Ashley Underwood
Encyclopedia
Ashley Underwood is an American
women's basketball
player and pageant contestant from Benton, Maine
who competed in the Miss USA
pageant in 2009. In 2011, she appeared on Survivor: Redemption Island
.
and grew up on her family's strawberry farm.http://www.pressherald.com/news/maines-down-to-earth-contestant-getting-chance-at-dream-_1-million_2011-02-16.html She went on to star in basketball at Cony High School
in Augusta, Maine
, where she was a finalist for 2003 Miss Maine Basketball award, a two-time All-State honoree, and two-time Eastern Maine All-Tournament Team selection. She led Cony to the Class A Eastern Maine title in 2002 and Eastern Maine runner-up in 2000, 2001, and 2003.
Underwood received a full-ride basketball scholarship to the University of Maine
. After playing in a reserve role her freshman and sophomore year, she moved into the starting line-up by her junior year and became one of Black Bears' top players. During her senior season, she led the team in scoring (15.2ppg) while finishing third in the American East Conference in scoring, earning all-conference honors in the process. She closed out her career with 1,195 points, ranking her in the Top 10 all-time scorers for the Black Bear woman's basketball program.
After graduating in 2007 with a degree in nursing, Underwood signed a professional basketball contract to play in Geneva, Switzerland. However, after playing in Europe for a season, she returned to her state of Maine and decided to enter the Miss Maine USA
contest, her first pageant. On November 22, 2008, she was crowned Miss Maine USA 2009 by outgoing titleholder, Kaetlin Parent. Underwood represented Maine
in the nationally televised Miss USA 2009
pageant which was broadcast live from the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino
in Las Vegas
on April 19, 2009, but did not make it into the semifinals.
Underwood formerly worked as a school nurse in MSAD 49 system, serving grades K-12.
installment of Survivor
. She originated on the original Ometepe tribe and stayed on that tribe until the merge. Since the beginning of the game, Underwood was part of a majority alliance with Andrea Boehkle, Grant Mattos, Natalie Tenerelli, Phillip Sheppard, and Rob Mariano
. In Episode 13, Mariano and Mattos plotted to oust Underwood. However, Underwood won the individual immunity challenge and Mattos was sent to Redemption Island. She won the Final Five Immunity challenge, but lost the last one and was voted out 3-1, becoming the final juror.
She was one of eight jurors who voted for Rob Mariano
to win the game.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
women's basketball
Women's basketball
Women's basketball is one of the few women's sports that developed in tandem with its men's counterpart. It became popular, spreading from the east coast of the United States to the west coast , in large part via women's colleges...
player and pageant contestant from Benton, Maine
Benton, Maine
Benton is a town in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,557 at the 2000 census. The town was named for Missouri Senator Thomas Hart Benton.-Geography:...
who competed in the Miss USA
Miss USA
The Miss USA beauty contest has been held annually since 1952 to select the United States entrant in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization operates both pageants, as well as Miss Teen USA...
pageant in 2009. In 2011, she appeared on Survivor: Redemption Island
Survivor: Redemption Island
Survivor: Redemption Island is the twenty-second season of the American CBS competitive reality television series Survivor, which premiered on February 16, 2011. Applications were due in January 2010, and filming lasted from August to September 2010. The season was filmed in the vicinity of San...
.
Early life
Underwood was born in Benton, MaineBenton, Maine
Benton is a town in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,557 at the 2000 census. The town was named for Missouri Senator Thomas Hart Benton.-Geography:...
and grew up on her family's strawberry farm.http://www.pressherald.com/news/maines-down-to-earth-contestant-getting-chance-at-dream-_1-million_2011-02-16.html She went on to star in basketball at Cony High School
Cony High School
Cony High School is a public school located in Augusta, Maine that educates students from 7th to 12th grade. Cony draws its students from Augusta, as well as the surrounding communities of Chelsea, China, Jefferson, Palermo, Somerville, Vassalboro, Whitefield, and Windsor.The school's origins are...
in Augusta, Maine
Augusta, Maine
Augusta is the capital of the US state of Maine, county seat of Kennebec County, and center of population for Maine. The city's population was 19,136 at the 2010 census, making it the third-smallest state capital after Montpelier, Vermont and Pierre, South Dakota...
, where she was a finalist for 2003 Miss Maine Basketball award, a two-time All-State honoree, and two-time Eastern Maine All-Tournament Team selection. She led Cony to the Class A Eastern Maine title in 2002 and Eastern Maine runner-up in 2000, 2001, and 2003.
Underwood received a full-ride basketball scholarship to the University of Maine
University of Maine
The University of Maine is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is referred to as the flagship university of the University of Maine System...
. After playing in a reserve role her freshman and sophomore year, she moved into the starting line-up by her junior year and became one of Black Bears' top players. During her senior season, she led the team in scoring (15.2ppg) while finishing third in the American East Conference in scoring, earning all-conference honors in the process. She closed out her career with 1,195 points, ranking her in the Top 10 all-time scorers for the Black Bear woman's basketball program.
After graduating in 2007 with a degree in nursing, Underwood signed a professional basketball contract to play in Geneva, Switzerland. However, after playing in Europe for a season, she returned to her state of Maine and decided to enter the Miss Maine USA
Miss Maine USA
The Miss Maine USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Maine in the Miss USA pageant. The pageant has been directed by Mackenzie Davis, Miss Maine USA 2004, since 2007....
contest, her first pageant. On November 22, 2008, she was crowned Miss Maine USA 2009 by outgoing titleholder, Kaetlin Parent. Underwood represented Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
in the nationally televised Miss USA 2009
Miss USA 2009
Miss USA 2009, the 58th Miss USA pageant was held at the Theatre for the Performing Arts in Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 19, 2009...
pageant which was broadcast live from the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino
Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino
Planet Hollywood Las Vegas, previously known as The Aladdin, is a casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip, in the unincorporated locale of Paradise, Nevada, United States. Westgate Resorts operates the condo portion of the property, known as PH Towers by Westgate.Planet Hollywood is owned by Caesars...
in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
on April 19, 2009, but did not make it into the semifinals.
Underwood formerly worked as a school nurse in MSAD 49 system, serving grades K-12.
Survivor: Redemption Island
In 2011, Underwood appeared on the twenty-secondSurvivor: Redemption Island
Survivor: Redemption Island is the twenty-second season of the American CBS competitive reality television series Survivor, which premiered on February 16, 2011. Applications were due in January 2010, and filming lasted from August to September 2010. The season was filmed in the vicinity of San...
installment of Survivor
Survivor (U.S. TV series)
Survivor is an American version of the Survivor reality television game show, itself derived from the Swedish television series Expedition Robinson originally created in 1997 by Charlie Parsons. The series premiered on May 31, 2000 on CBS...
. She originated on the original Ometepe tribe and stayed on that tribe until the merge. Since the beginning of the game, Underwood was part of a majority alliance with Andrea Boehkle, Grant Mattos, Natalie Tenerelli, Phillip Sheppard, and Rob Mariano
Rob Mariano
Robert Carlo "Boston Rob" Mariano is an American television personality, widely known for appearing in several reality shows, including Survivor, and The Amazing Race with his wife, Amber Brkich Mariano. Mariano won Survivor: Redemption Island and the $1,000,000 prize after competing on the show...
. In Episode 13, Mariano and Mattos plotted to oust Underwood. However, Underwood won the individual immunity challenge and Mattos was sent to Redemption Island. She won the Final Five Immunity challenge, but lost the last one and was voted out 3-1, becoming the final juror.
She was one of eight jurors who voted for Rob Mariano
Rob Mariano
Robert Carlo "Boston Rob" Mariano is an American television personality, widely known for appearing in several reality shows, including Survivor, and The Amazing Race with his wife, Amber Brkich Mariano. Mariano won Survivor: Redemption Island and the $1,000,000 prize after competing on the show...
to win the game.