By PDX People

Born and raised in Gresham Oregon, Katie Harman graduated from Centennial High School in 1999 and went on to Portland State University. During her college years, she was selected Miss Multnomah County and eventually won the Miss Oregon pageant as well. This win would allow her to compete for the Miss America crown in 2001, which she would eventually win.

Miss America

Harman was crowned Miss America on the Saturday following the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11^th, 2001 and while the nation was grieving for those who lost their lives on that day she became an inspiration for workers at the Pentagon and World Trade Center sites.

Her role as Miss America would take her around the world and propel her into the consciousness of millions of Americans after she starred on TV shows like “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” and being a trained vocalist she was also able to record several music albums during this time as well.

After Miss America Career

Following her reign as Miss America, Mrs. Harman married Tim Ebner, a pilot with the Oregon Air National guard and over the year she would have two children.

Harman has continued to remain active in Portland throughout the years including filming television commercials and promotional spots for the Portland Rescue Mission.

After graduating Portland State University in 2005 with a BS in communications, Mrs. Harman would star as a guest artist with various symphony orchestras around the United States and she eventually moved to the Klamath Falls area where she would open her own private voice studio which gives her the opportunity to share her knowledge of musical styles like jazz, opera, musical theater and classical via private lessons.

Besides her work as a performer and entrepreneur, Katie Harman has also been an active supporter of arts in education programs and she’s been vital in keeping music classes as part of the curriculum in elementary school classes in her community.