Candace Pittman is the true "island girl." Born on Catalina Island, 22 miles off the coast of Southern California near Long Beach, with a pro surfer for a dad, she's always enjoyed the small beach town atmosphere. But make no mistake, she learned quickly to spread her wings and experience all that California has to offer. With the surfer gene intact, she developed great balance, figure skating for 11 years and snowboarding for five. "I love both sports so much," Candace says, "because of the feeling of freedom you get with speed. This may also explain why I have a passion for fast cars and powerful engines."

Candace sees fast cars a lot as one of the members of Team Falken, making appearances at drifting and ALMS events on behalf of the tire company, introducing enthusiasts to the many capabilities of the entire tire line-up. She's a natural at meeting people because, in her words, "she loves to be the center of attention. Of course, the true focus is Falken, but I have just always loved to entertain people." Her job is part entertainment, part information, and it's clear the fans who meet her know she's passionate about her work and motorsports.

With a heritage that includes a mix of Sicilian, Cherokee Indian and Irish, Candace is also known for being artistic and very expressive. "I use art in any way I can, from acting to dance to photography. Whenever I do a photoshoot, I imagine I'm looking at the viewer rather than the camera lens," she says, which lends itself to a different perspective. "I do have an amazing eye for the aesthetics," she adds, which makes her a perfect representative of Falken. This former island girl is going places.