Contest and Purpose

Miss America, 1963 contestants (left to right)Miss California, Wendy Douglas; Miss Mississippi, Barbara Jan Nave; Miss Louisiana, Linda Baucum; Miss Wisconsin, Barbara Bonville; Miss Indiana, Marcia Pinkstaff; Miss Arkansas, Donna Axum; Miss New Hampshire, Georgia Taggart; Miss New York City, Marsha Metrinko, and Miss North Carolina, Jeanne Swanner

Shanelle Gayden on September 11, 2016

Shanelle Gayden said, "In the deepest part of me I bring creativity to help set free the pain of one's misery that was designed to break down...but ohhhhhh how things turn around! My God has given me this crown!"


To which, I said: "Deeply felt. Deeply said. It makes a big difference to teach, share and instill from the deepest part of one's being. It isn't a small testament this level of being true. It is an approach to one's authentic self; a place seldom ventured towards by most out of fear.

You have no fear, Shanelle you cannot recognize, remake and transform into action.

I am very proud of who you are and who you are in the world and who you are to your boys, and who you are to me.

These are my words." - Dawn Wolf, Keeper of Stories 9/11/16

Miss America, 1980

photo by Michael Mercanti.

Miss Arkansas, Lencola Sullivan (C) and Miss Washington, Doris Janell Hayes (far R) give each other a glance after they became the first two Black women ever to win first place in the Miss America pageant. Arkansas won the swimsuit division and Washington split first with Miss Oklahoma, Susan Powell (far L) in the talent division. Congratulating Miss Oklahoma is Miss America 1980, Cheryl Prewitt.