Clerks director Kevin Smith cast her for her ability to cry while reciting a monologue for the audition. She later auditioned for Smith's Mallrats and was offered the role of Kim in Chasing Amy, but was not comfortable with kissing another woman on film.
She moved to Sayreville, New Jersey where she attended middle school and graduated from Sayreville War Memorial High School in 1979. After high school, she earned her beautician license to do make-up and hair professionally. She worked at hair salons and later entered acting. Both of her parents are from Puerto Rico.
She performed in community theater in the New Jersey area. Since moving to Los Angeles in 1998, aside from her acting work, Ghigliotti works as a make-up artist in the TV/film industry as well as side work as a wedding stylist.

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