Prior to joining Ripley’s, Packard starred for two seasons as the fashion-designing lifeguard April on the long-running series “Baywatch.” However, her first series-regular role was on NBC's popular teen comedy “California Dreams.” She portrayed the environment-loving, surfer-chick "Tiffani" for five seasons.

Packard began her career by appearing in television commercials at the age of eight before going on to win the title of "Miss California Pre-Teen" in 1988. In her early teens, she made the transition to series television with guest appearances on such shows as “The Wonder Years,” “Boy Meets World,” “Step by Step” and “Living Dolls.”