Charlotte also co-authored a book titled Lost in the System, published in 1996, detailing her childhood and subsequent rise to Miss Teen USA. She later changed her last name to Ayanna, meaning “blessed” in Cherokee. She made guest appearances on television shows including Weird Science and Entourage and also appeared in the music video for fellow Puerto Rican Ricky Martín’s hit She’s All I Ever Had. She starred opposite Martin Freeman from The Office in the Parisian band Ilya’s music video, Bellissima. Her film roles include Jawbreaker (1999), The Rage: Carrie 2 (1999), Dancing at the Blue Iguana (2000), Kate & Leopold (2001), Training Day (as Ethan Hawke’s wife) and Love the Hard Way (2003) with Adrien Brody. She also starred with Sean Patrick Flanery as the sexy vampiress in the horror-made-for-DVD movie The Insatiable (2007).In 2002 she landed the Best Actress award at the Valenciennes International Festival of Action and Adventure Films for Love the Hard Way (2001) (tied with Kajol for Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham).Charlotte Ayanna won best actress of the season at The Equity Dorset Summer Theater Festival for her role as Brook Ashton in the farce, Noises Off.
