[2][5][6] After holding the Miss Teen USA title, Farrell spent the summer of 2005 in New York City, attending the summer intensive program of the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts in New York City[5] and then moved to Los Angeles, California to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.

Tami Farrell won her first title, Miss Oregon Teen USA in 2002 and went on to win the Miss Teen USA 2003 pageant in Palm Springs, California on August 12, 2003.

She gave up her title to Shelley Hennig of Louisiana in Palm Springs on August 6, 2004.

[9] On June 10, 2009, she became Miss California USA 2009 after Prejean was sacked by Donald Trump.

[10][6] Prejean had created controversy by saying marriage should be reserved for a man and a woman during the interview portion of the Miss USA 2009 pageant.