Tara Conner

Tara Elizabeth Conner, born December 18, 1985, in Dallas, Texas, is an American model, television personality, and beauty pageant titleholder. Her family moved to Russell Springs, Kentucky, when she was six weeks old. Conner began using drugs at age 14 following her parents' separation and her grandfather's death. She graduated from Russell County High School in 2004 and later studied business administration at Somerset Community College. Conner began her pageant career by winning Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2002, subsequently placing as second runner-up at the Miss Teen USA 2002 competition.

Following her teen title, Conner won Miss Kentucky County Fair in 2004 and worked as a featured model on the HDNet series Bikini Destinations, posing in Lake Tahoe. In November 2005, she won the Miss Kentucky USA 2006 title. While holding the state crown, she traveled to Los Angeles in March 2006 to tape a special episode of Deal or No Deal alongside other pageant delegates, which aired the following month.

Conner represented Kentucky at the Miss USA 2006 pageant in Baltimore, Maryland, on April 21, 2006, where she became the first woman from Kentucky to win the title. During the event, she competed in swimwear by BSC Swimwear Thailand and an evening gown designed by Sherri Hill. Winning the pageant made her the 18th woman to place at both Miss Teen USA and Miss USA, as well as the fourth former Miss Teen USA state titleholder to win Miss USA since 2000.

As Miss USA, Conner represented the United States at the Miss Universe 2006 pageant in Los Angeles, wearing a jockey national costume representing the Kentucky Derby and a gown designed by Project Runway contestant Kayne Gillaspie. She finished as fourth runner-up. During her reign, she lived in a Trump Place apartment in New York City with titleholders Zuleyka Rivera and Katie Blair. She participated in media and charity events, guest-judged an episode of Project Runway, rang the opening bell at the American Stock Exchange, went on a USO tour to Italy and Turkey, and appeared in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

In December 2006, public controversy arose regarding Conner's personal conduct, including reports of underage drinking, cocaine use, and public behavior with Katie Blair. Following media speculation that she would lose her crown, Donald Trump announced at a press conference that Conner would retain her title on the condition that she complete a drug rehabilitation program at Caron Treatment Centers in Pennsylvania. After completing treatment in early 2007, Conner publicly acknowledged her past abuse of cocaine and anti-depressants in television interviews.

Following her treatment, Conner resumed her career in media and television. She appeared on the 2007 MTV series Pageant Place, MTV's Pretty Smart in 2008, CMT's Gone Country in 2009, and hosted MTV's The Girls of Hedsor Hall in 2009. She also served as a judge for Miss USA 2010, co-hosted the web series Kaboom, and worked as a field host on Amazing America with Sarah Palin. Conner has since worked as a Public Advocacy Consultant for Caron Treatment Centers, sharing her story of recovery and advocating against drug addiction.