Gareis competed in her first beauty contest in 1992, placing second behind Miss Pennsylvania USA. She went on to compete in New York, where she was crowned Miss New York USA in 1994. On February 11, 1994, she represented New York at the Miss USA 1994 pageant in South Padre Island, Texas. She placed within the top six of the National Television Pageant.
She had a prosperous acting career, earning roles on the CBS soap operas The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful. In 2002, she ranked 90th on the Maxim Hot 100 list of women.
She then appeared in several films and television programs, such as Private Parts, Enough Already, Lucky Town, and The Sixth Day, among others.
