Emily Carlson gained notoriety in two careers. First as a top level competitive figure skater and also as a broadcast journalist who has appeared on several television stations nationwide. Carlson grew up near Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was graduated from the Academy of Holy Angels. While attending Holy Angels she earned two gold medals. She rose to the top two percent of competitive figure skaters by passing a series of eight tests in both freestyle skating and moves. This is figure skating's highest honor at that level.