Rebecca Anderson (Muessle)
A young woman with brown hair, wearing a crown on her head and a Miss Oregon sash over her dress, singing into a microphone
Rebecca Anderson, December 2014
BornMay 1991 (age 32)
EducationPortland State University
Height5 ft 4 in (163 cm)[1]
SpousePeter Muessle (2019)
Beauty pageant titleholder
TitleMiss Cascade 2011
Miss Columbia Gorge 2012
Miss Portland 2013
Miss Cascade 2014
Miss Oregon 2014
Major
competition(s)		Miss America 2015

Rebecca Anderson (Muessle) (born May 1991) is an American beauty pageant titleholder from Oregon City, Oregon. She won a series of local titles beginning in 2011 and was crowned Miss Oregon 2014.

Entering her first pageant at age 19, Anderson competed successfully in local pageants until, on her fourth attempt, she won the state title in June 2014. She made appearances across the state and represented Oregon at Miss America 2015 in September 2014 but was not a finalist for the national crown. After completing her year as Miss Oregon, Anderson resumed her academic pursuits at the University of North Dakota.

Early life and education

Anderson is a native of Oregon City, Oregon, and a 2009 graduate of Oregon City High School.[2] While at OCHS, she participated in the drama program for four years and was a member of the school's dance team for two years.[3] Her father is Ted Anderson, a wholesale nursery operator and licensed tax consultant.[4][5] From 1999 to 2019, her mother Shari Anderson served as the elected County Treasurer of Clackamas County, Oregon.[4][6] Anderson has one younger sister, Malea, who is also an occasional pageant competitor.[2]

Anderson is a 2013 graduate of Portland State University where she earned a bachelor's degree in environmental science.[1][2] In 2014, in addition to her Miss Oregon duties, Anderson worked part-time as a "cute" clown for an event company.[1] In August 2015, Anderson moved to North Dakota to begin pursuing a bachelor's degree in atmospheric science at the University of North Dakota.[7]

Pageant career

Early pageants

Anderson began entering pageants at age 19, waiting until she felt was "responsible enough" to hold a pageant title.[3][8] In early 2011, Anderson won the Miss Cascade 2011 title.[9][3] She competed in the 2011 Miss Oregon pageant with the platform "Environmental Sustainability: Education for a Greener World" and a vocal performance of "Feeling Good" from the musical The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd in the talent portion of the competition.[3][10] She finished in the top ten but was not a Top-5 finalist for the state title.[9][2]

In early 2012, Anderson won the Miss Columbia Gorge 2012 title.[11] She competed in the 2012 Miss Oregon pageant with the platform "Environmental Education" and a vocal performance in the talent portion of the competition.[12] She finished in the top ten but was not a Top-5 finalist for the state crown.[13]

In March 2013, Anderson won the Miss Portland 2013 title. She qualified for the 2013 Miss Oregon pageant as one of 22 entrants, including her younger sister Malea, competing as Miss Clackamas 2013.[2] Rebecca Anderson competed with a platform of "American Red Cross: Red for Life" and a vocal performance of "Astonishing" from the musical Little Women in the talent portion of the competition.[14] She was named third runner-up to winner Allison Cook.[13]

Miss Oregon 2014

On April 26, 2014, Anderson was crowned Miss Cascade 2014.[13][15] She entered the Miss Oregon pageant in June 2014 as one of 23 qualifiers for the state title.[16] Anderson's competition talent was a vocal performance of "Let it Go" from the Disney movie Frozen.[4] Her platform was "American Red Cross: Red for Life".[16] Her on-stage interview question asked whether discrimination was a factor in the gender pay gap in the United States. Anderson agreed but countered that "women need to be more assertive" and strive to close the gap themselves rather than wait for a government-mandated solution.[4]

Rebecca Anderson in an F-15 Eagle at the Portland Air National Guard Base, August 2014

Anderson won the competition on Saturday, June 28, 2014, when she received her crown from outgoing Miss Oregon titleholder Allison Cook.[4] She earned more than $10,000 in scholarship money and other prizes from the state pageant.[1]

As Miss Oregon, Anderson's activities included public appearances across the state of Oregon.[8] Notable appearances included participating in local pageants,[17] welcoming Air National Guard members home to Oregon,[18] and serving as a judge for the Just For Men World Beard and Moustache Championships.[19][20] Anderson's reign as Miss Oregon continued until June 27, 2015, when she crowned her successor, Ali Wallace, Miss Oregon 2015.[21]

Miss America 2015 contestant

Anderson was Oregon's representative at the Miss America 2015 pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in September 2014.[16][22] During the pageant's "Show Us Your Shoes" parade, Anderson wore a bicycle helmet and her shoes had tiny bicycles on top of the laces to tout Portland, Oregon, as a "bike-friendly" city.[23][24] She was not a Top-16 semi-finalist for the national crown.[25]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Gilfillian, Trudi (July 8, 2014). "Miss Oregon Rebecca Anderson". The Press of Atlantic City. Pleasantville, NJ: BH Media. Archived from the original on October 11, 2015. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e Spitaleri, Ellen (June 24, 2013). "OCHS graduate sisters compete for state pageant crown". Portland Tribune. Portland, OR: Pamplin Media Group. Archived from the original on July 1, 2013. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d Spitaleri, Ellen (June 29, 2011). "CC women vie for Miss Oregon title". Portland Tribune. Portland, OR: Pamplin Media Group. Archived from the original on October 11, 2015. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e Spitaleri, Ellen (June 30, 2014). "Anderson crowned Miss Oregon 2014". Portland Tribune. Portland, OR: Pamplin Media Group. Archived from the original on April 3, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  5. ^ "About Us". Shari Anderson, Certified Public Accountant. Archived from the original on October 11, 2015. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
  6. ^ Harbarger, Molly (April 30, 2014). "Clackamas County elections: Treasurer Shari Anderson draws challengers for first time in 15 years". The Oregonian. Portland, OR: Advance Publications. Archived from the original on October 11, 2015. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
  7. ^ "2015 National Contestants: Miss Oregon". Miss America. September 2014. Archived from the original on October 11, 2015. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  8. ^ a b Spitaleri, Ellen (August 28, 2014). "Miss Oregon will seek national-level crown". Portland Tribune. Portland, OR: Pamplin Media Group. Archived from the original on September 8, 2014. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  9. ^ a b "Miss Cascade 2011 - Rebecca Anderson". Miss Cascade Scholarship Program. 2011. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  10. ^ "State Contestants: Oregon - 2011". Miss America. 2011. Archived from the original on October 11, 2015. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  11. ^ "Miss Columbia Gorge 2012 - Rebecca Anderson". Miss Three Rivers Scholarship Program. 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  12. ^ "State Contestants: Oregon - 2012". Miss America. 2012. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  13. ^ a b c Spitaleri, Ellen (May 14, 2014). "Two locals vie for titles, scholarships". Portland Tribune. Portland, OR: Pamplin Media Group. Archived from the original on October 11, 2015. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  14. ^ "State Contestants: Oregon - 2013". Miss America. 2013. Archived from the original on October 11, 2015. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  15. ^ "Miss Cascade 2014 - Rebecca Anderson". Miss Cascade Scholarship Program. 2014. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  16. ^ a b c "State Contestants: Oregon - 2014". Miss America. 2014. Archived from the original on October 11, 2015. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  17. ^ "Poise, talent, beauty: Alexis Mather and Hannah Garhofer take top titles at Miss Clatsop County pageant". The Daily Astorian. Astoria, OR: EO Media Group. February 2, 2015. Archived from the original on July 5, 2015. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  18. ^ "Oregon governor and Miss Oregon welcome returning Air National Guard squadron". Portland, OR: KPTV. December 8, 2014. Archived from the original on April 6, 2015. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  19. ^ Hale, Jamie (October 25, 2014). "World Beard and Moustache Championships draws huge crowd to Portland, spirals into chaos onstage". The Oregonian. Portland, OR: Advance Publications. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  20. ^ Quinn, Cassidy (October 27, 2014). "Portland beard wins World Championship in Portland". Portland, OR: KGW-TV. Archived from the original on December 13, 2014. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  21. ^ Spitaleri, Ellen (July 2, 2015). "Miss Portland upgrades her title to Miss Oregon". Portland Tribune. Portland, OR: Pamplin Media Group. Archived from the original on October 11, 2015. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  22. ^ Cortez, Julio (September 14, 2014). "The 2015 Miss America pageant (9 of 64)". San Antonio Express-News. San Antonio, TX: Hearst. Associated Press. Archived from the original on December 23, 2014. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  23. ^ "Miss Oregon wears bicycle shoes in Miss America parade". Portland, OR: KOIN-TV. Associated Press. September 13, 2014. Archived from the original on August 1, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  24. ^ "Miss La. shows off Mardi Gras-influenced shoes". The News-Star. Monroe, LA: Gannett. Associated Press. September 14, 2014. Archived from the original on October 11, 2015. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  25. ^ Oldenburg, Ann (September 14, 2014). "Here she is ... Miss America 2015!". USA Today. Gannett. Archived from the original on October 21, 2015. Retrieved August 16, 2015.

External links

Awards and achievements Preceded byAllison Cook Miss Oregon 2014 Succeeded byAli Wallace
Miss America 2015, state titleholders
Oregon pageant winners
Categories