Is Ainsley Earhardt a journalist or an entertainer? It depends upon whom you ask.

Certainly, the Fox NewsChannel reporter has learned how to meld the two. During her career, she has performed such camera-pleasing stunts as skydiving and flying in an F-16.
Early in her broadcasting career, she made a name for herself by traveling to New York post-September 11 with a group of South Carolina middle school students to present a check for nearly a half million dollars to the New York City Fire Department for a new truck.

Most recently, Earhardt -- known for the short skirts she wears on-air -- drew lots of attention for a curious segment with financial expert Uri Man that seemed more like a first date than an interview. 

"Is he really hitting on me on national TV?" Earhardt asked on camera at the conclusion.

Earhardt was born Sept. 20, 1978 in Columbia, SC, where she graduated from Spring Valley High School. She then earned a BA in mass communication from the University of South Carolina.

Her first job out of college was as a reporter with WLTX in Columbia. After a four-year stay there, she moved to KENS-TV in San Antonio, where she progressed in three years to weekday anchor and caught the eye of Fox, which hired her in 2007.

At the time, the blog My SA entertainment noted: "It's a stellar zoom up the ladder for Earhardt, who slid in beside Fred Lozano at S.A.'s CBS affiliate two years ago. Since her arrival, the audience for the station's morning show has grown. During the most recent sweeps period, in fact, KENS made it to the top of the morning news heap for the first time in years, squeaking past traditionally first KSAT for the 6-7 a.m. hour."

Since her arrival, Fox has obviously tried to get the attractive blonde Earhardt on camera as much as possible. Besides providing live news cut-ins during the week, she also appears on "Hannity's America," where she has her own segment -- "Ainsley Across America." In addition, she has co-hosted Fox and Friends.

Earhardt recently earned a dubious mention by Jay Leno, who showed a clip of Fox & Friends co-host Dave Briggs obviously ogling her backside. A similar incident took place during the 2008 presidential campaign with Barack Obama.

In 2005, shortly after arriving in San Antonio, Earhardt married fellow USC graduate Kevin McKinney, a medical supply salesman. In 2009, that marriage was reported to be in trouble, and Earhardt returned from a vacation without a wedding ring.