About Katie...

Katie Hanson of Newark was crowned Miss Delaware USA 2011 on Sunday November 28, 2010 at the Sheraton Hotel in Dover, Delaware. Katie is a junior studying at the University of Delaware, where she is majoring in Criminal Justice. Upon graduation from college her goal is to ultimately become a Delaware State Trooper. She is the daughter of Donna Fournier, a Nutrition teacher in the Christina School District.

Achieving the title of Miss Delaware USA has been a dream come true for Katie. She loves interfacing with people, which is evident in how she utilizes her spare time. During her spare time, and between study sessions, Katie maintains two jobs. She works as a waitress at Outback Steakhouse in Newark, Delaware; this allows her to meet and interact with new people on a daily basis. In addition, she works at the Variety Club (The Children’s Charity) instructing high school children with a wide range of disabilities.

Katie is elated about representing her birth state of Delaware at the national level, as well as participating in local community charity events. When she competes at MISS USA her ultimate goal is to win the Miss USA title and her personal goal is to place within the top five finalists. In the history of this pageant, this is something that has yet to happen for State of Delaware. She feels as though she can make this dream become a reality.

Katie’s favorite vacation spot is Riviera Maya, Mexico, where she enjoyed a trip of a life time this past summer with her best friend (her mom). She had an opportunity to zip-line through the Mexican terrain, snorkel in the underground caves, and parasail across the aqua blue ocean.

In Katie’s leisure time she enjoys many physical activities, which include, going for a run with her dog “Lola,” biking with her mom, going to the gym as she prepares for the police academy, and spending time at the beach.

Katie is blessed for this opportunity of a lifetime. This is a way for her to reach out to her community and give back to all those people who are less fortunate. She especially wants to get involved with the Red Cross Foundation because they provided support to her family when their home burned down in 2006. She hopes to reach out to other fire victims because she knows first hand what it’s like to lose all of the things a person holds close to their heart. However, she sees this title as a means to create new memories.

This opportunity is a way for her to meet new people and create friendships that will last a lifetime. Katie looks forward to sharing her journey as Miss Delaware USA with her sister titleholder Miss Delaware Teen USA, Amanda Debus. She wants everyone to know that she will represent Delaware to her fullest potential and is determined to make Delaware proud.