Kára McCullough

Kára McCullough Temple (née McCullough) is an American beauty pageant titleholder best known for winning the Miss USA 2017 title. As Miss USA, she represented the United States at Miss Universe 2017, where she finished in the Top 10. Her victory made her the fourth woman from the District of Columbia to hold the national title.

McCullough was born in Naples, Italy, to Betty Ann Parker and Artensel E. McCullough Sr. Because her mother served in the United States Navy for 23 years, McCullough lived in several places during her youth, including Sicily, South Korea, Japan, and Hawaii. She was later raised in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where she completed high school.

She pursued higher education at the HBCU South Carolina State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry with a concentration in radiochemistry. During her time in college, she served as the 75th Miss South Carolina State University and joined organizations such as the American Chemical Society, the Health Physics Society, and the American Nuclear Society. She was also inducted into the Golden Key International Honour Society and the National Society of Black Engineers. Prior to winning Miss USA, she worked professionally as an emergency preparedness specialist in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response.

McCullough began her path in state pageantry by placing as first runner-up in the Miss District of Columbia USA competition in both 2015 and 2016. In 2017, she won the state title and was crowned Miss District of Columbia USA 2017 by outgoing titleholder Deshauna Barber. Her subsequent win at Miss USA marked the first time a state secured back-to-back Miss USA titles since Texas accomplished the feat in 1988 and 1989. McCullough is also recorded as the seventh Miss USA titleholder born outside the United States.

On May 14, 2017, McCullough competed in the Miss USA 2017 pageant in Las Vegas, securing the title over first runner-up Chhavi Verg and second runner-up Meridith Gould. During the competition, her choice to wear her natural hair gained media praise for supporting the natural hair movement. Her answers during the pageant's question segment also generated significant media commentary, particularly when she described healthcare as a privilege for the working rather than a right, and identified herself as an equalist rather than a feminist.

At the Miss Universe 2017 pageant held on November 26, 2017, in Las Vegas, McCullough wore an atom-themed national costume honoring women in science. She advanced to the top ten before her elimination from the contest, which was ultimately won by Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters. McCullough officially ended her reign on May 21, 2018, when she crowned Sarah Rose Summers at the Miss USA 2018 event in Shreveport, Louisiana.

In 2020, McCullough married professional basketball player Garrett Temple in a private ceremony. Together, the couple has three children. Through her marriage, her father-in-law is former professional basketball player Collis Temple.