Katie Leclerc in Switched at Birth!

IMTA alum Katie Leclerc is starring as Daphne Vasquez in the new ABC Family drama Switched at Birth! The first look at the new series debuted during the recent season premiere of ABC Family's hit The Secret Life of the American Teenager! ABC Family is promoting Switched at Birth very early and creating a lot of anticipation and buzz for the summer must-see show which will debut in June!

Switched at Birth is the story of two girls who were accidentally switched at birth. According to IMDB, "Bay Kennish grew up in a wealthy family with two parents and two brothers, while Daphne Vasquez, who lost her hearing as a child due to a case of meningitis, grew up with a single mother in a poor neighborhood. Things come to a dramatic head when both families meet and struggle to learn how to live together for the sake of the girls. "

It is a very challenging role for Katie as she has to speak her lines with a deaf accent and use ASL to sign her lines as well. The drama is being assigned the high-profile time slot immediately after Secret Life of the American Teen!

Katie competed at IMTA when she was fifteen where her talent, gorgeous face and appealing personality impressed many of the casting directors, agents and managers who were at IMTA scouting for new talent. Katie's mother Vicki Leclerc shared the following with us:
"It's all because of IMTA. Katie has been able to launch her career because of IMTA."

Katie has shot several PSA's and interviews about bullying recently. Katie will be featured in an upcoming Seventeen magazine photo layout and interview and she has had interviews with Entertainment Tonight promoting Switched at Birth. The show and photos of the cast will also be featured on billboards, posters and buses.

Stay tuned for more of this talented young actress!