Centre County can now brag that it is home to a Ms. USA Word Universal champion.
Amanda Strandburg won the title after first taking part in a private interview on Nov. 20. She then competed in the fitness, evening gown and onstage questions on Nov. 22.
Strandburg was born in Clearfield and moved to Howard early last year.
She said, “I am married to David, five years this January and I have one son, 14,” she said. “I work as a dual status Pennsylvania Army National Guard technician. I am a production control and supply supervisor. I’ve worked for the Department of Defense for six years and been in the Army National Guard 13 years this January. I currently serve as a warrant officer.”
Besides winning the new title, she also won the National Evening Gown Award. And, there’s more waiting for Strandburg.
“I will be traveling around our great state and the nation advocating and educating for simple ways to give back through various nonprofits,” she said.
“I will also be including blogs about poverty and ways women have uplifted or overcame obstacles on my blog, ‘Her Story, A Community Empowerment Project’.
“My platform is leaving poverty behind for good — essentially how individuals can contribute to their communities,” said Strandburg. My pageant platform is to advocate and educate for women in domestic violence situations and the Trevor Project.”
The Trevor project is the nations’ largest suicide and prevention crisis intervention organization for LBGTQ, according to Strandburg.
“’Because the pageant accepts all women, the foundation mirrors with their values and is one of the main foundations they raise money for,” she said.
There will be much to consider in the next few months for Strandburg as she attempts to fit all the traveling into her life.
Strandburg will be participating in the Toys for Tots Program in State College, Wreaths Across America in Clearfield and will be going to NYC Fashion Week in February. July is when Strandburg will travel to Australia for the Ms. World Universal competition and wind up the year by giving up her title in November 2022 in Hawaii.
