Modern Woman: Miss USA 2015 Olivia Jordan

“I feel that I have been preparing for Miss Universe for my entire life,” said Olivia Jordan. With her college education, modeling, acting, love of fitness, and previous pageant experience, it’s no wonder Olivia Jordan is a force to be reckoned with.
Jordan is a fourth generation “Tulsa girl”, which means she grew up with her entire extended family living within a few miles of each other.
“We’d have family dinner that included everyone down to my third cousin twice removed,” said Jordan. “I just thought that was normal.”
Growing up in that tribe kind of mentality, it was really hard for Jordan to get away with doing anything wrong, but there were also a lot of people looking out for her.
Jordan first learned about pageants when she saw another girl in her high school who was crowned, “Miss Outstanding Teen.” She thought that was just about the coolest thing in the world. Although Jordan admits she’s never been competitive with other women, she decided to start participating in pageants when she began college. Her Mom was a bit of a hippie, she believed in natural beauty and didn’t understand Jordan’s draw to pageants, but supported her anyway.
“I am kind of a weirdo; I have always known that about myself. And when you are a weirdo you don’t even bother comparing yourself to other people,” she said. When she sees her friends succeed, she knows that it is for their own great individuality. The success of her peers has only made her work hard to pursue her own endeavors.
In college, after a long battle with switching majors, Jordan decided to pursue Health Science. During her middle school and high school years, Jordan was a cheerleader. Jumping and stunting were really hard on her body, and she ended up with a bruise on her spine. She spent a great deal of time in physical therapy, and it was there that she learned how to do exercises to build her core, protect her back, and strengthen her body. She did an internship at a personal training gym and thought it might make for a great career. At Boston University, she ended up working as a group fitness instructor and personal trainer.
“Some of my students would come see me after class and tell me I was helping them transform their bodies,” she said. “It was so gratifying that I could help people become their best selves.” Jordan hopes to one day merge her love of acting with career in fitness, and sees Jane Fonda as a huge role model.
In her last year of college, Jordan was asked to audition for “Here Comes the Boom,” where she was cast as the “ring girl.” She spent three days on set surrounded by incredible actors and amazing energy. It was that film that made her SAG eligible and gave her the boost of encouragement to follow her dream of moving to California and becoming an actress. It took her two years of classes, and pushing her way forward before she even got cast in a speaking role.
Jordan auditioned for the female lead in Hot Tub Time Machine, but didn’t get the role. Although, the director liked her so much, he wrote in a few lines for her. Spending time around hilarious actors, Jordan felt the push to work on her skills so she could keep up and joined an improv class at Upright Citizens Brigade the following week.
“I wanted to be able to hang with those talented actors in a scene the next time I had the opportunity.”
For now, you can find Jordan traveling the country as Miss USA and supporting causes she believes in. The job of Miss USA has given her a stronger voice on Instagram, where you can read about what she truly believes in and supports, such as the Alzheimer’s Association. She’s also a self-proclaimed feminist.
“I want to support women that want to run for President or become a CEO as much as I support women that dream of being a Victoria Secret angel. I think what is important is that you are living passionately and using your influence to spread positivity to all those you come across. Women can be anything they want to be.”

Photography: Lauren Engel
Interview: Rachel Lynch
MUA: Romana Lai
Hair: Edison Lu of Hair Lounge
Wardrobe: Alexandra Hall