VerSteeg Taking Part In ‘The Amazing Race’

Miss Iowa United States Jessica VerSteeg

Oskaloosa, Iowa – The former Oskaloosa resident with strong family ties is off on an amazing race.

Jessica VerSteeg, professional model and former Miss United States, is the granddaughter of Oskaloosa City Council-member Aaron Ver Steeg and daughter of Scott Ver Steeg, also of Oskaloosa.

Jessica is a participant on ‘The Amazing Race’, which will air on CBS. Jessica VerSteeg and Brittany Oldehoff are best friends and are competing together. They were selected in the social media centered season based upon their over 60k likes they have on Instagram.

The reality series has won multiple Emmys and is hosted by Phil Keoghan. Participants like VerSteeg trek around the globe, and at predetermined destinations, the team must compete in challenges. Those challenges could be physical or mental. When those tasks are completed, the team will then be informed of their next location. Teams that fall behind will gradually be eliminated and the first team to arrive at the final destination will win the race and the $1 million prize.

Oskaloosa News reached out to Scott about his thoughts on his daughter’s adventure on the Emmy award winning reality TV show, and how he reacted to not knowing where and/or if his daughter might be in danger after the Paris attacks.

Jessica’s last appearance is in an online video that shows her team being the first to reach their destination in Mexico City on November 15th.

Scott, who is used to getting a call, a text, or other form of communication from his daughter, who now calls San Francisco home, suddenly felt his heart sink on the day of the Paris terrorist attacks.

Scott said that not knowing where his daughter was at while watching news reports was difficult. Producers from the show quickly got in touch with the families to let them know that the contestants, including Jessica, weren’t “in that part of the world, so everything’s OK.”

Scott believes the experience is great for Jessica, saying “we’re only young once” and this journey is one that she has had on her bucket list. “When you get a chance to do things like this, you probably ought to grab it and go.”

“I’m pretty proud of her,” says Scott. “Like I tell all three of my girls, if you give it all you got… sometimes you win and sometimes you don’t, but no matter what, it’s how you played that game. That’s all that matters.”