Samantha Keene Anderson
Samantha Keene Anderson | |
|---|---|
| Born | Samantha Keene Andersion December 12, 1997 |
| Education | Virginia Tech Loyola University Baltimore |
| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
| Title | Miss United States 2021 Miss United Universe 2023 Miss Teen Arizona 2014 |
| Years active | 2014–present |
| Major competition(s) | Miss United States 2021 (Winner) |
Samantha Anderson (born 1997) is an American beauty pageant titleholder from Chandler, Arizona, who was crowned Miss United States 2021.[1][2] She is a Montessori teacher[3] and an advocate for women in aviation.[4]
Personal life
Anderson grew up in the Ahwatukee Foothills in Phoenix, Arizona. She attended Grace Community Christian School in Tempe[5] and Desert Vista High School in Phoenix.[6] Her father, Sherman, was a veteran of the war in Vietnam.[7][8] Anderson was orphaned in 2014 when both of her parents were killed in a plane crash.[7] Anderson's mother, Sherry, was one of the first female pilots to fly for a commercial airline[4] and was a member of the International Society of Women Pilots (ISA-21).[9] Anderson's mother also competed in pageants as a teen.[9] Anderson won the title of Miss Teen Arizona (National American Miss) just two months after her parents' deaths.
After her parents' death, Anderson became an advocate for diversity in aviation.[10][4] As of 2024, Anderson works as a partner relations specialist at NEXTGEN Aviators by Dynamic Aviation, a nonprofit that promotes STEM education and technical careers through aviation.[11][4][12] Anderson identifies as LGBTQ[8] and is a member of the National Gay Pilots Association.[3][13]
As of 2021, Anderson resides in Blacksburg, Virginia.[2]
Education
Anderson earned a Bachelor's degree in Family and Consumer Sciences from Virginia Tech in 2019.[1][14][2] While at Virginia Tech, she was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.[14] She spend two years at Arizona State University before transferring to Virginia Tech.[8] Anderson earned a Master's Degree in Elementary Education and Montessori Studies from Loyola University Baltimore in 2020.[1]
Pageants
Anderson previously held the title of Miss Teen Arizona 2014, Miss Virginia United States 2019, and Miss Virginia 2020 under the National American Miss (NAM) system.[5] She won the title of Miss United States in 2021.[1] In 2024, she was crowned Miss United Universe with a platform to advocate sustainable living and environmental stewardship.[15][16]
Miss United States
Anderson was crowned Miss United States on October 10, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada.[17][18] During her year as Miss United States, Anderson attended events promoting Girls in Aviation[11][19] and she traveled over 80,000 miles during her reign.[8]
References
- ^ a b c d "Virginia Tech Graduate crowned Miss United States. - NRVNews". nrvnews.com. October 12, 2021. Archived from the original on December 8, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Samantha Anderson | United States National Pageants". www.unitedstatescrown.com. April 10, 2024. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
- ^ a b Geiger, Jefferson (February 11, 2022). "Miss United States makes a layover in Summit County". www.summitdaily.com. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Williams, Megan (May 23, 2022). "A Family Legacy Of Flying Inspired Dynamic Aviation Employee". Daily News-Record. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
- ^ a b Walker, Janet (July 1, 2010). "Anderson is a state finalist in National American Miss". Ahwatukee Foothills News. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ "Ahwatukee girl models at fashion show". East Valley Tribune. January 22, 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ a b "3 Killed In Small Plane Crash Near Telluride ID'd". www.cbsnews.com. February 17, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
- ^ a b c d "On Air With Brittany Baldi: Samantha Anderson: Miss United States 2021". sites.libsyn.com. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
- ^ a b "Obituary for Sherry Ann Anderson at Crosby Funeral Home". www.crosbyfuneralhome.com. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ Erwin, Elizabeth (April 16, 2014). "Miss Teen Arizona story inspires others". East Valley Tribune. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
- ^ a b Heverly, Jackson (August 9, 2022). "2021 Crowned Miss United States, Samatha Anderson, Keynotes Greater Delaware Valley "Girls in Aviation Day" with Highlighted STEM and Aviation Outreach Program, coupled with Vintage Aircraft Display". Dynamic Aviation. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
- ^ Phillips, Lance (August 3, 2022). "NEXTGEN AVIATORS: An immersive program seeking to spark future aviation workers". Twin & Turbine. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
- ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
- ^ a b "Miss Virginia United States named in February". March 6, 2019. Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
- ^ United Universe Pageants (August 22, 2024). "Samantha Anderson Crowned Miss United Universe 2024, Unveils Groundbreaking Environmental Initiative "Crowned with Soil"". Yahoo Finance.
- ^ Pageants, United Universe. "United Universe Pageants". United Universe Pageants. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
- ^ "National United States Pageant" (PDF). The Country Courier. November 10, 2021.
- ^ Chaney, Kim (October 27, 2021). "Memphis woman named 2nd runner up at Miss United States 2021 pageant". WATN-TV. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
- ^ Reece, Janay (December 2, 2021). "NEXTGEN Aviators visits New River Valley". WDBJ. Retrieved March 12, 2025.