhaps 15 tournaments, most of them no-limit.

"What's also nice this year is that I got my main event buy-in when I won a charity tournament last September or October. So I will go into that knowing that I have 100 percent of myself."

But whatever happens at the World Series it could be just part of a busy year. We'll be seeing some evidence of a Tiffany Michelle clothing line. This idea came out of interest in the "funky crazy" hats and other gear she was seen in last year. There are other ideas too, not all of them poker-related.

Which bring Michelle to a casual mention of a poker reality show now in development. As the plan currently exists the show will star Tiffany and two of her best female poker pals, cameras trailing them as they cavort through the sexism and antics that are part of the poker world.

"It would be nice to start filming during the main event, what with all the parties and people that are part of it. But late in the year is probably more realistic."

Anything else to talk about?

"Nope. Poker's sucked up a lot of my time this year."