Chelsea Cooley
Encyclopedia
Chelsea Cooley is a beauty queen from Charlotte, North Carolina
who has competed in the Miss Teen USA
, Miss USA
and Miss Universe
pageants and who has held the Miss USA 2005 title.
Cooley Miss North Carolina USA
to win the Miss USA crown.
Cooley attended The Art Institute of Charlotte
and hopes to become a buyer for the fashion industry. In addition to beauty pageants, she has competed in the Grand National Shag Dancing Competition. Cooley has also worked for a number of non-profit organizations, including Toys for Tots
and the Special Olympics
.
As Miss USA, Cooley represented the Miss Universe Organization
. Her "sister" 2005 titleholders were Natalie Glebova
(Miss Universe, of Canada) and Allie LaForce
(Miss Teen USA, of Ohio). She raised $22.8 million for breast- and ovarian-cancer research during her time as Miss USA.
2000 title and represented North Carolina
in the Miss Teen USA 2000 pageant, but did not place. Her preliminary scores put her in 11th place, only a spot away from the top 10. Had there been a top twelve or top fifteen chosen, as in future years, Cooley would have been a semi-finalist. She had greater success in 2001, when she became Miss United States Teen
.
Cooley first entered the Miss North Carolina USA
pageant in 2004, where she placed 1st runner-up to Ashley Puleo. She also won her state's Miss Photogenic award in that year. Puleo went on to place second-runner up at the Miss USA 2004 pageant. The following year, Cooley won the Miss North Carolina USA 2005 title on her second attempt.
in the Miss USA 2005 pageant broadcast live from Baltimore, Maryland on April 21, 2005. She was the 14th of 15 women called into the semi-finals. For the evening gown competition she wore a flowing black gown with a deep v and a high slit. She wore her hair in a high ponytail for the evening gown competition and it was let loose for the swimsuit competition.
For her final question, Cooley drew the question of former Miss USA Shandi Finnessey
. She was asked: "What famous person does your personality most parallel?". Her answer was: "I guess it would be Taylor Swift". She has a passion for life. She loves what she does, and she works so hard to try to achieve everything in her life. ... I try to emulate myself after that.
of Canada.
apartment in New York City
which she shared with Miss Universe
and Miss Teen USA during her reign. As with recent Miss USA's, her first week was a hectic schedule of media
interviews, including Scott and Todd in the Morning, New York radio station WPLJ
, Fox and Friends, Fox News, WB11 Morning News and Live! with Regis and Kelly. She also participated in fashion shoots and met with designer Tadashi, a sponsor of the Miss USA pageant. In early May Cooley was a guest conductor for the Long Island
Philharmonia
, and presided over the NASDAQ
opening bell in celebration of Mother's Day
and in support of the Ovarian Cancer
Research Fund.
Cooley then traveled to Thailand, to compete in the Miss Universe pageant, and she and newly crowned queen Natalie Glebova
stayed in Thailand for a week after the competition, making appearances with the Thai government, as well as appearing with Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
at an orphan's home.
After Thailand, Cooley returned to New York and then celebrated her homecoming in North Carolina, throwing out the first pitch at a Carolina Mudcats
game, interviewing with local media, and addressing the North Carolina House of Representatives
and the state Senate
.
She again returned briefly to New York, before she and Miss Teen USA 2004 Shelley Hennig
participated in a USO tour of Guantanamo Bay
, Cuba
in late June. In July, Cooley settled in New York, participating in more USO events and volunteering with Habitat for Humanity.
In August, Cooley traveled to Curaçao
, and then returned to the United States, making more appearances in the New York area and throughout the country throughout the following three months. In November, Cooley appeared on a float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
.
One of Cooley's prizes was a special guest appearance on the soap-opera Passions
, which she taped in January 2006. This was aired on Valentines Day, 14 February 2006. In the new year Cooley returned to Curaçao
for a third visit, appeared at the Gilda's Club Gala
in New York and participated in another photo-shoot. She returned to Curaçao for two days in late February 2006, before traveling to Maryland
where she shot footage for the upcoming Miss USA 2006
telecast.
In March Cooley participated on the Miss USA edition of Deal or No Deal
along with 26 of the delegates for Miss USA 2006
. She travelled to Baltimore in April to participate with the delegates on pre-pageant events, co-hosted the pageant preliminaries with Baltimore news anchor Stan Stovall and was a commentator for the final competition, along with Carson Kressley
of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.
She crowned her successor, Tara Conner
of Kentucky
at the conclusion of the final competition on 21 April 2006. Cooley was honored as a Star of the South by Irish America magazine
in 2006.
Just prior to giving up her crown in April 2006, Cooley competed on NBC
's Celebrity Cooking Showdown
, where she beat Tony Gonzalez and "Big Kenny" (Half of Country Music Duo Big & Rich
) by a narrow margin.
Cooley acted as a judge in numerous Miss USA 2007 state pageants, including South Carolina
, Louisiana
and Minnesota
. Cooley is currently writing a book entitled, "Beauty Pageant Confidential," to be published in the Spring. Currently Cooley is the president of an image consulting company, StandOut. Productions, which she founded along with A.T. Dunn. She married Heath Altman in October 2008.
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
who has competed in the Miss Teen USA
Miss Teen USA
Miss Teen USA is a beauty pageant run by the Miss Universe Organization for girls aged 14–19. The reigning titleholder is Danielle Doty of Texas....
, 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...
and Miss Universe
Miss Universe
Miss Universe is an annual international beauty contest that is run by the Miss Universe Organization. The pageant is the most publicized beauty contest in the world with 600 million viewers....
pageants and who has held the Miss USA 2005 title.
Cooley Miss North Carolina USA
Miss North Carolina USA
The Miss North Carolina USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state North Carolina in the Miss USA pageant. This state is part of the RPM Productions group....
to win the Miss USA crown.
Cooley attended The Art Institute of Charlotte
The Art Institute of Charlotte
The Art Institute of Charlotte – is one of The Art Institutes, a system of more than 45 educational institutions located throughout North America, providing education in design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts...
and hopes to become a buyer for the fashion industry. In addition to beauty pageants, she has competed in the Grand National Shag Dancing Competition. Cooley has also worked for a number of non-profit organizations, including Toys for Tots
Toys for Tots
Toys for Tots is a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve which donates toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas. The program was founded in 1947 by reservist Major William L...
and the Special Olympics
Special Olympics
Special Olympics is the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing year-round training and competitions to more than 3.1 million athletes in 175 countries....
.
As Miss USA, Cooley represented the Miss Universe Organization
Miss Universe Organization
The Miss Universe Organization is the organization that currently owns and runs the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA beauty contests. Based in New York, it is owned jointly by NBC Universal and Donald Trump. The current president is Paula Shugart...
. Her "sister" 2005 titleholders were Natalie Glebova
Natalie Glebova
Natalie Glebova is a Russian Canadian beauty queen, the 2005 Miss Universe title holder.-Personal life:Glebova was born in Tuapse, Russia. She studied classical piano and graduated from a professional musical school at age of 12. She also has won various regional rhythmic gymnastics championships...
(Miss Universe, of Canada) and Allie LaForce
Allie LaForce
Alexandra Leigh "Allie" LaForce is a beauty queen from Vermilion, Ohio who held the Miss Teen USA 2005 title who now works as a broadcast sports reporter....
(Miss Teen USA, of Ohio). She raised $22.8 million for breast- and ovarian-cancer research during her time as Miss USA.
Miss North Carolina Teen USA, Miss North Carolina USA
Cooley won the Miss North Carolina Teen USAMiss North Carolina Teen USA
The Miss North Carolina Teen USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of North Carolina in the Miss Teen USA pageant and is part of the RPM Productions group....
2000 title and represented North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
in the Miss Teen USA 2000 pageant, but did not place. Her preliminary scores put her in 11th place, only a spot away from the top 10. Had there been a top twelve or top fifteen chosen, as in future years, Cooley would have been a semi-finalist. She had greater success in 2001, when she became Miss United States Teen
Miss United States Teen
thumb|right|200px|Miss United States Teen 2003 - Kari Ann Penichethumb|right|200px|Miss United States Teen 1998 - Carrie StroupThe Miss United States Teen pageant is a beauty contest held in the United States for teenagers between the ages of 15-19 and has been held every year since 1992.Many...
.
Cooley first entered the Miss North Carolina USA
Miss North Carolina USA
The Miss North Carolina USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state North Carolina in the Miss USA pageant. This state is part of the RPM Productions group....
pageant in 2004, where she placed 1st runner-up to Ashley Puleo. She also won her state's Miss Photogenic award in that year. Puleo went on to place second-runner up at the Miss USA 2004 pageant. The following year, Cooley won the Miss North Carolina USA 2005 title on her second attempt.
Miss USA 2005 pageant
Cooley represented North CarolinaNorth Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
in the Miss USA 2005 pageant broadcast live from Baltimore, Maryland on April 21, 2005. She was the 14th of 15 women called into the semi-finals. For the evening gown competition she wore a flowing black gown with a deep v and a high slit. She wore her hair in a high ponytail for the evening gown competition and it was let loose for the swimsuit competition.
For her final question, Cooley drew the question of former Miss USA Shandi Finnessey
Shandi Finnessey
Shandi Ren Finnessey is an American beauty queen, model, television hostess, and actress. She is best known for winning the Miss USA title, as Miss Missouri USA. She previously held the title of Miss Missouri 2002 and competed in Miss America where she won a preliminary award...
. She was asked: "What famous person does your personality most parallel?". Her answer was: "I guess it would be Taylor Swift". She has a passion for life. She loves what she does, and she works so hard to try to achieve everything in her life. ... I try to emulate myself after that.
Miss Universe 2005 pageant
Cooley competed as Miss USA in the Miss Universe pageant held in Bangkok, Thailand on 31 May 2005. She advanced to the top 10. The eventual winner of that pageant was Natalie GlebovaNatalie Glebova
Natalie Glebova is a Russian Canadian beauty queen, the 2005 Miss Universe title holder.-Personal life:Glebova was born in Tuapse, Russia. She studied classical piano and graduated from a professional musical school at age of 12. She also has won various regional rhythmic gymnastics championships...
of Canada.
As Miss USA
Within days of her pageant win in Baltimore, Cooley moved to a Trump TowerTrump Tower (New York)
Trump Tower is a 58-story mixed-use skyscraper located at 725 Fifth Avenue, at the corner of East 56th Street in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It was developed by Donald Trump and the Equitable Life Assurance Company, and designed by Der Scutt of Swanke, Hayden Connell...
apartment in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
which she shared with Miss Universe
Miss Universe
Miss Universe is an annual international beauty contest that is run by the Miss Universe Organization. The pageant is the most publicized beauty contest in the world with 600 million viewers....
and Miss Teen USA during her reign. As with recent Miss USA's, her first week was a hectic schedule of media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
interviews, including Scott and Todd in the Morning, New York radio station WPLJ
WPLJ
WPLJ is a radio station in New York City owned by the broadcasting division of Cumulus Media. WPLJ shares studio facilities with sister station WABC inside 2 Penn Plaza in midtown Manhattan, and its transmitter is atop the Empire State Building. The station currently plays a Hot Adult...
, Fox and Friends, Fox News, WB11 Morning News and Live! with Regis and Kelly. She also participated in fashion shoots and met with designer Tadashi, a sponsor of the Miss USA pageant. In early May Cooley was a guest conductor for the Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
Philharmonia
Philharmonia
The Philharmonia Orchestra is one of the leading orchestras in Great Britain, based in London. Since 1995, it has been based in the Royal Festival Hall. In Britain it is also the resident orchestra at De Montfort Hall, Leicester and the Corn Exchange, Bedford, as well as The Anvil, Basingstoke...
, and presided over the NASDAQ
NASDAQ
The NASDAQ Stock Market, also known as the NASDAQ, is an American stock exchange. "NASDAQ" originally stood for "National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations". It is the second-largest stock exchange by market capitalization in the world, after the New York Stock Exchange. As of...
opening bell in celebration of Mother's Day
Mother's Day
Mother's Day is a celebration honoring mothers and celebrating motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, yet most commonly in March, April, or May...
and in support of the Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer is a cancerous growth arising from the ovary. Symptoms are frequently very subtle early on and may include: bloating, pelvic pain, difficulty eating and frequent urination, and are easily confused with other illnesses....
Research Fund.
Cooley then traveled to Thailand, to compete in the Miss Universe pageant, and she and newly crowned queen Natalie Glebova
Natalie Glebova
Natalie Glebova is a Russian Canadian beauty queen, the 2005 Miss Universe title holder.-Personal life:Glebova was born in Tuapse, Russia. She studied classical piano and graduated from a professional musical school at age of 12. She also has won various regional rhythmic gymnastics championships...
stayed in Thailand for a week after the competition, making appearances with the Thai government, as well as appearing with Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
Thaksin Shinawatra
Thaksin Shinawatra is a Thai businessman and politician, who was Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 to 2006, when he was overthrown in a military coup....
at an orphan's home.
Carolina Mudcats
The Carolina Mudcats are a minor league baseball team based in the eastern suburbs of Raleigh, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the Carolina League, are the Single-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians major-league club beginning in 2012.-History:...
game, interviewing with local media, and addressing the North Carolina House of Representatives
North Carolina House of Representatives
The North Carolina House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The House is a 120-member body led by a Speaker of the House, who holds powers similar to those of the President pro-tem in the state senate....
and the state Senate
North Carolina Senate
The North Carolina Senate is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly.Its prerogatives and powers are similar to those of the other house, the House of Representatives. Its members do, however, represent districts that are larger than those of their colleagues in the House. The...
.
She again returned briefly to New York, before she and Miss Teen USA 2004 Shelley Hennig
Shelley Hennig
Shelley Catherine "Shell" Hennig is a beauty pageant titleholder from Destrehan, Louisiana who held the Miss Teen USA 2004 title. She is also an actress who played Stephanie Johnson on Days of our Lives...
participated in a USO tour of Guantanamo Bay
Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
Guantanamo Bay Naval Base is located on of land and water at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba which the United States leased for use as a coaling station following the Cuban-American Treaty of 1903. The base is located on the shore of Guantánamo Bay at the southeastern end of Cuba. It is the oldest overseas...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
in late June. In July, Cooley settled in New York, participating in more USO events and volunteering with Habitat for Humanity.
In August, Cooley traveled to Curaçao
Curaçao
Curaçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The Country of Curaçao , which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao , is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
, and then returned to the United States, making more appearances in the New York area and throughout the country throughout the following three months. In November, Cooley appeared on a float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, often shortened to Macy's Day Parade, is an annual parade presented by Macy's. The tradition started in 1924, tying it for the second-oldest Thanksgiving parade in the United States along with America's Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit, and four years younger than...
.
One of Cooley's prizes was a special guest appearance on the soap-opera Passions
Passions
Passions is an American television soap opera which aired on NBC from July 5, 1999 to September 7, 2007 and on The 101 Network from September 17, 2007 to August 7, 2008....
, which she taped in January 2006. This was aired on Valentines Day, 14 February 2006. In the new year Cooley returned to Curaçao
Curaçao
Curaçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The Country of Curaçao , which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao , is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
for a third visit, appeared at the Gilda's Club Gala
Gilda's Club
Gilda's Club, named in tribute to the late comic actress Gilda Radner, who died of ovarian cancer in 1989, is a community meeting place for people living with cancer, their families and friends. There are 22 open clubhouses and nine in development in North America...
in New York and participated in another photo-shoot. She returned to Curaçao for two days in late February 2006, before traveling to Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
where she shot footage for the upcoming Miss USA 2006
Miss USA 2006
Miss USA 2006, the 55th Miss USA pageant, was held at the 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore, Maryland on April 21, 2006. Fifty-one state titleholders competed for the title, which was won by Tara Conner of Kentucky...
telecast.
Deal or No Deal (US game show)
Deal or No Deal is the American version of the international game show of Dutch origin of the same name. The show was hosted by Howie Mandel, and premiered on December 19, 2005, on National Broadcasting Company . The hour-long show typically aired at least twice a week during its run, and included...
along with 26 of the delegates for Miss USA 2006
Miss USA 2006
Miss USA 2006, the 55th Miss USA pageant, was held at the 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore, Maryland on April 21, 2006. Fifty-one state titleholders competed for the title, which was won by Tara Conner of Kentucky...
. She travelled to Baltimore in April to participate with the delegates on pre-pageant events, co-hosted the pageant preliminaries with Baltimore news anchor Stan Stovall and was a commentator for the final competition, along with Carson Kressley
Carson Kressley
Carson Lee Kressley was the fashion expert on the American television program Queer Eye, where he was one of the show's "Fab Five" members. He is also the motivational host of the TV show How to Look Good Naked.-Biography:...
of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.
She crowned her successor, Tara Conner
Tara Conner
Tara Elizabeth Conner is an American beauty queen and model, who was 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. She was a featured model on the HDNet series Bikini Fantasies in 2004,...
of Kentucky
Miss Kentucky USA
The Miss Kentucky USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Kentucky in the Miss USA pageant. The current director for the Miss Kentucky USA and Miss Kentucky Teen USA titles is Connie Clark Harrison. Mrs...
at the conclusion of the final competition on 21 April 2006. Cooley was honored as a Star of the South by Irish America magazine
Irish America magazine
Irish America magazine is a bi-monthly periodical that aims to cover topics relevant to the Irish in North America including a range of political, economic, social, and cultural themes. The magazine’s inaugural issue was published in October 1985...
in 2006.
Post-pageant
Cooley expressed a desire to move into the entertainment industry after she has passed on her crown.Just prior to giving up her crown in April 2006, Cooley competed on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's Celebrity Cooking Showdown
Celebrity Cooking Showdown
Celebrity Cooking Showdown is a program that aired on NBC from April 17-19 and April 22, 2006. It was hosted by Alan Thicke.- Format :The competition was divided into three "preliminary rounds", where each celebrity was paired with a famous chef...
, where she beat Tony Gonzalez and "Big Kenny" (Half of Country Music Duo Big & Rich
Big & Rich
Big & Rich is an American country music duo composed of Big Kenny and John Rich. Both members alternate as lead vocalists and play rhythm guitar...
) by a narrow margin.
Cooley acted as a judge in numerous Miss USA 2007 state pageants, including South Carolina
Miss South Carolina USA
The Miss South Carolina USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state South Carolina in the Miss USA pageant. The pageant has been produced by RPM Productions since 1980....
, Louisiana
Miss Louisiana USA
The Miss Louisiana USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Louisiana in the Miss USA pageant.Louisiana is one of the most successful states at Miss USA and is one of only seven states to have had three or more Miss USAs.Three Miss Louisiana USA titleholders...
and Minnesota
Miss Minnesota USA
The Miss Minnesota USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Minnesota in the Miss USA pageant.Despite a strong start in the first three years of competition at Miss USA, Minnesota has been largely unsuccessful overall...
. Cooley is currently writing a book entitled, "Beauty Pageant Confidential," to be published in the Spring. Currently Cooley is the president of an image consulting company, StandOut. Productions, which she founded along with A.T. Dunn. She married Heath Altman in October 2008.