Kandace Krueger Biography

Kandace Gayle Krueger Matthews (born May 27, 1976) is an American television personality and former beauty queen who has held the Miss USA title. She is the daughter of Larry and Barbara Johnson Krueger, and was born and raised in Austin, Texas. She has one sister named Katrina.

Pageants

Miss Texas USA

Krueger started competing in local Miss Texas USA pageants as an eighteen year-old, placing in the top five but not winning. She won her first local title, Miss Williamson County USA, in 1999 and her second, Miss Austin USA, in 2000. Krueger competed in the Miss Texas USA pageant numerous times in 1990s without placing, although she came close to making the top twelve in 1999 at the Miss Texas USA 2000 pageant. In 2000, her first appearance in the pageant semi-finalis, Krueger won the Miss Texas USA 2001 title.

Miss USA

Krueger represented Texas in the Miss USA 2001 pageant broadcast live from Gary, Indiana in March 2001. She made the semi-finals, becoming the first Texan to make the top ten in two years, placed second in the swimsuit competition (9.38) and fourth in the evening gown competition (9.29). She entered the top five in second place, with an average combined score of 9.33. After the final interview round she was ranked second, but went on to win the pageant. Krueger was the eighth Miss USA titleholder, becoming the first Texan to win since Chelsi Smith in 1995, and extending Texas' record for the most titles.

During her reign, she advocated breast cancer and ovarian cancer research and funding and resided in a luxury riverside apartment in New York City provided by the Miss Universe Organization. During her homecoming in Texas, she was given the key to the city of Austin, presented to the Senate, and met with governor Rick Perry.

Miss Universe

As Miss USA, Krueger earned the right to represent the United States at the Miss Universe 2001 Pageant in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, where she placed as 2nd runner-up, behind eventual Miss Universe 2001 Denise Quiñones of Puerto Rico and Evelina Papantoniou of Greece. She placed third in the swimsuit competition (9.37) and fourth in evening gown (9.45).

Career and family

Prior to Miss USA, Krueger attended Texas A&M and studied journalism. Her ambition was to become a sports newsbroadcaster. She was given the chance to be a presenter for the Miss USA 2002 broadcast. In 2002 Krueger worked for KBTX-TV in College Station, Texas as a field reporter. She has hosted numerous Miss Texas USA pageants and remains associated with Miss Austin USA.

In May 2005, Krueger married longtime partner Rob Matthews in Dallas, Texas. The couple's first child, Ashlyn Grace Matthews was born March 18, 2008. Krueger gave birth to triplets Ainsley, Asher and Alexa Matthews on June 19, 2010.