Joann

is an American professional pool player. She is both a U.S. Open 9-Ball Champion and a World Masters Pocket Billiards Champion. She has been dubbed as the “Battling Beauty” by Billiards Digest.

After graduating high school, JoAnn trained with her father eventually received a sponsorship from a local block company. She later joined the Women’s Professional Billiards Tour and remained one of the top four players for the majority of nine years she spent touring. At twenty years old, JoAnn participated in the World Masters 9-Ball Championship and won. Two years later, in 1990, she won the U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship, becoming the youngest winner in the competition’s history. After such achievements, she was more groups were willing to sponsor her; during her career as a touring professional, Cuetec Cues, Olhausen Pool Tables, and Sure Shot Billiard Gloves sponsored her. JoAnn also spent a year acting as a spokesperson for Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn, traveling alongside Orville Redenbacher across the United States.

In 1994, JoAnn was invited by the Chinese government to play against World Snooker Champion, Allison Fisher. These matches had been televised and viewed by an estimated over 200 million people.

Most of her time playing and competing abroad were in China, Japan, Taiwan, the Caribbean, and Italy although these were not the only areas in which she traveled.

She is currently retired from a traveling tour professional. JoAnn, however, still continues to play by acting as an entertainer and showing her skills and tricks to audiences.