Sierra is from Tampa, Florida, and auditioned in Orlando. She was also a contestant on Star Search before auditioning for Idol, and was a nanny. Sierra started singing in church at the age of 3. As a teenager, she performed for Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush in singing and dancing ensembles. She first auditioned for Idol in the second season, but was rejected. Sierra dated fellow American Idol 4 contestant Nikko Smith for several months. In an April 2006 article in the Tennessean, Sierra confirmed the relationship but said the two broke up shortly after New Years 2007.