Heather Anderson Interview
Miss Utah USA 2007 (top 10 @ Miss USA 2007)
Why did you decide to compete in the Miss Utah USA pageant?
I was working as a full-time runway model when I got the call from my dad telling me that my little brother was dead. He died of an accidental drug overdose. My world changed forever. I flew home to Utah planning to stay for a few months before returning to my life in L.A. When the coroner called to give my family the autopsy results we weren’t surprised. What did shock me was when she said that she saw at least one person come through her doors every day having died of a drug overdose. In Salt Lake County one person a day was dying of drugs. That is an epidemic and it seemed like no one was talking about it. That is when I decided that I wanted to talk about it. I knew that as Heather Anderson I might be able to get into a few schools but as Miss Utah USA I could get into any school in the state to share my brothers’ story. That is when I decided to compete for the title of Miss Utah USA 2007.
What was going through your head when you realized you were the new Miss Utah USA?
I was completely shocked. I was competing against some incredible women, including two former Miss Utah Americas. When they announced me as the next Miss Utah USA my eyes filled with tears and I knew that I could make a difference. Now I had a voice.
What would be your most memorable moment at Miss USA?
I had so many incredible moments at Miss USA and met some fantastic people but my most memorable moment came at the hardest time for me. The pageant was over and I came in 6th place. It was a crushing defeat. I walked out of the dressing room to a boisterous applause from my family and friends. My dad gave me a huge hug and said “I am so proud of you. You did it. You said you wanted the nation to hear Brad’s story and they did.” Every girl who placed in the Top Ten had a video spot played for them. A few girls talked about hobbies or awards they won in high school. The clip they chose of me was talking about my brother’s death and that the ONLY difference between me standing up there and my brother laying dead in a cemetery is that I said NO to drugs every time and he didn’t. That is the only difference. When I realized that, I couldn’t help but be in awe of my many blessings and opportunities. Although it wasn’t the way I had hoped, I fulfilled my dreams and goals at Miss USA.
What would be your first thought when you realized you made the top 15 and then the top 10 in Miss USA?
To be honest, I was nervous when I made Top 15. I felt myself shaking. I just thought, “OK this is it.” When they announced Top Ten I was a little shocked. I had Miss South Carolina placing in the Top 5 and when she was cut I wasn’t sure what to think. I just ran backstage and started changing. It was so fast paced and surreal.
Tell us about the work you do to promote drug education.
I have had the opportunity to speak at hundreds of DARE (drug abuse resistance education) graduations and have since become the State of Utah’s official DARE spokesperson. I work extensively with the Utah Council for Crime prevention as an executive board member. I serve on the National Crime Prevention Association, was also appointed by the attorney general of Utah to serve on the Methamphetamine State Task Force, am an ambassador with the Power in You and a member of USAAV (Utah Substance Abuse and Anti-Violence Coordinating Council). I also serve on the National McGruff Board. I am the Honorary Membership Chair for the state PTA for 2009-2011. I helped pass legislation that removed “alcopops” from grocery and convenience stores in the state of Utah. Through all of these mediums I am able to work behind the scenes to fight substance abuse and speak to hundreds of thousands of children and adults about the importance of saying NO to drugs.
What emotions were you going through when you had to give away your title?
I was happy to pass on the crown. I had an amazing year. The only reason I wanted the crown was so I could use it as a tool to prevent kids from ever using drugs. By the time my reign was over I had my foot in enough doors that I was able to continue to serve. I figured I was giving up a few appearances where I would smile and wave and I got to keep everything that really mattered to me. I actually pass my crown around and let every student try it on. It has been broken and soldered back together more times than I can count. But I figure the reason I became Miss Utah was so I could talk to them so it only seems right that they get to be Miss Utah too. As far as I am concerned the crown is a hammer. It allowed me to knock through some walls and I have kept going. Now that I am in the prevention world I will never get out.
Lastly, what have you been up to since your reign as Miss Utah USA ended?
I just graduated from Utah State University with a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Psychology. My next step is to get my PhD in Psychology. I figure that when I no longer look like Miss Utah and the kids don’t listen to me as much, with a PhD their parents will. I plan to do drug abuse prevention for the rest of my life. I am currently working in a university research lab dealing with alcohol, cocaine and meth to find better treatment strategies. Other than that, I have performed on my universities Competition Ballroom Dance Team and stayed overly busy with all of the councils I mentioned in earlier answers as well as speaking in schools and giving church firesides. I actually won a departmental award from my college for outstanding service in the applied field of Psychology for all of the work I have done to promote prevention as well as winning the Power of Prevention Award for the state of Utah in 2007.
I was working as a full-time runway model when I got the call from my dad telling me that my little brother was dead. He died of an accidental drug overdose. My world changed forever. I flew home to Utah planning to stay for a few months before returning to my life in L.A. When the coroner called to give my family the autopsy results we weren’t surprised. What did shock me was when she said that she saw at least one person come through her doors every day having died of a drug overdose. In Salt Lake County one person a day was dying of drugs. That is an epidemic and it seemed like no one was talking about it. That is when I decided that I wanted to talk about it. I knew that as Heather Anderson I might be able to get into a few schools but as Miss Utah USA I could get into any school in the state to share my brothers’ story. That is when I decided to compete for the title of Miss Utah USA 2007.
What was going through your head when you realized you were the new Miss Utah USA?
I was completely shocked. I was competing against some incredible women, including two former Miss Utah Americas. When they announced me as the next Miss Utah USA my eyes filled with tears and I knew that I could make a difference. Now I had a voice.
What would be your most memorable moment at Miss USA?
I had so many incredible moments at Miss USA and met some fantastic people but my most memorable moment came at the hardest time for me. The pageant was over and I came in 6th place. It was a crushing defeat. I walked out of the dressing room to a boisterous applause from my family and friends. My dad gave me a huge hug and said “I am so proud of you. You did it. You said you wanted the nation to hear Brad’s story and they did.” Every girl who placed in the Top Ten had a video spot played for them. A few girls talked about hobbies or awards they won in high school. The clip they chose of me was talking about my brother’s death and that the ONLY difference between me standing up there and my brother laying dead in a cemetery is that I said NO to drugs every time and he didn’t. That is the only difference. When I realized that, I couldn’t help but be in awe of my many blessings and opportunities. Although it wasn’t the way I had hoped, I fulfilled my dreams and goals at Miss USA.
What would be your first thought when you realized you made the top 15 and then the top 10 in Miss USA?
To be honest, I was nervous when I made Top 15. I felt myself shaking. I just thought, “OK this is it.” When they announced Top Ten I was a little shocked. I had Miss South Carolina placing in the Top 5 and when she was cut I wasn’t sure what to think. I just ran backstage and started changing. It was so fast paced and surreal.
Tell us about the work you do to promote drug education.
I have had the opportunity to speak at hundreds of DARE (drug abuse resistance education) graduations and have since become the State of Utah’s official DARE spokesperson. I work extensively with the Utah Council for Crime prevention as an executive board member. I serve on the National Crime Prevention Association, was also appointed by the attorney general of Utah to serve on the Methamphetamine State Task Force, am an ambassador with the Power in You and a member of USAAV (Utah Substance Abuse and Anti-Violence Coordinating Council). I also serve on the National McGruff Board. I am the Honorary Membership Chair for the state PTA for 2009-2011. I helped pass legislation that removed “alcopops” from grocery and convenience stores in the state of Utah. Through all of these mediums I am able to work behind the scenes to fight substance abuse and speak to hundreds of thousands of children and adults about the importance of saying NO to drugs.
What emotions were you going through when you had to give away your title?
I was happy to pass on the crown. I had an amazing year. The only reason I wanted the crown was so I could use it as a tool to prevent kids from ever using drugs. By the time my reign was over I had my foot in enough doors that I was able to continue to serve. I figured I was giving up a few appearances where I would smile and wave and I got to keep everything that really mattered to me. I actually pass my crown around and let every student try it on. It has been broken and soldered back together more times than I can count. But I figure the reason I became Miss Utah was so I could talk to them so it only seems right that they get to be Miss Utah too. As far as I am concerned the crown is a hammer. It allowed me to knock through some walls and I have kept going. Now that I am in the prevention world I will never get out.
Lastly, what have you been up to since your reign as Miss Utah USA ended?
I just graduated from Utah State University with a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Psychology. My next step is to get my PhD in Psychology. I figure that when I no longer look like Miss Utah and the kids don’t listen to me as much, with a PhD their parents will. I plan to do drug abuse prevention for the rest of my life. I am currently working in a university research lab dealing with alcohol, cocaine and meth to find better treatment strategies. Other than that, I have performed on my universities Competition Ballroom Dance Team and stayed overly busy with all of the councils I mentioned in earlier answers as well as speaking in schools and giving church firesides. I actually won a departmental award from my college for outstanding service in the applied field of Psychology for all of the work I have done to promote prevention as well as winning the Power of Prevention Award for the state of Utah in 2007.