Then: Cheryl Prewitt overcame a childhood tragedy to become Miss America.
Now: Find out what she does now. Cheryl Prewitt owns c.p. annie productions, miss america cheryl prewitt, cheryl prewitt automobile accident
Then: Susan Powell was an opera singer.
Now: Find out what she's done since then. Susan Powell host "home matters" discovery channel. miss america susan powell
Then: Elizabeth Ward reportedly wore a gown made from a tablecloth and used her pageant money to study acting. miss america elizabeth ward,
Now: Since then, she went on to have an acting career, appeared on the cover of Playboy and claimed she had a one-night stand with a future U.S. president. Who was it? elizabeth ward gracen filmography, elizabeth ward gracen + bill clinton, playboy cover "may 1992"
Then: Debra Maffett had been in TV. debra maffett,
Now: Find out her most recent known job. Debra Maffett anchor TNN Country News
Then: Vanessa Williams became the first black Miss America before losing her crown due to a nude photo scandal. vanessa williams miss america scandal
Now: She married an NBA star, and became a successful TV and movie actress and singer.
Then: Suzette Charles took over Miss America duties after Vanessa Williams relinquished her crown.
Now: She became an actress and singer and began a friendship with a controversial boxer. Who was it? "Suzette Charles" mike tyson
Then: Sharlene Wells was the only foreign-born Miss America and played the harp. miss america sharlene wells
Now: She later became a sports reporter. Find out what she does now. Follow her on Twitter. sharlene hawkes espn, sharlene hawkes president of Remember My Service,
Then: Miss Mississippi Susan Akin had to contend with her family's connection to an infamous civil rights murder case. The case was turned into a movie. miss america susan akin, susan akin granddaughter of bernard akin conspirator Mississippi Burning, Mississippi Burning Case of 1964,
Now: She now lives in a small town in Tennessee. Find out how she's handled post-pageant life. miss america susan akin challenges,
Then: Kellye Cash, the grandniece of a famous country singer, was a singer like her great-uncle. miss america kellye cash,
Now: She portrayed another famous singer on tour and is active in a political party. Which one? republican kellye cash, patsy cline + kellye cash,
Then: Kaye Lani Rae Rafko used her reign to advocate for hospice programs. kaye lani rae rafko.
Now: She appeared in a Michael Moore documentary. Find out what she does for a living. Kaye Lani Rae Rafko executive director of Gabby's Ladder, kaye lani rae rafko + roger and me
Then: Gretchen Carlson was the first classical violinist to win the Miss America crown.
Now: Find out what she does now. gretchen carlson fox & friends,
Then: Debbye Turner was the first Miss Missouri to win the title and played the marimba.
Now: Find out what she does now. debbye turner contributor "the early show"
Then: Marjorie Vincent played the piano for her talent and campaigned against domestic violence. miss america marjorie vincent,
Now: She became a news reporter for a while and reportedly went back to law school. marjorie vincent news reporter, marjorie vincent florida coastal school of law,
Then: Carolyn Sapp, the first Miss Hawaii to wear the crown, starred in a TV movie about her relationship with an abusive boyfriend. miss america carolyn sapp, miss america behind the crown movie
Now: Find out what she does now. carolyn sapp abused women,
Then: Leanza Cornett was the first Miss America to campaign for awareness of this illness and refused to wear her crown in public. leanza cornett AIDS, leanza cornett "How do you talk about practicing safe sex when you've got this thing on top of your head",
Now: She became an entertainment correspondent and married a fellow entertainment reporter. mark steines Entertainment Tonight,
Then: Kimberly Aiken won when she was only 18 years old and advocated for the homeless. kimberly aiken miss america,
Now: Find out what she does now. miss america kimberly aiken image consultant,
Then: Heather Whitestone became the first deaf Miss America.
Now: She has written several books and underwent a controversial procedure in 2002. heather whitestone books, heather whitestone cochlear implant
Then: Shawntel Smith was Miss Oklahoma, and her platform was getting high school students to work after graduation. miss america shawntel smith, school-to-work reinventing america's workforce
Now: Find out what she does now. shawntel smith motivational speaker,
Then: Tara Dawn Holland was an advocate for literacy and a singer.
Now: She's married, and her public appearances focus on a controversial topic. What is it? Congressman Jon Christensen, Tara Dawn Holland sexual abstinence,
Then: Kate Shindle used her platform to advocate for AIDS prevention around the world. miss america Kate Shindle, kate shindle AIDS activist
Now: She went on to a successful Broadway career, kate shindle broadway roles,
Then: Nicole Johnson, who has diabetes, advocated for diabetes education during her time as Miss America. miss america nicole johnson,
Now: She has helped raise millions for diabetes research and wrote a book about living with the disease. miss america nicole johnson $26 million, living with diabetes + nicole johnson,
Then: Heather French, the first Miss Kentucky to win the crown, advocated for homeless veterans. miss america heather french
Now: She married a controversial Kentucky politician, spoke to Oprah Winfrey about a personal tragedy and continues to work for veterans. former lieutenant governor steve henry plea deal, heather french henry bicyclist accident, heather french foundation,
Then: Angela Perez Baraquio was the first Asian-American to wear the crown. angela perez baraquio, angela perez baraquio + isle entertainment,
Now: Find out what she does now.
Then: Katie Harman, who was crowned shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks, sang a famous soprano aria. miss america katie harman
Now: She is married to an Oregon Air National Guard pilot with two children. katie harman o mio
Then: Erika Harold stirred up controversy when she announced a new platform after she won. miss america erika harold, erika harold abstinence platform,
Now: She spoke at the 2004 Republican National Convention. erika harold republican national convention,
Then: Ericka Dunlap the first black Miss Florida, used her platform to celebrate diversity.
Now: She is pursuing a country music career, and she and her husband competed on a popular reality show. ericka dunlap music,
Then: Deidre Downs advocated for a cure for childhood cancer during her extra-long reign. deidre downs miss america, deidre downs longest reign
Now: She got married in 2008 and last year graduated from medical school. Find pictures and details of the wedding. deidre downs wedding,
Then: Jennifer Berry was a ballet dancer and an advocate for an anti-drunk-driving group. miss america Jennifer Berry, mothers against drunk driving
Now: She got married in 2007 and lives in Raleigh, North Carolina. jennifer berry-gooden,
Then: Lauren Nelson used her platform to bring awareness to protecting children from online dangers. miss america lauren nelson
Now: She posed as a teen to catch sexual predators. Find out what she does now. miss america sex sting, lauren nelson "first at four"
Then: Kirsten Haglund used her own struggles to bring awareness to eating disorders. miss america kirsten haglund, kirsten haglund anorexia
Now: She founded a group to help people with eating disorders and has made several appearances on a Fox News talk show. kirsten haglund foundation, kirsten haglund hannity
Then: Katie Stam, the first Miss Indiana to win the title, appeared with her fellow contestants on a reality show. miss america katie stam, miss america countdown to the crown
Now: Find out what she does now. katie stam "I Want to Be Miss America"
Then: Caressa Cameron sang a Beyoncé tune on her way to winning the crown. miss america caressa cameron
Now: In a later interview she speculated about another Miss America first. miss america caressa cameron lesbian wear crown
Then: Teresa Scanlan, the pageant's youngest winner since Margaret Gorman in 1951 and its first from Nebraska. Watch a news clip of the big moment. teresa scanlan 17 years old, Margaret Gorman miss america,
Now: She's enjoying a full tour schedule as the reigning beauty. She recently gave her opinion of Newsweek's cover photo of Michele Bachmann. teresa scanlan bachmann cover,
Source: special
