Kandace was 18 years old and a senior at Westwood High School the first year she participated in the Miss Round Rock USA Pageant. She competed twice placing in the top five both times. In 1997, the pageant's name was changed to the Miss Williamson County USA pageant to include a larger area. That year Kandace was first runner up to Jessica Taylor. In 1999, she won the title of Miss Williamson County USA. That same year, she also won swimsuit, photogenic and Miss Congeniality. Every summer Kandace along with the other girls, prepared for Miss Texas USA. She did this for 5 years, and every year she got better. As Miss Williamson County USA, Kandace tied for the the top 12, but lost in the tie breaker. She was ready to quit pageants until Betty told her how close she had come to making semi-finals. She called Betty a couple of months after giving up her Williamson County crown to Andria Mullins and said "I'm going to try for the Miss Austin USA crown." She got the names and phone numbers of trainers and coaches and she began to prepare as never before. In March of 2000 she walked away with the Miss Austin USA crown and then she began preparing for Miss Texas USA. She worked even harder than before and won the Miss Texas USA crown by the largest number of points ever!! Next was Miss USA!! On March 2, 2001, Texas Independence Day ....Kandace won Miss USA.....Happy Birthday TEXAS!!! Kandace went on to the Miss Universe pageant and was second runner up. We are all very proud of Kandace, but there is no one more proud than Betty Warner ......except her mom.