Tara Bollinger

Who is Tara Bollinger?

Tara Bollinger is a model and beauty queen from Missouri who has competed in the Miss USA pageant.

Bollinger won the Miss Missouri USA 2003 title in a state pageant held in Poplar Bluff on 19 October 2002. This was her first attempt at the title. She went on to represent Missouri in the nationally televised Miss USA 2003 pageant held in San Antonio, Texas in March 2003 but did not place. The competition was won by Susie Castillo of Massachusetts.

As Miss Missouri USA, Bollinger worked as a motivational speaker for middle and high school students. She is a strict Christian who believes in sexual abstinence and works to promote anti-drinking and anti-smoking behaviour. At the end of her reign, Bollinger crowned Shandi Finnessey of Florissant as the new Miss Missouri USA. Finnessey, also a graduate of Lindenwood University, later won the Miss USA title.

Bollinger studied Mass Communications, TV Broadcasting, and Spanish at Lindenwood University, where she graduated summa cum laude. She made the Dean's List for four years and was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Fraternity at Lindenwood and has received a number of journalistic scholarships.