One of the things you learn being in the public eye is that you have the ability to raise awareness about serious issues, and, in the process, really help people.

Brinkmann was seventeen years her senior. Since then Mena Suvari has appeared in Loser (2000) with her American Pie co-star Jason Biggs and played a main character in the comedy film Sugar & Spice (2001). She has three older brothers.

Her first major film roles were in American Beauty (1999) for which Mena Suvari was nominated for a BAFTA Award and American Pie (1999). Suvari is a model for Lancôme cosmetics and print ads for Lancôme Paris Adaptîve and has been featured in several fashion blogs and magazines such as Vogue. She is also active in feminist issues and is involved with charities whose cause is breast cancer and "End Violence Against Women" campaign.