Kate Shindle is an American actress, singer, dancer, and activist, born on January 31, 1977, in Toledo, Ohio. She was raised in Brigantine and Moorestown, New Jersey, and attended Bishop Eustace Preparatory School. Shindle graduated from Northwestern University with a double major in sociology and theater, and a minor in musical theater.
In 1997, Shindle was crowned Miss Illinois and subsequently won the title of Miss America 1998. During her tenure, she focused on AIDS prevention advocacy.
Shindle's Broadway career includes performances in several notable productions. She appeared in Jekyll & Hyde (1997) as a replacement for multiple roles, including Lucy. In Cabaret (2001), she portrayed Sally Bowles. She played Vivienne Kensington in Legally Blonde (2007) and the Mad Hatter in Wonderland (2011). Additionally, she starred as Alison Bechdel in the national tour of Fun Home (2016).
Beyond the stage, Shindle has appeared in films such as The Stepford Wives (2004), Capote (2005), and Lucky Stiff (2014). Her television credits include roles in Gossip Girl, White Collar, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Good Fight, and Elementary.
In 2015, Shindle was elected as the 16th President of the Actors' Equity Association, becoming the youngest person and only the third woman to hold the position. She served until 2024, when she chose not to seek re-election.
Shindle authored a memoir titled Being Miss America: Behind the Rhinestone Curtain, published in 2014.