Audra Diane Mari (born January 8, 1994) is an American model, television host and beauty pageant titleholder. She was crowned Miss World America 2016 on July 8, 2016, and represented the United States at Miss World 2016. She also represented the state of North Dakota at the Miss Teen USA and Miss USA pageants where she placed 1st runner-up in each pageant.

Audra Mari
Born
Audra Diane Mari

(1994-01-08) January 8, 1994 (age 30)
Alma materNorth Dakota State University
Height1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Spouse
(m. 2022)
Children1
Beauty pageant titleholder
TitleMiss North Dakota Teen USA 2011
Miss North Dakota USA 2014
Miss World America 2016
Hair colorBrown
Eye colorGreen
Major
competition(s)
Miss Teen USA 2011
(1st Runner-Up)
Miss USA 2014
(1st Runner-Up)
Miss World America 2016
(Winner)
Miss World 2016
(Top 11)

Early life

edit

Mari was born on January 8, 1994, in Fargo, North Dakota. Her grandfather is from the Philippines.[1][2] Mari attended Davies High School in Fargo.[3] In an interview with Seventeen, she discussed being bullied during her sophomore year of high school.[4][5] She attended North Dakota State University, where she studied public relations and communications.[1]

Career

edit

Pageantry

edit

Mari represented the state of North Dakota on July 16, 2011, at Atlantis Paradise Island in Nassau, Bahamas where she placed 1st runner-up.[6][7] Three years later she won the Miss North Dakota USA 2014 title.[8] In the Miss USA 2014 pageant[9] held in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she again placed 1st runner-up.[10][11] This was the highest placement for a contestant from North Dakota.[12]

On July 8, 2016, Mari was crowned Miss World America 2016 at National Harbor in Washington, D.C.[13][14] She represented the United States at the Miss World 2016 pageant on December 18, 2016, where she placed 6th. Because Mari was the highest placing Miss World contestant from the Americas, she was awarded the title of Miss World Americas 2016.[14][15][3]

Modeling and television

edit

At age 20, Mari moved to Miami to pursue a modeling career. Her credits include gracing the cover of Ocean Drive Swimsuit issue and appearing in numerous H&M ads. Mari segued into hosting a television show on the Welcome Channel and in 2021, a local travel show for InForum online media.[16][3]

Personal life

edit

Mari began dating actor Josh Duhamel in late 2018.[17][18] They announced their engagement on January 8, 2022,[19] and married on September 10, 2022.[20] They announced they were expecting a baby via their Instagram on September 11, 2023.[21] Their son was born in January 2024.[22]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Villar, Ferdie (14 July 2016). "2016 Miss World America Audra Mari is part Filipina". Asian Journal.
  2. ^ Villano, Alexa (11 September 2017). "Audra Mari on her Filipino roots and American politics". Rappler. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Briggs, Tracy (14 January 2017). "Changes ahead for Fargo's own Miss World America". West Fargo Pioneer. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  4. ^ Rosenfeld, Laura (9 August 2011). "Miss Teen USA Runner-Up Talks Bullying". Seventeen.
  5. ^ Oppliger, Patrice A. (2013). Bullies and Mean Girls in Popular Culture. McFarland and Company, Inc. p. 252. ISBN 978-0-7864-6865-2. Retrieved 17 June 2020 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ Porter, Rick (16 July 2011). "Miss Teen USA: Danielle Doty of Texas wins 2011 crown". zap2it.com. Zap2It. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  7. ^ "Fargo girl places second in Miss Teen USA pageant". WDAY. 17 July 2011.
  8. ^ Frank, Tracy (24 May 2014). "The princess that was once bullied: Pageant competition helps Miss North Dakota overcome bullying". The Dickinson Press.
  9. ^ "Miss USA 2014: Miss Nevada Nia Sanchez takes the crown". New York Daily News.
  10. ^ Bingham, Matt (8 June 2014). "North Dakota's Audra Mari Named Miss USA 2014 First Runner-Up". 96.5 The Fox.
  11. ^ Robinson, Phoebe (9 June 2014). "The Miss U.S.A. Pageant Recap: 51 Shades of Bronzer". vanityfair.com. Vanity Fair. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  12. ^ Huebner, Robin (10 June 2014). "Fargo's Mari 'extremely bummed out' by runner-up Miss USA finish". Park Rapids Enterprise.
  13. ^ "Fargo's Audra Mari has been crowned Miss World America". Valley News Live. 8 July 2016.
  14. ^ a b Schmidt, Helmut (11 July 2016). "Fargo woman crowned Miss World America 2016". Grand Forks Herald.
  15. ^ Fletcher, Jennifer (9 July 2016). "Miss World America winner 2016 has been announced". Yahoo7Be.
  16. ^ "Bikini-Clad Models Pose for Ocean Drive's Swimsuit Issue". 25 June 2015.
  17. ^ Murphy, Helen (26 February 2020). "Josh Duhamel and Girlfriend Audra Mari Step Out Holding Hands in Los Angeles". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  18. ^ Hautman, Nicholas (9 December 2019). "Josh Duhamel's New Girlfriend Audra Mari: 5 Things to Know About Her". Us Weekly. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  19. ^ "Josh Duhamel Announces Engagement to Audra Mari and Gets Congratulations from Ex-Fergie". people.com. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  20. ^ Francesca Gariano (September 12, 2022). "Josh Duhamel and Audra Mari's Relationship Timeline". Peoplemag. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  21. ^ "Josh Duhamel and wife Audra Mari announce they're expecting first baby together". The Independent. September 12, 2023.
  22. ^ Moorman, Taijuan (January 17, 2024). "Josh Duhamel and Audra Mari announce birth of son Shepherd Lawrence: See the sweet photo". USA Today.
edit
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Miss World Americas
2016
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Victoria Mendoza
Miss World America
2016
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Mary-Margaret McCord
Miss USA 1st runner-up
2014
Succeeded by
Ylianna Guerra
Preceded by
Stephanie Erickson
Miss North Dakota USA
2014
Succeeded by
Molly Ketterling
Preceded by
Lexi Atkins
Miss Teen USA 1st runner-up
2011
Succeeded by
Elizabeth Sabatino
Preceded by
Ariana Walker
Miss North Dakota Teen USA
2011
Succeeded by
Tiffany Fletschock