The second of five children, Kristen Meadows was born on January 7, 1957 in the Milwaukee suburb of Shorewood, Wisconsin. Although her mother studied acting, Kristen's mentor and idol was her grandfather, John Anello, conductor of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and founder of the Milwaukee Florentine Opera Company. It was with this company that Kristen at the age of 12 made her stage debut as Liesel in The Sound of Music.

Later, Kristen appeared in Fiddler on the Roof, South Pacific, Hair, Pippin and The Rocky Horror Show. Having completed high school in just three years, she enrolled in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Soon after, she left to appear in Hits of Broadway, a revue in Washington, D.C. This led to several other revues across the country. In 1981, she made her Broadway debut in the musical Fearless Frank.

Kristen may be best remembered to daytime audiences as Mimi King on One Life to Live. She also starred in primetime's Glitter and appeared as a guest star on The A-Team, Hills Street Blues and MacGyver, and many more. She was a model for the prestigious Wilhelmina Agency and did several television commercials. Her film credits include An Unmarried Woman, The Goodbye Girl and Evolution.

Kristen is divorced and has a son, Sam (b. 1990).