Miss Earth USA is similar to Miss America or Miss USA, where it’s a competition. Harley Anderson was selected to serve as Miss Wyoming for the organization.

Anderson is actually a Colorado resident, but still was able to represent the state of Wyoming. “The Miss Earth system is unique, where you don’t have to be a full-time resident of the state you are representing,” she said during a phone interview.

They have “at-large” titles, which allowed her to be selected one of those spots. “Wyoming is an incredible state that I live very close to. I’ve had the privilege to traveling to there a lot last year. I really just love it there, so it was an easy choice for me,” she said.

According to the organization’s website, since 2001, the Miss Earth organization has created a platform for women and girls to experience the glamour of the beauty pageant industry while making an impact on our most pressing environmental issues around the globe.

8 – Harley Anderson is pictured participating in a community clean-up, part of her duties in the Miss Earth USA pageant.

The Miss Earth USA organization offers multiple age divisions to help influential young women and girls gain experience and recognition for their achievements.

Its commitment to the environment was one of the reasons Anderson decided to try out for the pageant. “Rather than have a bunch of different platforms, they really focus on building a global community for people working on environmental causes. … I chose this program specifically because I felt it aligned more with my personal values, being really interested in sustainability and environmental causes,” she said.

Anderson moved to Colorado in 2020. She graduated in 2016 from Cassadaga Valley Central School. She had attended St. Bonaventure and later Jamestown Community College.

During the pandemic, Anderson decided she wanted to live out west and applied and was accepted at the University of Northern Colorado, where she earned her degree in communication and media studies. “I didn’t know anyone out here when I moved. It’s just been the most incredible adventure. It’s such a blessing to live in one of the most beautiful places on earth,” she said.

In 2021, Anderson participated in her first pageant. “Once you do one, you just want to do it again,” she said.

Harley Anderson

In the spring of 2022, she applied for the Miss Earth pageant, where she was successful at being selected.

By being selected as Miss Wyoming, she was able to participate in a host of activities all over the country.

One of the highlights of the year was participating in the New York City Fashion Week. “It was absolutely unreal, one of those childhood dreams. … I was able to walk for a designer who makes pageant gowns and things like that. It was absolutely incredible,” she said.

It was also quite a different experience from some of their other duties, because Miss Earth does a lot of “in the dirt” environmental work, cleaning up communities. “We got to do that high glam, hair and makeup, just beautiful,” she said with a laugh.

In January was the Miss Earth competition week, which took place in Orlando, Fla.

Harley Anderson

Before the week began were numerous interviews. Competitors also had to submit videos of projects that they had participated in throughout the year.

For Anderson’s “think global, act local” project, she designed reusable coffee cups and donated them to her local coffee shops. “I’m a huge coffee drinker, so it’s kind of one of those ‘small swaps’ that I made in my life where stopped using disposable coffee cups,” she said.

On the coffee cups was the phrase “move mountains today” which fit with her platform as Miss Wyoming. “Just as you move small stones to eventually move mountains, your small lifestyle changes will eventually lead to a larger change,” she said.

Although Anderson did not win in the national Miss Earth pageant, she was still very thankful to experience what she did. “I did not place, but being my first national pageant, that was not really my goal. I was just so happy to be there. I really mean that,” she said.

Her term as Miss Wyoming wrapped up in early April.

Harley Anderson

Anderson continues to work in real estate marketing, as well as doing freelance marketing, especially in social media. She doesn’t know yet if she will ever try out for another pageant again, admitting it’s a lot of work. “There were some days when I was just exhausted, but it was so worth it,” she said.

Anderson is thankful for all the support she received from family and friends. “I’m just so thankful for all the experiences and the opportunities that have come my way. I thank God every day that I get to live this life and I can’t wait to see what’s next,” she said.

Harley Anderson

Harley Anderson

Harley Anderson