Sooner born and Sooner bred, 25-year old southwest Oklahoma native, Lauren Lunday, was crowned the 2009 Miss Oklahoma USA on November 19, 2008. An honor’s graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Zoology/Bio-Medical Sciences, Lauren is currently a second year dental student at the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry where she serves as media spokesperson and a class officer.

While pursuing her undergraduate degree at the University of Oklahoma, Lauren worked on a neuroscience research team whose research was nationally published in the neuroscience magazine, Nature. The title of her research was “Development switch in neural circuitry underlying odor-malaise learning”. She was also the grant writer, co-founder, and spokesperson for the 1st Intel affiliated science fair in Oklahoma. Lauren enjoyed serving as an ambassador for the University’s Crimson Club where she served as a hostess for such campus dignitaries as Queen Noir of Jordan, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, journalist Tom Brokaw, and Williams-Sonoma CEO, William Howard Lester.

Lauren is actively involved in her community with the Oklahoma Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Oklahoma, the Children’s Miracle Network, and Dental Health for Friends. Lauren’s grandmother suffered with ovarian cancer for 8 years, so cancer awareness is also an important community message that she shares with others.

Lauren enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She takes pleasure in window-shopping, reading, watching scary movies, interior decorating, and hanging out with Lexi, her miniature schnauzer. It’s not uncommon to find Lauren weight training or jamming out in her Pilates class. Her additional interests include hosting dinner parties, volunteering, and watching sporting events, especially OU football.

As Miss Oklahoma USA, Lauren is spending the months prior to the national pageant making appearances for community and charitable events, speaking to youth about health issues and preparing for the Miss USA pageant.