The 63rd Miss USA contest wrapped June 8 at the Baton Rouge Civic Center in Louisiana. Twenty-four-year-old Miss Nevada, Nia Sanchez, beat 50 other contestants to win the crown.
But critics question Sanchez’s eligibility, claiming that she isn’t a Nevada native and wasn’t eligible for the state’s pageant. They say she failed three times to win the Miss California crown, before eventually winning the Miss Nevada competition in January.
The brewing controversy takes us back to September 1983 when Miss New York, Vanessa Williams was crowned Miss America — The first African American to wear the crown since the contest started in September 1921. Williams was forced to give up her tiara, but went on to bigger and better things.
Since Williams, seven other African American women have worn the Miss America crown, Suzette Charles 1984, Debbye Turner 1990, Marjorie Judith Vincent 1991, Kimberly Aiken 1994, Erika Harold 2003, Erica Dunlap 2004, and Caressa Cameron 2010.
Rival pageant, Miss USA launched in 1952 after one Miss America winner refused a swimsuit photo shoot. An African American wasn’t crowned, until Carole Anne-Marie Gist in 1990.
Throughout the history of these pageants, after the spotlight turns off, some past contestants have led lives of depression, eating disorders, and sometime suicide. So which ones are now thriving and dominating their respective fields?
Oprah Winfrey is the most successful African American to ever compete in a pageant.
She won the Miss Black Tennessee pageant in 1972.
She went on to become one of the world’s most successful broadcast journalists.
Best known for her syndicated talk show, “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” Winfrey interviewed presidents, world leaders, other celebrities. She also created her OWN television network.
According to Forbes, Winfrey’s estimated net worth almost $3 billion and she is reportedly the wealthiest African American in the United States.
Her production company, Harpo produces TV shows, Broadway shows, and movies including last year’s “Lee Daniels’ The Butler.“ She’s given millions to various charitable causes. And was recently presented with a Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama.
Erika Dunlap Miss America 2004
Dunlap is the first and only black woman to win the Miss Florida crown. She went on to become Miss America 2004.
Dunlap, now a public relations guru, motivational speaker, and diversity advocate, created the The Crown Jewel Foundation. They invest in the lives of young women, encouraging them to “Strive for excellence and overcome obstacles.” She is also a reinvention strategist and motivational speaker who competed on CBS’ “The Amazing Race.”
A graduate of the University of Central Florida, Dunlap has delivered more than 100 keynote addresses.
Vanessa Williams Miss America 1984
Williams resigned her Miss America title following a nude photos scandal. But she’s never looked back. Since she quit the crown, she’s dominated the music and film industries with the grace and poise befitting a pageant queen.
Her debut album “The Right Stuff “and second album, “The Comfort Zone,”were huge hits and won her critical acclaim.
Williams crossed over into acting, performing on Broadway and appearing on several television shows and movies, including “The Eraser” with Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1996 and “Shaft” in 2000.
Her role on “Ugly Betty,” won her three supporting actress Emmy nominations.
Erika Harold Miss America 2003
After winning the Miss America pageant in 2003, Harold, a Harvard Law School grad, ran for national office seeking to represent the 13th District of Illinois in the House of Representatives.
Harold, a litigation attorney, replaced Rep. Tim Johnson as the Republican candidate.
She lost the primary, but her campaign enabled other beauty pageant contestants to later run for office.
Halle Berry 1986 Miss USA Pageant
Berry, Miss Ohio, was first runner-up in the 1986 Miss USA pageant. She also competed in the 1986 Miss World pageant.
After modeling in Chicago, she moved to New York City to pursue an acting career and the rest is history.
Her breakout roles included a part in 1991’s “Jungle Fever” with Wesley Snipes. She followed that up that same year with a supporting role in “Strictly Business“. In 1992 her role in “Boomerang” with Eddie Murphy made her a star. Her roles as the X-Men character Ororo Munroe, aka Storm in the movie franchise also earned her acclaim in the industry.
In 2002, Berry became the first African American to win the Academy Award for Best Actress for her lead role in “Monster’s Ball” with Billy Bob Thornton and the late Heath Ledger.
Berry also stars in the 2014 summer blockbuster, “X-Men: Days of Future Past.” According to Forbes, she’s worth $60 million.
Debbye Turner Bell Miss America 1990
Now a veteran broadcast journalist, Turner Bell has been a correspondent for CBS News and has reported for the CBS Evening News.
In 2002, she scored an interview with President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush at the White House for a Pet Planet segment about the first family’s pets.
An accomplished motivational speaker, she has spoken to more than a “half million students at youth organizations and campuses.”