Katherine Renee " Kate " Shindle ( born January 31 , 1977 ) , Miss America 1998 and Miss Illinois 1997 , is an American actress , singer , dancer , and AIDS activist . She is the author of the 2014 memoir '' Being Miss America : Behind the Rhinestone Curtain , '' published by the University of Texas Press . She is currently serving as the President of the Actors ' Equity Association , elected in 2015
Miss America 1998
Miss America 1998
Katherine Shindle