CariDee stated during the cycle that she worked as a photographer before appearing on America's Next Top Model. She has suffered from psoriasis for 15 years and believed her dream of becoming a model was unattainable. However, a doctor recommended Raptiva, a drug that CariDee injects weekly in order to help control the skin disease. Although it is effective, it can not cure the disease. CariDee was an actor in the sketch comedy group known as The 4th Option which performed weekly in the old East Gate Lounge in Moorhead Minnesota. On December 13, 2004 she sang with the Willy Waldman Project. CariDee was a listed model with the Academie Agencie in Fargo North Dakota since 2001. She attended the Millie Lewis Actors Models and Talent Competition in 2002 and was placed with Mega Models in Miami Florida for the summer of 2003 and returned to Fargo at the end of the summer.

As winner of the acting challenge in Cycle 7, CariDee had an opportunity to guest-star in an episode of the hit CW series One Tree Hill (which airs immediately following Top Model). Compared to past acting challenge winners, CariDee had a bigger role in that episode. Also, during that same episode, she mentioned, in an emotional outburst during the acting challenge, that she knew about stress and had attempted to kill herself earlier in life because of it.

CariDee recently signed on as spokesperson for the National Psoriasis Foundation to spread awareness about psoriasis and encourage others to seek treatment. As a youngster, CariDee says she felt "cursed" with psoriasis. She experienced taunts and embarrassment. Today, her "curse" is her cause. "Psoriasis awareness is very important to me. I want others with the disease to know they are not alone. I want to inspire them to live their dreams," she said.

CariDee was featured on the front page of Social Life and Cover magazines with Top Model alumnae Naima Mora and Dani Evans. She modeled looks of the Spring in InTouch magazine, and appeared on the weekly "My Life as a CoverGirl" segments on The CW. In 2007, she was featured in an ad for CoverGirl Eye-wear alongside cycle 6 winner Dani Evans, with her and Dani being the only Top Model winners to have their contract renewed She was in the Winter 2007 issue of Knit.1 Magazine, the February 2007 issue of Seventeen the March 2007 issue of In Touch, the Spring 2007 issue of Social Life, the April 2007 issue of Cover and on the cover of "Inked Magazine" for Fall 2007. She has modelled for Wedding Style, JC Penney, Stephenson Denim, Johnny P. Shoes, American Salon and Matrix Professional Colors.

She has also appeared on the finale of the eighth cycle of America's Next Top Model in the runway show and also gave the final 3 contestants of the following cycle advice.