Katie Harman Biography

Katie Marie Harman-Ebner (born August 18, 1980) is a classical vocalist and stage actress who is best known as Miss America 2002 and former Miss Oregon 2001. She is from the city of Gresham in the U.S. state of Oregon.

Road to Miss America

Harman was born in Gresham, Oregon to Glen and Darla Harman. She graduated from Centennial High School in Gresham in 1999. In 2001, she was selected as Miss Multnomah County, and then won the Miss Oregon pageant, allowing her to compete for Miss America. She was selected as Miss America the Saturday after the September 11, 2001 attacks, and her first official appearances in the new role were to the World Trade Center site and The Pentagon to visit rescue workers.

After Miss America

Since completing her duties as Miss America, she played Kathie in The Student Prince with the Gold Coast Opera in Florida. She also played Barbarina in Le nozze di Figaro. As a vocalist, she has performed with pianist André Watts with the Shreveport Symphony and others. Katie also appeared as herself in an episode of the improvisational comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway? in 2002.

She delivered the keynote address for Portland State University's 2002 Commencement. This resulted in protests from the Progressive Student Union and other students and faculty who expressed concerns related to her credentials as Miss America and her perceived Pro-Bush stance. Harman married Oregon Air National Guard pilot Tim Ebner in 2003 and she gave birth to a son Tyler Glen Ebner in 2005. In 2005, Harman moved with her husband and son to Klamath Falls, Oregon where he continues to work for the Oregon Air National Guard. In 2009 she gave birth to a daughter.

Harman acted in a production of "The Secret Garden" at the Portland Center for the Performing Arts in 2006 and 2007. In 2007, she released her first music CD, Soul of Love, featuring light classical music. She has appeared in several television commercials in the Portland metropolitan area, including promotional spots for Portland Rescue Mission.

In addition to her advocacy and performance work, Harman graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Communications from Portland State University"?thanks to the more than $75,000 in scholarships received throughout her participation in the Miss America program.