Bowlby moved to Manteca, California, as a child. She studied ballet and French at Moorpark College before deciding to pursue an acting career. She studied drama with Ivana Chubbuck and secured a role in a major television series (Kandi in Two and a Half Men) within months of her first Hollywood audition. Bowlby has appeared on many TV series including CSI as "Kaitlin Rackish" in 2004, CSI: NY as "Jenny Lee" in 2005, Freddie as "Sydney" in 2005, and Stacked as "Jasmine" in 2005. Bowlby has an upcoming role in the movie All Roads Lead Home as "Natasha", about a 12 year old girl who loses her mother in an automobile accident.

She resides in Los Angeles. She has natural red hair and blue eyes.