Tami Farrell
Encyclopedia
Tami Nichole Farrell is a former Miss Teen USA
from Phoenix, Oregon
who placed first runner-up in Miss California 2009
and was crowned Miss California USA
after Carrie Prejean
was dethroned
by pageant officials in 2009.
in 2002 and reigned until she won the Miss Teen USA 2003
title in Palm Springs, California
on August 12, 2003. She also won the "Miss Congeniality" award at the same pageant
. Farrell was the third representative of Oregon to win the pageant.
By winning the pageant, Farrell had the opportunity of making television and modeling appearances for Donald Trump
and NBC. Some of the other prizes included sharing a luxurious Manhattan apartment with the reigning Miss Universe and Miss USA, the Mikimoto crown and tiara, a six-week "Summer in the City" scholarship to The School for Film and television in New York City and a yearlong salary for appearances at charity events and movie premieres
As Miss Teen USA, Farrell represented the Miss Universe Organization
. Her "sister" 2003 titleholders were Amelia Vega
(Miss Universe
, of the Dominican Republic) and Susie Castillo
(Miss USA
, of Massachusetts). In addition, during her reign as Miss Teen USA, Farrell helped raise just over $21 million dollars for American Heart Association, The Sparrow Club and much more. She gave up her title to Shelley Hennig
of Louisiana
in Palm Springs on August 6, 2004.
Farrell later moved to Los Angeles, CA to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. She spent the summer of 2005 in New York City
, attending the summer intensive program of the School for Film and Television
in New York.
Since giving up the crown, Farrell has also judged a number of state pageants, including Miss Washington USA
2006 and Miss California USA
2006. She has also made a guest appearance on the NBC soap Passions
as part of one her many prizes for winning the 2003 Miss Teen USA pageant.
2009 after executive director Keith Lewis alleged that Carrie Prejean
had breached her contract and dethroned her (an accusation Prejean denied).
Farrell, who is a Christian, believes that marriage is between a man and a woman but has said "I don't think that I have the right or anybody has a right to tell somebody who they can or can't love. And I think that this is a civil rights issue. And I think that the right thing to do is let the voters decide."
Miss Teen USA 2003
Miss Teen USA 2003, the 21st Miss Teen USA pageant, was televised live from Palm Springs on 12 August 2003. At the conclusion of the final competition, Miss Oregon Teen USA Tami Farrell was crowned by outgoing queen Vanessa Semrow of Wisconsin....
from Phoenix, Oregon
Phoenix, Oregon
Phoenix is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. The population was 4,060 at the 2000 census and has grown to 4,855 people as of July 1, 2009.-History:...
who placed first runner-up in Miss California 2009
Miss California USA
Miss California USA is a pageant that selects the representative for the state of California in the Miss USA pageant.The current titleholder is Katie Blair. She succeeded Alyssa Campanella on June 25, 2011 after Campanella was crowned Miss USA 2011....
and was crowned Miss California USA
Miss California USA
Miss California USA is a pageant that selects the representative for the state of California in the Miss USA pageant.The current titleholder is Katie Blair. She succeeded Alyssa Campanella on June 25, 2011 after Campanella was crowned Miss USA 2011....
after Carrie Prejean
Carrie Prejean
Caroline Michelle "Carrie" Prejean Boller is an American model, author, former Miss California USA 2009 and Miss USA 2009 first runner-up. Prejean received national attention in 2009 when she told a pageant judge that marriage should be between a man and a woman; pageant judge and gossip blogger...
was dethroned
Miss USA 2009 controversy
The Miss USA 2009 controversy centered around Miss California USA 2009 Carrie Prejean's answer to a question regarding same-sex marriage. During the ceremony, the five finalists were all asked about political issues such as how to fight domestic violence, whether or not to use taxpayer money to...
by pageant officials in 2009.
Miss Teen USA 2003
Tami Farrell won her first title, Miss Oregon Teen USAMiss Oregon Teen USA
The Miss Oregon Teen USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Oregon in the Miss Teen USA pageant.Until Tennessee's victory in 2009, Oregon was the only state to win more than one Miss Teen USA title - they have produced three winners...
in 2002 and reigned until she won the Miss Teen USA 2003
Miss Teen USA 2003
Miss Teen USA 2003, the 21st Miss Teen USA pageant, was televised live from Palm Springs on 12 August 2003. At the conclusion of the final competition, Miss Oregon Teen USA Tami Farrell was crowned by outgoing queen Vanessa Semrow of Wisconsin....
title in Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs is a desert city in Riverside County, California, within the Coachella Valley. It is located approximately 37 miles east of San Bernardino, 111 miles east of Los Angeles and 136 miles northeast of San Diego...
on August 12, 2003. She also won the "Miss Congeniality" award at the same pageant
Beauty contest
A beauty pageant or beauty contest, is a competition that mainly focuses on the physical beauty of its contestants, although such contests often incorporate personality, talent, and answers to judges' questions as judged criteria...
. Farrell was the third representative of Oregon to win the pageant.
By winning the pageant, Farrell had the opportunity of making television and modeling appearances for Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump, Sr. is an American business magnate, television personality and author. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump's extravagant lifestyle, outspoken manner and role on the NBC reality show The Apprentice have...
and NBC. Some of the other prizes included sharing a luxurious Manhattan apartment with the reigning Miss Universe and Miss USA, the Mikimoto crown and tiara, a six-week "Summer in the City" scholarship to The School for Film and television in New York City and a yearlong salary for appearances at charity events and movie premieres
As Miss Teen USA, Farrell represented the Miss Universe Organization
Miss Universe Organization
The Miss Universe Organization is the organization that currently owns and runs the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA beauty contests. Based in New York, it is owned jointly by NBC Universal and Donald Trump. The current president is Paula Shugart...
. Her "sister" 2003 titleholders were Amelia Vega
Amelia Vega
Amelia Vega Polanco became the first and only Dominican woman to be named Miss Universe, in 2003. At the age of 18, she was the youngest winner since 1994....
(Miss Universe
Miss Universe
Miss Universe is an annual international beauty contest that is run by the Miss Universe Organization. The pageant is the most publicized beauty contest in the world with 600 million viewers....
, of the Dominican Republic) and Susie Castillo
Susie Castillo
Susie Castillo is a former beauty queen who held the Miss USA title and competed in the Miss Teen USA and Miss Universe pageants...
(Miss USA
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...
, of Massachusetts). In addition, during her reign as Miss Teen USA, Farrell helped raise just over $21 million dollars for American Heart Association, The Sparrow Club and much more. She gave up her title to Shelley Hennig
Shelley Hennig
Shelley Catherine "Shell" Hennig is a beauty pageant titleholder from Destrehan, Louisiana who held the Miss Teen USA 2004 title. She is also an actress who played Stephanie Johnson on Days of our Lives...
of Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
in Palm Springs on August 6, 2004.
Farrell later moved to Los Angeles, CA to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. She spent the summer of 2005 in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, attending the summer intensive program of the School for Film and Television
School for Film and Television
The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts , is a professional acting training conservatory in New York City for actors focusing on acting for film and television and the stage, including television dramas, commercials, motion pictures, internet serials, and voice overs...
in New York.
Since giving up the crown, Farrell has also judged a number of state pageants, including Miss Washington USA
Miss Washington USA
The Miss Washington USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Washington in the Miss USA pageant.Washington has been moderately successful in terms of number of semi-finalists and placements, and has had one Miss USA...
2006 and Miss California USA
Miss California USA
Miss California USA is a pageant that selects the representative for the state of California in the Miss USA pageant.The current titleholder is Katie Blair. She succeeded Alyssa Campanella on June 25, 2011 after Campanella was crowned Miss USA 2011....
2006. She has also made a guest appearance on the NBC soap Passions
Passions
Passions is an American television soap opera which aired on NBC from July 5, 1999 to September 7, 2007 and on The 101 Network from September 17, 2007 to August 7, 2008....
as part of one her many prizes for winning the 2003 Miss Teen USA pageant.
Miss California Ambassador
In the summer of 2008 she won the title of Miss Malibu USA 2009 and competed at the 2009 Miss California USA Pageant where she finished as first runner up to the winner Carrie Prejean. California pageant officials appointed Farrell as "our official Beauty of California ambassador".Miss California USA 2009
On June 10, 2009, she became Miss California USAMiss California USA
Miss California USA is a pageant that selects the representative for the state of California in the Miss USA pageant.The current titleholder is Katie Blair. She succeeded Alyssa Campanella on June 25, 2011 after Campanella was crowned Miss USA 2011....
2009 after executive director Keith Lewis alleged that Carrie Prejean
Carrie Prejean
Caroline Michelle "Carrie" Prejean Boller is an American model, author, former Miss California USA 2009 and Miss USA 2009 first runner-up. Prejean received national attention in 2009 when she told a pageant judge that marriage should be between a man and a woman; pageant judge and gossip blogger...
had breached her contract and dethroned her (an accusation Prejean denied).
Farrell, who is a Christian, believes that marriage is between a man and a woman but has said "I don't think that I have the right or anybody has a right to tell somebody who they can or can't love. And I think that this is a civil rights issue. And I think that the right thing to do is let the voters decide."