Melissa Satta was born in Boston, although she shuttled between the U.S. and Sardina throughout her life. In between trans-Atlantic flights she picked up karate and was good enough to finish third in the Italian Karate Championships. By age 17 she managed to win the Miss Muretto pageant and a modeling career was born. She also got noticed for her desk dancing on the show Striascia la Notzia (Strip the News). She has dated Christian Vieri.