Kandace Krueger

Kandace Gayle Krueger Matthews (born May 27, 1976) is an American journalist, singer, TV Host and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss USA 2001 and represented the USA in the Miss Universe 2001 where she placed 2nd runner-up. She is the daughter of Larry and Barbara Johnson Krueger, and was born and raised in Austin, Texas.

Kandace Krueger
Born	Kandace Gayle Krueger[1] (1976-05-27) May 27, 1976[1] Austin, Texas, U.S.
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Title	Miss Texas USA 2001 Miss USA 2001
Beauty pageant titleholder
Hair color	Blonde
Eye color	Green / Hazel
Major competition(s)	Miss Texas USA 2001 (Winner) Miss USA 2001 (Winner) Miss Universe 2001 (2nd runner-Up)

Pageants

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 County 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.

Miss USA

Krueger represented Texas 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.

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.[2]

Miss Universe - 2nd runner up

As Miss USA, Krueger earned the right to represent the United States at the Miss Universe 2001 Pageant in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, where she finished as 2nd Runner-Up, ahead of Celina Jaitley of India and Eva Ekvall of Venezuela and behind Evelina Papantoniou of Greece and winner Denise Quiñones of Puerto Rico. 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&M 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.

She is currently the host of the weekday TV show Today with Kandace broadcast in Dallas, TX.

References

1. "Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997". Ancestry.com. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
2. Wizda, Sharyn (2001-04-04). "A Homecoming for Miss USA". The Austin Statesman. Archived from the original on 2001-08-05. Retrieved 2006-12-01.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)

External links

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Helen Lindes	Miss Universe 2nd Runner-Up 2001	Succeeded by Zhuo Ling
Preceded by Lynnette Cole	Miss USA 2001	Succeeded by Shauntay Hinton
Preceded by Heather Ogilvie	Miss Texas USA 2001	Succeeded by Kasi Kelly