Accuser described as outgoing, forthright, honest (2005)

ANDREA CONSTAND is strikingly beautiful, with long, curly red hair. Six feet tall. A smile a mile wide.

Her father is Greek, but shortened his last name once he moved to Canada. Her mother is Italian, niece of a World War II hero whom the Roman Catholic Church is considering for sainthood.

She was a driven basketball player who dreamed of playing for the pros from the time she was a little girl.

"I'm on a mission," she said in a 1997 interview before leaving for Italy to play on Canada's team in the World University Games. "First to help Canada do well, then to play basketball in Italy and finally crack a spot on a team in the WNBA. "

But today, the 31-year-old woman has gained notoriety not for her successes on the basketball court, but for accusing Bill Cosby, her one-time mentor and Philadelphia's best-loved celebrity, of drugging and sexually assaulting her at his Montgomery County mansion last year. Prosecutors announced last month that they will not file criminal charges against Cosby, but Constand yesterday filed a lawsuit against him. CLICK FOR MORE