MISS MISSOURI USA 2002 Melana Scantlin

Melana Scantlin represented the state of Missouri at the 2002 Miss USA pageant in Gary, Indiana. Her roommate was Kasie Head, Miss Oklahoma USA, with whom she has become best friends and they keep in touch often. The pageant was hosted by Deion Sanders and the entertainers were Sara Evans and Joe.

Current Biographical Information:
Three months after returning from MISS USA, Melana graduated with honors from Park University. With a B.A. in Communication Theory and Human Relations, she received such awards as an All-American Scholar, placement on The National Dean's List and Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.

In the summer of 2002, Melana was asked to join the Dodge Race Day show, covering NASCAR and other racing events across America, as the female CO-host. The show features Melana participating weekly in such events as the Ultimate Short Track Experience and sitting in on commentary to wrap the show with trivia, of course.

Melana and her parents, Steve and Eugeneia were selected for NBC's Hit Reality TV Show "Meet My Folks."

Traveling to Los Angeles and working in Kansas City has kept Melana extremely busy. Melana celebrates her 8th season in 2003 with the Kansas City Chiefs as the team's LIVE ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCER, making Melana the first female in the NFL to announce live from the field. She is also the host of the Chiefs Trivia segment at Arrowhead Stadium, interviewing fans on game day with the trivia question of the week.

Melana was recently seen on NBC's reality show AVERAGE JOE. NBC is writing her into the soap opera Days of Our Lives and she will begin taping on January 5th.

Today, Melana splits her time between Kansas City and Los Angeles. She plans to one day marry and raise a family, but is concentrating on building her career in Hosting and Sports Entertainment for now. She enjoys volunteering for the Fox 4 Love Fund For Children with special events such as "Shop With A Jock", Christmas shopping with under privileged children and working special events.

Fun Facts:
Fun Facts: Melana's seventh great uncle is George Washington, her first cousin is Wes Scantlin, lead singer of the Multi-platinum band, "Puddle of Mudd" and winner of Billboard Music Award's "Rock Artist of the Year" 2002.

What is your best memory of your year as Miss Missouri USA?
Two weeks after winning the title of Miss Missouri USA, Melana was invited to pre-tape events, with ten other delegates, in Gary, Indiana, host city for Miss USA 2002. Seven days of laughs with new friends, dining, fashion shows and appearances...among her entire year of presenting awards, meeting celebrities, speaking to children and doing media interviews, Melana claims pre-taping as one of her favorite memories as Miss Missouri USA.

What was your favorite part of the pageant itself?
With the success of so many incredible Missouri titleholders prior to her arrival at Miss USA, Melana was truly honored to arrive at MISS USA as Miss Missouri USA. She had the love and support of Vanbros and Associates, the Evening Extraordinaire staff, friends and her family. The most exciting part of the pageant for Melana was cheering on Lindsay Douglas, Miss Kansas USA, all the way to 1st runner-up, hanging out with Lindsay, Kasie Head (OK), Stacey Skidmore(NB), Allison Alderson (TN), Heather Hogan (GA) and Keely Gaston (CO).

How did your year as Miss Missouri USA impact your success today?
My experience as a titleholder was like a domino effect, one thing led into another, it was the best networking experience ever! Many of my opportunities came from people wanting Miss Missouri USA to be "on their show" and then they would ask me to come back!

Who was the one person you met during your year that you can say you were the most excited to meet?
I can't pick just one person...I was really excited to meet all of the delegates at MISS USA, but if I had to pick one person at the pageant it would be the official pageant choreographer, Scott Grossman. I had the opportunity to work with him at MISS TEEN USA and remember how I loved his style. I have danced my entire life and he is not only fun to watch, but an incredible choreographer to dance with on stage.