Tara Elizabeth Conner (born on 18 December 1985 in Dallas, Texas) is a beauty queen who is Miss USA 2006 and has also competed in the Miss Teen USA and Miss Universe pageants. Apart from her role as Miss USA, Conner has been employed as a model and waitress. She was a featured model on the HDNet series Bikini Destinations in 2004, posing for the cameras in Lake Tahoe. She has held the titles Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2002, Miss Kentucky County Fair 2004, Miss Kentucky USA 2006 and Miss USA 2006.
In late 2006, Conner became the center of a public scandal when news reports claimed she had been drinking underage, tested positive for the use of cocaine, and kissed Miss Teen USA Katie Blair, among other things. She was allowed to retain her title and entered a drug rehabilitation program.
Conner represented the United States at the Miss Universe 2006 pageant in Los Angeles, California in July 2006. Her roommate during the three weeks the delegates spent in Los Angeles was Kenisha Thom of Trinidad and Tobago.
onner made the initial cut of twenty delegates and went on to compete in the swimsuit competition, and as a member of the top ten, competed in evening gown, wearing a dress designed by Kayne Gillaspie, a contestant on reality television show Project Runway Season 3. After making the top five and competing in a final interview round, Conner was announced as the fourth runner-up to new Miss Universe Zuleyka Rivera of Puerto Rico. Conner is only the fifth Miss USA to finish fourth runner-up at Miss Universe.
In late 2006, Conner became the center of a public scandal when news reports claimed she had been drinking underage, tested positive for the use of cocaine, and kissed Miss Teen USA Katie Blair, among other things. She was allowed to retain her title and entered a drug rehabilitation program.
Conner represented the United States at the Miss Universe 2006 pageant in Los Angeles, California in July 2006. Her roommate during the three weeks the delegates spent in Los Angeles was Kenisha Thom of Trinidad and Tobago.
onner made the initial cut of twenty delegates and went on to compete in the swimsuit competition, and as a member of the top ten, competed in evening gown, wearing a dress designed by Kayne Gillaspie, a contestant on reality television show Project Runway Season 3. After making the top five and competing in a final interview round, Conner was announced as the fourth runner-up to new Miss Universe Zuleyka Rivera of Puerto Rico. Conner is only the fifth Miss USA to finish fourth runner-up at Miss Universe.