It's hard to believe it's been 16 years since Ali Landry made her big debut during the 1998 Super Bowl in a Doritos commercial.
The spot, which was shot in a laundromat with another unknown star at the time, "Will and Grace" fan favorite Sean Hayes, immediately made the former Miss USA a household name.
toofab's Rachel Hoffman sat down with the mother-of-three to reminisce about auditioning for the career-changing ad and talk about her car safety initiative.
"I remember I was new to Los Angeles. I wasn't used to driving around and it was raining. I remember thinking, 'I don't want to go,'" she recalled. "But I went, and there was a room lined with gorgeous girls. I looked at the story board and they wanted us to flip around. Because I was in gymnastics and dancing my whole life – I knew I could do a few flips in this small space."
While she knew that she could handle the tricky moves, she wasn't prepared for the instant fame that came along with the gig.
"I didn't know it was going to air during the Super Bowl. When I found out, I didn't tell anyone – not even my parents," she admitted. "It didn't register to me that this commercial would be a big deal. I was at a big party and I remember seeing peoples' reactions – oohing and ahhing – and I wanted to sink under a table. It was awkward! That next day, everything changed as far as my career was concerned."
So, what was the craziest thing that happened after the spot aired? "I got a call from a record label to see if I could sing. I was like, 'I wish, but I can't.' It just shows you how crazy this town is. If you get a little recognition, then they all want to hire you!"
Landry didn't pursue a singing career, but now, she's using her voice to promote her passion for car seat safety.
The 41-year-old beauty recently launched Favored By, an app that allows parents to post their favorite products for others to consider.
"This app is about discovering and sharing the best baby products out there," she said. "It's a credible tool that saves moms time and money."
Ali is taking her message to the masses, hosting the 3rd annual Red CARpet Safety Awareness Event on Sept. 28 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles.
The event, which is open to the public for the first time, aims to help spread awareness about the importance of car seat safety, as well as other areas of safety that affect parents.
"It seems to be something that's really resonating with all the moms that attend the event. Everybody really wants to do the best for their children. You know better, you do better," she declared.
To learn more about the event, click HERE.
Check out the video above to see more from our exclusive interview with Ali, including her tips for looking amazing after 40.
You're going to want to find out how she has this killer bikini bod after having three kids!
