Miss Connecticut USA Erin Brady stopped using her calculator and started wearing a crown when she captured the title of Miss USA 2013 on June 16th in Las Vegas, Nevada. A former number cruncher and Financial Accountant for Prudential Retirement, the 25-year-old from East Hampton graduated from Central Connecticut State University with a degree in Finance and a minor in Criminal Justice. She is proud to be the first person in her family to obtain a college degree.

Erin was raised in a household where she was subjected to alcohol and substance abuse and as a result hopes to use her title to advocate for children that have been exposed to similar situations. It is her goal to break the cycle of addiction after learning that more than half of adult addicts were children of alcoholics. The environment that Erin grew up in allowed her to realize the importance of being a role model to her two younger sisters. Erin made the conscious decision to live on her own at the age of 17 and says the experience taught her how to be self-sufficient and emotionally strong.

In her free time, Erin enjoys relaxing with friends and family, skiing, cooking and exploring new restaurants. Erin has a passion for running and enjoys pushing her body to its physical limits. The last race she participated in was the ‘Tough Mudder,’ a rigorous obstacle course that tests your endurance and mental strength.

As Miss USA, Erin will be a spokesperson for breast and ovarian cancer education, prevention and awareness and will work closely with organizations such as Gilda’s Club, Susan G. Komen and the National Ovarian Cancer Alliance, among others. After her reign, Erin plans to pursue her MBA however; she is excited to see where her new title takes her and has an interest in broadcasting and hosting.