Fort Lauderdale resident Rio Valentine scored a gig on the Playboy reality show "The Sex Life" a week after her 18th birthday. Of Puerto Rican and German descent, Valentine's exotic good looks and playful demeanor impressed prominent adult movie producer Cezar Capone, a.k.a. Bill Fisher, shortly upon meeting, and he signed her to an exclusive contract with his company (as Morgan Dayne).

Her first XXX title, 2008's Deviant, scored her an AVN Award nomination for Best Tease and also placed among the nominees for Best Gonzo Release.

In 2009, she changed camps, joining Digital Playground's elite contract stable and changing her name to Rio Valentine, "Rio" serving as a nod to the classic Duran Duran song about a bold, passionate woman, and "Valentine" signifying her intimate, romantic side.