Donna was concerned about her younger sister Katie, who had low self esteem due to bad acne, and convinced classmate Rocco Carner to date her. Rocco was interested in Donna, but she was already involved with Mark and was living with him. Donna finally realized what kind of person Mark really was and booted him out of her life, but she and Rocco were never able to make a go of their relationship. Donna was hired on to model for Tommy Bayland, who turned her on to agent Nick Preston, who convinced Donna to pose nude for a European magazine. Bill Spencer saw the photos and published them in an American magazine, leading to Donna joining forces with Rocco and Nick to take nude pictures of Bill to publish in his own magazines. Donna eventually confessed what she did to Bill and even asked Bill to transfer her father Stephen, who worked for Bill's company, back to Los Angeles from Paris, but Stephanie Forrester vetoed that idea. After a failed relationship with Thorne Forrester, Donna left Los Angeles for San Francisco, returning for special occasions.

Donna returned to town in the summer of 2006, and immediately took a dislike to Brooke's husband Nick. After repeatedly encouraging Brooke to reunite with Ridge, Donna finally accepted that Brooke wanted to be with Nick and sought Brooke's permission to pursue Ridge romantically. Brooke agreed, and Donna, who also became the new spokesmodel for Brooke's Bedroom, began to pursue Ridge romantically. She had finally decided that she was going to give herself to Ridge, but then Brooke and Nick's marriage ended abruptly and Brooke reunited with Ridge, leaving Donna heartbroken. After she witnessed a battle between Stephanie and Jackie that resulted in Jackie going over the balcony, Donna told Nick that she had seen Stephanie push Jackie. When Nick and Jackie took control of Forrester Creations as part of a settlement deal, Donna agreed to be the company's spokesmodel.

Donna soon became good friends with Jackie, and when Jackie wanted her help breaking up Ridge and Brooke by pushing Rick and Phoebe together, Donna reluctantly agreed because Jackie convinced her that it was the best thing for Brooke.