Tami Nichole Farrell (born October 5, 1984) is an American actress, TV host and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Oregon Teen USA 2003, Miss Teen USA 2003 and

Miss California USA Miss California USA is the beauty pageant that selects the representative for the state of California in the Miss USA pageant, and the name of the title held by that winner. The pageant is directed by Crown Diva Productions. California's mos ...

2009.

Biography

Farrell is the daughter of a freight driver and a special education assistant. She suffers from Vasovagal syncope. Farrell graduated from Phoenix High School in 2003. She has supported Sparrow Clubs USA and

American Heart Association The American Heart Association (AHA) is a nonprofit organization in the United States that funds cardiovascular medical research, educates consumers on healthy living and fosters appropriate Heart, cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability ...

since she was a student, continuing her associations throughout her reigns as Miss Teen USA and Miss California USA. After holding the Miss Teen USA title, Farrell spent the summer of 2005 in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

, attending the summer intensive program of the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts in

and then moved to

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. Farrell has judged a number of state pageants, including Miss Washington USA 2006 and

2006.

Miss Teen USA 2003

Tami Farrell won her first title, Miss Oregon Teen USA in 2002 and went on to win the Miss Teen USA 2003 pageant in

Palm Springs, California Palm Springs (Cahuilla language, Cahuilla: ''Séc-he'') is a desert resort city in Riverside County, California, United States, within the Colorado Desert's Coachella Valley. The city covers approximately , making it the largest city in Rivers ...

on August 12, 2003. She also won the Miss Congeniality award at the same

pageant Pageant(s) or The Pageant(s) may refer to: Events * Procession or ceremony in elaborate costume * Beauty pageant, or beauty contest * List of pageants of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints * Medieval pageant, a narrative medieval pro ...

. Farrell was the third representative of Oregon to win the pageant. As Miss Teen USA, Farrell represented the

Miss Universe Organization Miss Universe is an annual international major beauty pageant that is run by a Thailand and Mexican-based Miss Universe Organization.Natalie Tadena (July 2, 2015"Donald Trump's Miss USA Pageant Lands on Reelz Cable Channel". ''The Wall Stre ...

. Her "sister" 2003 titleholders were

Amelia Vega Amelia Vega Polanco (; born 7 November 1984) is a List of people from the Dominican Republic, Dominican actress, model, author, singer and beauty queen. At the age of 18, she won the Miss Universe 2003 pageant, becoming the first ever Miss Univ ...

(

Miss Universe Miss Universe is an annual international major beauty pageant that is run by a Thailand and Mexican-based Miss Universe Organization.Natalie Tadena (July 2, 2015"Donald Trump's Miss USA Pageant Lands on Reelz Cable Channel". ''The Wall Stree ...

, of the Dominican Republic) and Susie Castillo (

Miss USA 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. ...

, of Massachusetts). She gave up her title to Shelley Hennig of

Louisiana Louisiana ( ; ; ) is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It borders Texas to the west, Arkansas to the north, and Mississippi to the east. Of the 50 U.S. states, it ranks 31st in area and 25 ...

in Palm Springs on August 6, 2004.

Miss California USA 2009

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. On June 10, 2009, she became

2009 after Prejean was sacked by

Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 45 ...

. Prejean had created controversy by saying marriage should be reserved for a man and a woman during the interview portion of the Miss USA 2009 pageant. When asked about the controversy in 2009, Farrell, who is a Christian, stated that she believes that marriage is between a man and a woman but added "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."

References

External links

Tami Farrell's Miss California USA profile
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Farrell, Tami 1984 births Living people People from Phoenix, Oregon 2003 beauty pageant contestants 21st-century Miss Teen USA delegates Miss Teen USA winners