Willows has had a pretty tough life - born in Las Vegas, she was raised by a single mother who worked as a cocktail waitress and Las Vegas showgirl. Despite possessing superior intelligence the young Catherine dropped out of school and fell into the world of exotic dancing. She spent years supporting her deadbeat boyfriend. After being convinced to return to school she achieved a degree in medical science.

This enabled her to start her career as a lab technician. She eventually moved up through the ranks and is now a CSI level 3. It hasnÂ’t been easy to juggle her career while being a single mother but her dedication to her craft and her family are second to none.