Klous began her career in the 1970s as a successful model in New York City after graduating with a bachelor of science in biology and psychology from the University of Texas. In New York, executive producer Mark Carliner cast her opposite Connie Sellecca and Katherine Witt (who were also New York City-based models) in the CBS prime-time comedy-drama Flying High (1978–79) about the misadventures of three young flight attendants at the fictional Sun West Airlines. Despite high ratings in the beginning, the series eventually failed and was cancelled four months after it debuted