Kandace Krueger
Encyclopedia
Kandace Gayle Krueger Matthews (born May 27, 1976) is an American television personality and former beauty queen who has held the Miss USA
title. She was born and raised in Austin, Texas
. She was born to Larry & Barbara Johnson Krueger. She has one sister named Katrina.
USA, in 1999 and her second, Miss Austin
USA, in 2000. Krueger competed in the Miss Texas USA
pageant numerous times in 1990s without placing, although she came close to making the top twelve in 1999 at the Miss Texas USA 2000 pageant. In 2000, her first appearance in the pageant semi-finalis, Krueger won the Miss Texas USA
2001 title.
in the Miss USA 2001
pageant broadcast live from Gary, Indiana
in March 2001. She made the semi-finals, becoming the first Texan to make the top ten in two years, placed second in the swimsuit competition (9.38) and fourth in the evening gown competition (9.29). She entered the top five in second place, with an average combined score of 9.33. After the final interview round she was ranked second, but went on to win the pageant. Krueger was the eighth Miss USA titleholder, becoming the first Texan to win since Chelsi Smith
in 1995, and extending Texas' record for the most titles.
During her reign, she advocated breast cancer
and ovarian cancer
research and funding and resided in a luxury riverside apartment in New York City provided by the Miss Universe Organization. During her homecoming in Texas, she was given the key to the city of Austin, presented to the Senate, and met with governor Rick Perry
.
Pageant in Bayamón, Puerto Rico
, where she placed as 2nd runner-up, behind eventual Miss Universe 2001 Denise Quiñones
of Puerto Rico
and Evelina Papantoniou of Greece. She placed third in the swimsuit competition (9.37) and fourth in evening gown (9.45).
and studied journalism
. Her ambition was to become a sports newsbroadcaster. She was given the chance to be a presenter for the Miss USA 2002 broadcast. In 2002 Krueger worked for KBTX-TV
in College Station, Texas
as a field reporter. She has hosted numerous Miss Texas USA pageants and remains associated with Miss Austin USA.
In May 2005, Krueger married longtime partner Rob Matthews in Dallas, Texas
. The couple's first child, Ashlyn Grace Matthews was born March 18, 2008. Krueger gave birth to triplets Ainsley, Asher and Alexa Matthews on June 19, 2010.
Miss USA
The Miss USA beauty contest has been held annually since 1952 to select the United States entrant in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization operates both pageants, as well as Miss Teen USA...
title. She was born and raised in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. She was born to Larry & Barbara Johnson Krueger. She has one sister named Katrina.
Miss Texas USA
Krueger started competing in local Miss Texas USA pageants as an eighteen year-old, placing in the top five but not winning. She won her first local title, Miss Williamson CountyWilliamson County, Texas
Williamson County is a county located on both the Edwards Plateau to the west, consisting of rocky terrain and hills, and Blackland Prairies in the east consising of rich, fertile farming land, The two areas are roughly bisected by Interstate 35...
USA, in 1999 and her second, Miss Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
USA, in 2000. Krueger competed in the Miss Texas USA
Miss Texas USA
The Miss Texas USA competition is the pageant who selects the representative for the state Texas in the Miss USA pageant. In turn, the winner of Miss USA competes for the title of Miss Universe....
pageant numerous times in 1990s without placing, although she came close to making the top twelve in 1999 at the Miss Texas USA 2000 pageant. In 2000, her first appearance in the pageant semi-finalis, Krueger won the Miss Texas USA
Miss Texas USA
The Miss Texas USA competition is the pageant who selects the representative for the state Texas in the Miss USA pageant. In turn, the winner of Miss USA competes for the title of Miss Universe....
2001 title.
Miss USA
Krueger represented TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
in the Miss USA 2001
Miss USA 2001
Miss USA 2001, the 50th edition of the Miss USA pageant was held at the Genesis Convention Center, Gary, Indiana on March 2, 2001. The event was won by Kandace Krueger of Texas, who was crowned by outgoing queen Lynnette Cole of Tennessee....
pageant broadcast live from Gary, Indiana
Gary, Indiana
Gary is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The city is in the southeastern portion of the Chicago metropolitan area and is 25 miles from downtown Chicago. The population is 80,294 at the 2010 census, making it the seventh-largest city in the state. It borders Lake Michigan and is known...
in March 2001. She made the semi-finals, becoming the first Texan to make the top ten in two years, placed second in the swimsuit competition (9.38) and fourth in the evening gown competition (9.29). She entered the top five in second place, with an average combined score of 9.33. After the final interview round she was ranked second, but went on to win the pageant. Krueger was the eighth Miss USA titleholder, becoming the first Texan to win since Chelsi Smith
Chelsi Smith
Chelsi Mariam Pearl Smith is a former beauty pageant titleholder from the United States who became the first Miss USA in fifteen years to capture the Miss Universe crown on May 12, 1995.-Early life:...
in 1995, and extending Texas' record for the most titles.
During her reign, she advocated breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
and ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer is a cancerous growth arising from the ovary. Symptoms are frequently very subtle early on and may include: bloating, pelvic pain, difficulty eating and frequent urination, and are easily confused with other illnesses....
research and funding and resided in a luxury riverside apartment in New York City provided by the Miss Universe Organization. During her homecoming in Texas, she was given the key to the city of Austin, presented to the Senate, and met with governor Rick Perry
Rick Perry
James Richard "Rick" Perry is the 47th and current Governor of Texas. A Republican, Perry was elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas in 1998 and assumed the governorship in December 2000 when then-governor George W. Bush resigned to become President of the United States. Perry was elected to full...
.
Miss Universe
As Miss USA, Krueger earned the right to represent the United States at the Miss Universe 2001Miss Universe 2001
Miss Universe 2001 was held at Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez, Bayamón, Puerto Rico on May 11, 2001. 77 contestants participated in the prestigious event...
Pageant in Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Bayamón is a municipality of Puerto Rico located on the northern coastal valley, north of Aguas Buenas and Comerío; south of Toa Baja and Cataño; west of Guaynabo; and east of Toa Alta and Naranjito. Bayamón is spread over 11 wards and Bayamón Pueblo...
, where she placed as 2nd runner-up, behind eventual Miss Universe 2001 Denise Quiñones
Denise Quiñones
Denise Marie Quiñones August is a Puerto Rican actress and beauty pageant titleholder who was the fourth woman from her country to win the Miss Universe contest...
of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
and Evelina Papantoniou of Greece. She placed third in the swimsuit competition (9.37) and fourth in evening gown (9.45).
Career and family
Prior to Miss USA, Krueger attended Texas A&MTexas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
and studied journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
. Her ambition was to become a sports newsbroadcaster. She was given the chance to be a presenter for the Miss USA 2002 broadcast. In 2002 Krueger worked for KBTX-TV
KBTX-TV
KBTX-TV 3 is the CBS television network affiliate located in Bryan/College Station, Texas, and has the only television news organization based in the Brazos Valley. It airs on digital UHF Channel 50 and is owned by Gray Television. It is a sister station to KWTX-TV in Waco...
in College Station, Texas
College Station, Texas
College Station is a city in Brazos County, Texas, situated in East Central Texas in the heart of the Brazos Valley. The city is located within the most populated region of Texas, near three of the 10 largest cities in the United States - Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio...
as a field reporter. She has hosted numerous Miss Texas USA pageants and remains associated with Miss Austin USA.
In May 2005, Krueger married longtime partner Rob Matthews in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
. The couple's first child, Ashlyn Grace Matthews was born March 18, 2008. Krueger gave birth to triplets Ainsley, Asher and Alexa Matthews on June 19, 2010.