With my newest character Draca I guess I started with an idea and build her from there.
I had a little idea of what she looked like. I researched names and birthdays/zodiacs. Then when I found the name and birthday that I felt was my character I looked on here and around the internet for a picture or celebrity that might fit with no luck. So I went in to my sims 3 game and made a teen. Added some of the traits in sims. Thought up some of her personality. Remade her a few times. I did some more work on her traits and personality.
We have Draca Deadman. She is my avatar and I also have a full shot of her as my profile picture.