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Erika Harold as
Miss America 2003

Erika Harold

As Miss America 2003, Erika Harold served as a national spokesperson for her platform, Preventing Youth Violence and Bullying: Respect Yourself, Protect Yourself. Collaborating with organizations such as the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, S.A.V.E. (Students Against Violence Everywhere), the National Center for Victims of Crime and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Erika worked to empower young people to take a stand against the violence and harrassment that is pervasive in America's schools. She has discussed her platform on nationally broadcasted programs including the O'Reilly Factor, Good Morning America and CNN.

In addition, for the past several years, Erika has promoted the benefits of abstinence from sex, drugs and alcohol among young people. Speaking to thousands of students, parents, school officials and community members, Erika stressed the freedom and power to be obtained through positive decision-making. She has also presented written testimony to the Congressional Record, chronicling her experiences as an abstinence educator, served as a national spokesperson for Project Reality, and was a 3-time recipient of the Miss America Organization’s State Community Service Award for her work on these issues.

Erika is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Illinois and was a member of USA Today’s 2000 All-USA College Academic Team. This 3-time member of the National Dean’s List has been accepted to Harvard Law School, where she will begin her studies during the fall of 2004. (Credit: Project Reality)

Preventing Youth Violence and Bullying: Respect Yourself, Protect Yourself
Excerpt from Erika Harold’s Miss America 2003 Platform Statement:
" In ninth grade, I was the victim of pervasive and severe racial and sexual harassment. I was incessantly called degrading names, my home was vandalized numerous times, and vulgar songs were sung about me during class. In many instances, teachers and school officials were cognizant of the harassment and took no steps to intervene. When I told one school official about my classmates’ discussions of their plans to pool their lunch money together to buy a rifle to shoot me, he suggested that my problems would be stymied if I would only be more submissive, like the other girls…" (read more »)

Excerpts from Erika’s testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives,
April 23, 2002:

"When I speak to young people, I encourage them to stand firmly in defense of their priniciples. As Gandhi once said, 'To believe in something and not live it is to be dishonest.' "

"Ever since I can remember, I've had a commitment to abstinence. I was fortunate enough to be raised by two loving parents who encouraged me to set high standards, to value myself and to save sex for marriage. But I grew up knowing that I was lucky and that not every young person had the love and support that I did. I saw many of my peers use sex to try to find that love and acceptance. But instead of being able to fill that void, many of them became teen parents, contracted diseases and had their hearts broken." (read more »)

(Credit: Project Reality)