Katie Marie Harman Ebner is an American classical vocalist and actress who is best known as Miss America 2002 and former Miss Oregon 2001. She is the first and only contestant from the Pacific Northwestern United States to hold the title of Miss America. After her pageant career, Harman has worked as a singer and actress, appearing in various stage productions in the United States, as well as having a guest role on the HBO series Big Love in 2010.
In 2001, she was selected as Miss Multnomah County, and then won the Miss Oregon pageant, allowing her to compete for Miss America. She was selected as Miss America the Saturday after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Her first official appearances in the new role of Miss America were at the World Trade Center site and The Pentagon to visit rescue workers, at the request of journalist Janet Langhart Cohen. In her speech, Harman said: "This is an opportunity for Miss America to rally the hopes of the American public. I want to make sure that this tragedy does not bring America down."
Post-Miss America
Since completing her duties as Miss America, she played Kathie in The Student Prince with the Gold Coast Opera in Florida. She also played Barbarina in Le nozze di Figaro. As a vocalist, she has performed with pianist André Watts with the Shreveport Symphony and others. Katie also appeared as herself in an episode of the improvisational comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway? in 2002. She delivered the keynote address for Portland State University's 2002 Commencement. This resulted in protests from the Progressive Student Union and other students and faculty who expressed concerns related to her credentials as Miss America and the pageant's promotion of a "sexist" attitude. In response to the controversy, Harman stated: "The Miss America program is offering young women to have a voice. The elements of competition and judging is such that it doesn't concentrate on a woman's appearance. It's about intellect and passion for issues. It has little or nothing to do with the way she looks. I'm 5'3", and I grew up never thinking I could be a supermodel. Miss America embraces women who have inner beauty. If you have joy and hope, it makes you beautiful. This is not a sexist competition in any way. Harman acted in a production of "The Secret Garden" at the Portland Center for the Performing Arts in 2006 and 2007. In 2007, she released her first music CD, Soul of Love, featuring light classical music. In 2010, she made her acting debut as Miss Provo in an episode of the HBO series Big Love, during which she performed a musical number at a campaign rally. She has appeared in several television commercials in the Portland metropolitan area, including promotional spots for Portland Rescue Mission. In September 2016, she appeared onstage as Emma in a production of Jekyl & Hyde at the Brunish Theatre, Antoinette Hatfield Hall in Portland.
Personal life
Harman married Oregon Air National Guard pilot Tim Ebner in 2003 and she gave birth to a son Tyler Glen Ebner in 2005. In 2005, Harman moved with her husband and son to Klamath Falls, Oregon where he continues to work for the Oregon Air National Guard. In 2009 she gave birth to a daughter.
