Western Kentucky University is a public university in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It was founded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1906, though its roots reach back a quarter-century earlier. It operates regional campuses in Glasgow, Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, and Owensboro.
Miss USA is an American beauty pageant that has been held annually since 1952 to select the entrant from United States in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization operated both pageants, as well as Miss Teen USA, until 2020, when the organization announced it was licensing operation of the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants to Crystle Stewart, Miss USA for 2008.
Miss Teen USA is a beauty pageant formerly run, since 1983, by the Miss Universe Organization for girls aged 14–19. Unlike its sister pageants Miss Universe, which currently broadcasts on Fox and Miss USA, this pageant is webcast on the Miss Teen USA website and simulcast on mobile devices and video game consoles. The Miss Universe Organization previously operated Miss Teen USA, as well as Miss USA, until 2020 when the rights to produce both pageants were licensed to Miss USA 2008 Crystle Stewart. The parent company of all three pageants and the Miss Universe organization remains the same under the licensing agreement: IMG, a subsidiary of Endeavor.
Tara Elizabeth Conner is an American model, television personality, and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss USA 2006 and has also competed in the Miss Teen USA and Miss Universe pageants. Apart from her role as Miss USA, Conner has been employed as a model. She was a featured model on the HDNet series Bikini Destinations in 2004, posing in Lake Tahoe. She has also held the titles Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2002, Miss Kentucky County Fair 2004, and Miss Kentucky USA 2006.
The Miss Kentucky USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Kentucky in the Miss USA pageant. It is currently directed by Proctor Productions and it was formerly directed by Connie Clark Harrison, Miss Kentucky USA 1976.
Shelley Catherine Hennig is an American actress and model. She is the recipient of several accolades, including a Teen Choice Award and two Daytime Emmy Award nominations.
Marissa Whitley is a former Miss Teen USA, having won the 2001 title representing the state of Missouri. Born on January 11, 1983 in Los Angeles, California to an African American father and Caucasian mother. The youngest of four, Marissa moved to Springfield, Missouri at age three after the premature death of her mother and was raised by her aunt while her older siblings were split among other family members. At age 5, Marissa's father was killed in a drive by shooting in Los Angeles before they had the chance to meet. She was the first titleholder from that state to win the national competition.
The Miss Kentucky Teen USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Kentucky in the Miss Teen USA pageant.
Claudia Nicole O'Brian is a former beauty queen and reality television show contestant from Friendswood, Texas, who has competed in the Miss Teen USA and Miss USA pageants.
Jamie Grimes is an American beauty queen and model from Altoona, Iowa who became the first and so far only woman from Iowa to capture the Miss Teen USA crown and placed third runner-up to Mrs America 2005. Among these achievements is giving birth to her two children, most notably her son, Mason Patterson.
Miss USA 2002 was the 51st Miss USA pageant, held at Genesis Convention Center in Gary, Indiana on March 1, 2002. The event was won by Shauntay Hinton of the District of Columbia, who was crowned by outgoing queen Kandace Krueger of Texas. This is the second year in a row and third time since 1995 a Miss Teen USA state delegate did not win or inherit the Miss USA title.
Sarah French is an American journalist. She is currently an anchor/reporter for WCNC 36 in Charlotte, North Carolina. After the murder of her friend and colleague Alice Morrin, French became an advocate for domestic violence victims and worked with Connecticut legislators, trying to pass a 911 texting bill in Morrin's name.
Miss Teen USA 2000, the 18th Miss Teen USA pageant, was televised live from Shreveport, Louisiana on August 26, 2000. At the conclusion of the final competition, Jillian Parry of Pennsylvania was crowned by outgoing queen Ashley Coleman of Delaware.
Miss Teen USA 1999, the 17th Miss Teen USA pageant, was televised live from Shreveport, Louisiana on 24 August 1999. At the conclusion of the final competition, Ashley Coleman of Delaware was crowned by outgoing queen Vanessa Minnillo of South Carolina.
Miss Teen USA 1998, the 16th Miss Teen USA pageant, was televised live from Shreveport, Louisiana on 17 August 1998. At the conclusion of the final competition, Vanessa Minnillo of South Carolina was crowned by outgoing queen Shelly Moore of Tennessee.
Miss Teen USA 1997, the 15th Miss Teen USA pageant, was televised live from South Padre Island, Texas on 20 August, 1997. At the conclusion of the final competition, Shelly Moore of Tennessee was crowned by outgoing queen Christie Lee Woods of Texas.
Miss Teen USA 1989, the 7th Miss Teen USA pageant, was televised live from Orange Pavilion, San Bernardino, California on July 25, 1989. At the conclusion of the final competition, Brandi Sherwood of Idaho was crowned by outgoing titleholder Mindy Duncan of Oregon.
The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and Lady Toppers are the athletic teams that represent Western Kentucky University (WKU). The men's teams use the name Hilltoppers; however, the women's teams use the name Lady Toppers. The university's athletic program fields 17 varsity teams in 11 different sports. WKU participates in the Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and competes as a member of Conference USA.
Alyssa Marie Campanella is an American model, blogger, and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss USA 2011. Having previously been crowned Miss California USA 2011, Campanella was the sixth woman representing California to win the Miss USA title. As Miss USA, Campanella represented the United States at Miss Universe 2011, where she placed in the top sixteen. A native of New Jersey, Campanella was also crowned Miss New Jersey Teen USA 2007 and placed as the first runner-up at Miss Teen USA 2007.
Maria Christina Maldonado Smith is an American beauty pageant titleholder from Lexington, Kentucky. She was named Miss Kentucky Teen 1999 and crowned Miss Kentucky 2004. She competed for the Miss America 2005 title.
