Amanda is the daughter of Chuck and Terri Winter, and grew up in Mount Vernon, OH with a younger sister and a much younger brother. She graduated in 2005 from Mount Vernon High School, where she was a member of the band, senior editor of the yearbook, an active member of Key Club, National Honor Society and statitician for the girls' soccer team. She was also  interested in activities outside of school and took eleven years of piano lessons, seven years of art lessons, and was a member of 4-H for ten years.

Amanda's real passion was for animals, so she attended Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, OH and majored in zoology. Highlights of her college career include a semester in Cork, Ireland and a three week trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos for an Island Biology course. Amanda found a home away from home when she joined her sorority, Delta Zeta, and was proud to serve as President her senior year. After graduating in 2009, she went to work as a seasonal keeper in the Pachyderm dept at the Columbus Zoo. At the end of the season she found a job waitressing at Jack and Benny's.

Amanda now spends time taking caring of her own little zoo, decorating the new condo, and planning an unforgetable wedding to the man she loves.