Tami Farrell Interview
Miss Teen USA 2003
Why did you decide to participate in the Miss Oregon Teen USA pageant?
I grew up watching pageants. I can remember as a little girl looking to my Dad and saying I am going to do that some day. Sandwiched between two brothers I grew up a tomboy, but in my heart I always had dreams of acting, modeling and singing. I surrounded myself in sports. I was even the first girl in my area to play on an all boys baseball team.
In middle school I passed out at my grandma's house and that was only the beginning of an ongoing battle with medical problems. I discovered that I had a heart condition along with other medical problems. Sports became hard to do and I decided it was time to see what other gifts I had.
Around that same time a family friend named Elizabeth Heitmanek (Not sure I spelled that right) won the Miss Oregon pageant. She is a smart, beautiful women with an amazing heart. She encouraged me to do the Miss Oregon pageant and so I did it.
Bridget Wilson served as a bit of inspiration on my decision. She was Miss Oregon Teen USA and went on to not only win Miss Teen USA but also to have success as an actress. I figured if she could do it so could I. :)
What was going through your head when you were announced as the winner of Miss Teen USA?
If you watch the video of Miss Teen USA you can see I am completely surprised. I remember calling my mom the day I got to Miss Teen USA and telling her not to come. The girls were so beautiful and talented and I thought there was no way I could win. She told me to just go and have fun and so I did.
I enjoyed everyday. I realized that things were beyond my control. All I could do was have fun and be myself. God was in control and he knew my hearts desire. I leaned on him. I felt a sort of peace telling me to just trust him. I thought he meant he had other plans for me...not that I was going to win.
As the names for the top 15 were called I remember looking out into the audience at my mom. When they has announced the 14th girls name I felt defeated. My mom pointed up and told me to just have faith. I was the 15th and final girl called into the finals. That in its self felt almost as good as winning.
When it was down to the top five and they were announcing the runner ups, each time they made the announcement I started to step forward. When there was only two of us left on stage I laughed and thought God was messing with me. I felt so blessed when my name was called. I can't explain the feeling. It is an overwhelming joy and disbelief. For months I was sure I was in a dream. It was unreal.
What was your most memorable moment during your Miss Teen USA reign?
Ha ha I have three things that stick out the most. The first was funny. It was my first day in New York and my manager Susie from MUO asked me to meet her at a nail place down the street. As I was leaving the apartment I ran into two police men who were doing a follow up to something that had happened in the apartment building before I had moved in. They were really sweet guys and one of them looked at me and said," Hey! Didn't you win Miss Teen USA last night?" I signed autographs and laughed with the guys. They asked where I was going and said they give me a ride. I had to take advantage of the fact that I was in the back of the police car, so I talked the officers into playing along as if I had been arrested.
I called Susie and asked if she could meet me outside. She was then greeted by an officer who pointed to me in the back of his car. The other officer helped me out of the car and I pretended to be cuffed as we walked toward Susie. Her face was classic! We all started laughing. I'm sure that was a day she too will never forget! :)
Another moment that sticks out in my mind happened later in my reign. I had been involved with the charity Sparrow Club while in high school. MUO asked if there were any charities I wanted to be involved with during my year and I said Sparrow Club. At the time it was a small charity only in Washington and Oregon. The Miss Universe Organization fell in love with the program and has since adopted it as an official charity for all Teen USA's to work with.
When I met with the board members one of the women came up to me with a smile and a tear in her eye. She said for a year they had prayed for a someone to help bring national attention to Sparrow Club. She said prayers were answered the day MUO called. Sparrow Club in now a national charity that is spread across 26th different states.
And finally...When my year came to an end I was in the MUO office and they asked me how much I thought I helped raise for charity. I joked and said a million dollars! They laughed and said, no, twenty-one million dollars. More then any other title holder to date.
One of my favorite quotes is, "It is kind of fun to do the impossible"-Walt Disney
That was the best way for my year to end. I then realized anything is possible. It may not always be easy, but with hard work we can do anything.
Tell us a bit about your guest apperance on "Passions" in 2003!
Passions was a lot of fun to do. I have a feeling it will be a clip that will forever haunt me when I find more success, but it was a great learning experience. Being on set was a dream come true.
What have you been up to since you passed on your crown in 2003?
Since giving up my title I have grown up a lot. I often tell people I am still working on my "True Hollywood Story". I have had small success landing small parts with MTV, doing modeling with Jovani, Everything But Water, Elle Girl, Allure and Star. I have judged and hosted several state pageants, and am writing for Pageantry Magazine.
I have done mission trips to the Bahamas and Mexico. I also performed on a a Christian Cruise.
I have also continued my work with Sparrow Club as a spokesperson, often speaking at state pageants as well as at schools.
I have been studying acting and growing in my skills. I also have been writing a lot of music. I am proud to say I just finished my demo. I wrote all of the songs so this is an exciting time for me. http://www.myspace.com/tamifarrell7 (Check it out and let me know what you think)
I also have written several pilots that I am in the process of pitching to production companies.
Shelley Hennig (Miss Teen USA 2004) is now my roommate in Los Angeles.
I feel like I am a work in progress still. I will continue to stretch and grow but most importantly will always chase my dreams.
Who would be your role model and why?
My parents have always served as both an inspiration and as role models.They have always encouraged me to chase down my dreams. They believe in miracles and that dreams do come true. They have given my brothers and I everything so that we can obtain our goals.
I also look to all those who dare to dream. The girl who pours her heart out in a song on a street corner where only few will actually stop to listen. The boy who risks it all just to say he tried and those who won't take no for an answer. :)
For more information on Miss Teen USA please visit: www.missteenusa.com
For more information on the Miss Oregon Teen USA pageant please visit:http://www.missoregonusa.com/titleholder-miss_teen.html
Tami is now the spokesperson for the Sparrow Club, please visit www.sparrowclubs.org
I grew up watching pageants. I can remember as a little girl looking to my Dad and saying I am going to do that some day. Sandwiched between two brothers I grew up a tomboy, but in my heart I always had dreams of acting, modeling and singing. I surrounded myself in sports. I was even the first girl in my area to play on an all boys baseball team.
In middle school I passed out at my grandma's house and that was only the beginning of an ongoing battle with medical problems. I discovered that I had a heart condition along with other medical problems. Sports became hard to do and I decided it was time to see what other gifts I had.
Around that same time a family friend named Elizabeth Heitmanek (Not sure I spelled that right) won the Miss Oregon pageant. She is a smart, beautiful women with an amazing heart. She encouraged me to do the Miss Oregon pageant and so I did it.
Bridget Wilson served as a bit of inspiration on my decision. She was Miss Oregon Teen USA and went on to not only win Miss Teen USA but also to have success as an actress. I figured if she could do it so could I. :)
What was going through your head when you were announced as the winner of Miss Teen USA?
If you watch the video of Miss Teen USA you can see I am completely surprised. I remember calling my mom the day I got to Miss Teen USA and telling her not to come. The girls were so beautiful and talented and I thought there was no way I could win. She told me to just go and have fun and so I did.
I enjoyed everyday. I realized that things were beyond my control. All I could do was have fun and be myself. God was in control and he knew my hearts desire. I leaned on him. I felt a sort of peace telling me to just trust him. I thought he meant he had other plans for me...not that I was going to win.
As the names for the top 15 were called I remember looking out into the audience at my mom. When they has announced the 14th girls name I felt defeated. My mom pointed up and told me to just have faith. I was the 15th and final girl called into the finals. That in its self felt almost as good as winning.
When it was down to the top five and they were announcing the runner ups, each time they made the announcement I started to step forward. When there was only two of us left on stage I laughed and thought God was messing with me. I felt so blessed when my name was called. I can't explain the feeling. It is an overwhelming joy and disbelief. For months I was sure I was in a dream. It was unreal.
What was your most memorable moment during your Miss Teen USA reign?
Ha ha I have three things that stick out the most. The first was funny. It was my first day in New York and my manager Susie from MUO asked me to meet her at a nail place down the street. As I was leaving the apartment I ran into two police men who were doing a follow up to something that had happened in the apartment building before I had moved in. They were really sweet guys and one of them looked at me and said," Hey! Didn't you win Miss Teen USA last night?" I signed autographs and laughed with the guys. They asked where I was going and said they give me a ride. I had to take advantage of the fact that I was in the back of the police car, so I talked the officers into playing along as if I had been arrested.
I called Susie and asked if she could meet me outside. She was then greeted by an officer who pointed to me in the back of his car. The other officer helped me out of the car and I pretended to be cuffed as we walked toward Susie. Her face was classic! We all started laughing. I'm sure that was a day she too will never forget! :)
Another moment that sticks out in my mind happened later in my reign. I had been involved with the charity Sparrow Club while in high school. MUO asked if there were any charities I wanted to be involved with during my year and I said Sparrow Club. At the time it was a small charity only in Washington and Oregon. The Miss Universe Organization fell in love with the program and has since adopted it as an official charity for all Teen USA's to work with.
When I met with the board members one of the women came up to me with a smile and a tear in her eye. She said for a year they had prayed for a someone to help bring national attention to Sparrow Club. She said prayers were answered the day MUO called. Sparrow Club in now a national charity that is spread across 26th different states.
And finally...When my year came to an end I was in the MUO office and they asked me how much I thought I helped raise for charity. I joked and said a million dollars! They laughed and said, no, twenty-one million dollars. More then any other title holder to date.
One of my favorite quotes is, "It is kind of fun to do the impossible"-Walt Disney
That was the best way for my year to end. I then realized anything is possible. It may not always be easy, but with hard work we can do anything.
Tell us a bit about your guest apperance on "Passions" in 2003!
Passions was a lot of fun to do. I have a feeling it will be a clip that will forever haunt me when I find more success, but it was a great learning experience. Being on set was a dream come true.
What have you been up to since you passed on your crown in 2003?
Since giving up my title I have grown up a lot. I often tell people I am still working on my "True Hollywood Story". I have had small success landing small parts with MTV, doing modeling with Jovani, Everything But Water, Elle Girl, Allure and Star. I have judged and hosted several state pageants, and am writing for Pageantry Magazine.
I have done mission trips to the Bahamas and Mexico. I also performed on a a Christian Cruise.
I have also continued my work with Sparrow Club as a spokesperson, often speaking at state pageants as well as at schools.
I have been studying acting and growing in my skills. I also have been writing a lot of music. I am proud to say I just finished my demo. I wrote all of the songs so this is an exciting time for me. http://www.myspace.com/tamifarrell7 (Check it out and let me know what you think)
I also have written several pilots that I am in the process of pitching to production companies.
Shelley Hennig (Miss Teen USA 2004) is now my roommate in Los Angeles.
I feel like I am a work in progress still. I will continue to stretch and grow but most importantly will always chase my dreams.
Who would be your role model and why?
My parents have always served as both an inspiration and as role models.They have always encouraged me to chase down my dreams. They believe in miracles and that dreams do come true. They have given my brothers and I everything so that we can obtain our goals.
I also look to all those who dare to dream. The girl who pours her heart out in a song on a street corner where only few will actually stop to listen. The boy who risks it all just to say he tried and those who won't take no for an answer. :)
For more information on Miss Teen USA please visit: www.missteenusa.com
For more information on the Miss Oregon Teen USA pageant please visit:http://www.missoregonusa.com/titleholder-miss_teen.html
Tami is now the spokesperson for the Sparrow Club, please visit www.sparrowclubs.org