I just love SUSAN. I was in band with her at MERIDIAN HIGH SCHOOL. I still remember the night she was crowned MISS AMERICA. How proud she made us all feel. I still love watching her sing and walk the runway. I still have the same proud feeling.

The minute she walked out in the opening I knew she would win!

I remember watching this. She was so beautiful and graceful.

@MikeScott-ez7iw

4 ай бұрын

Fake 🤥 News 📰 Vanessa Williams Was the most beautiful 😍 Miss america period Hands down

I used to work with Susan at a small radio station in her hometown of Meridian. She was always so super nice and told me great stories of her year as Miss America. Suprising stuff. Her husband was named Jet and she always looked stunning even early in the morning with no makeup.

Congratulations , Miss Susan. So happy you had this amazing & special time!

Like Suzanne Sugarbaker said, “You’ll never find a homely Miss Mississippi.”

As soon as she was called in the top 10,I knew she had it, she really stood out from all the other ladys. She had the "it" factor.

Susan Akin is one of my favorite Miss Americas!

RIP Gary

@Juliaflo

7 жыл бұрын

.....Also, RIP Mary Ann Moblley, Miss America 1959 (Miss Mississippi 1958).

@loverboy7432 They really need to bring the sceptor back. That was a big part of the tradition, along with the long runway and a live person singing Miss America. It would be really wonderful to see all the traditions back on a big stage during the first major network telecast in years.

@Tes7000

Жыл бұрын

Absolutely YES to all of this. I have been thinking the same things for years. If they ever revamp the pageant and get it back on TV, I hope it gets all of its old glamour back. The There She Is serenade and the image of Miss America taking the runway while everyone onstage fades into the background is iconic.

Gary is awesome. My fav. pageant host!

@annerector8765

4 жыл бұрын

Agreed!! He always knew how to ad lib when needed and he didn't strut around like Bert Parks.

@christinalove8075

3 жыл бұрын

@@annerector8765 😂

@tj.espygil4544

Жыл бұрын

He's still dead.

Susan was one of THE most beautiful winners of all time. A real shame though the only double prelim winner that year, Miss Ohio, wasn't included in the Top 5.

@dallastucker2404

2 жыл бұрын

I agree. I heard Miss Ohio was in a very weak group is why she was a double preliminary winner.

@MikeScott-ez7iw

4 ай бұрын

Fake 🤥 News 📰 Vanessa Williams Was and still is The most beautiful 😍 Miss America Hands down

Reading the comments about her father (and/or grandpa) being part of the KKK, makes me want to say: AND??? She is RESPONSIBLE for her Actions and her own life, whatever any family member did or does....HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HER!

Actually Halle Berry was Miss Ohio-USA 1986 and 1st runner up in the Miss USA pageant (May of 1986). This pageant took place in Sept. of 1985 (7 or 8 months before).

@kellydixson9221

3 жыл бұрын

This is the Miss America pageant... Not USA...

@DriveAustra They also need to send that pageant back to Atlantic City.

@15MrsTebow by Mary Ann Fondren, do you know her?

What happened to the Miss American Septor? I have not seen it used in the last 7 or 8 years. That is another part of great tradition that has been washed. No wonder people don't get excited about the show. It has lost all its uniqueness and shine.

I may be prejudiced because I am from Mississippi, but I think Susan Akin was the deserved winner.

Amen to that comment!

Susan Akin is the granddaughter of Bernard L. Akin, a conspirator in the murders of Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner of 1964. The Meridian Star reported Akin's response to her grandfather's involvement, "That's something that doesn't involve me. I wasn't even born and can't be involved in this. And the people who have taken it out of context thinking they can drag me down, cannot and they're not." Akin openly opposed mixed marriages with the New York Press quoting her as saying, "I feel at this time intermixing could lead to more problems."

@pgntlvr

6 ай бұрын

I don't remember her saying that but, I was in Japan when she was crowned. I went to high school with her. She was always a hard worker (majorette, and drum major) What many people don't know is that one of the three civil rights workers daughter was in the band at the same time also and they were very cool, The civil rights workers daughter was later honored by the president of the United States and that was featured in Ebony magazine. Spoken to Susan a few times over the years she's still a sweetheart!

It was just before!

Ironically, Miss Ohio Sue Ellen Cochran, was a double prelim winner (talent/swimsuit) yet failed to place in the top 5.

@renegaderunner332

6 жыл бұрын

That was odd for back then. Any double preliminary winner was virtually guaranteed a top 10 spot. That is no longer the case today.

@VTMCompany

5 жыл бұрын

Suellen would have been a great Miss America!

Do they still have this today?

@kellydixson9221

3 жыл бұрын

Yes! 2021

@timothyleon558

Жыл бұрын

They hide it on streaming stations and it’s over before you hear about it. The last one was in December .. it used to always be September in Atlantic City (where and when it belongs).

@pekozelenovic1751

Жыл бұрын

@@kellydixson9221 thank you

@pekozelenovic1751

Жыл бұрын

@@timothyleon558 thank u

susan aiken is my cousin :)

@billhughes8726

6 ай бұрын

And you can't spell her name?

"it's a tough decision, adding up those points" was that a slight at the judges?

@timothyleon558

Жыл бұрын

And the judges don’t even “add” them up

Halle Berry was in Miss USA--that other pageant.

@timothyleon558

Жыл бұрын

So? This is Miss America

Yes, it is ironic. However, preliminary awards vary based on how the groups are formed. I looked at the program from 1985 and Sue Ellen's group did not have many other top ten finalists.

@VTMCompany

3 жыл бұрын

@maseratic boychik I totally agree. It was also mind-messing that when Gary announced the winner, the first syllable was the same as her name.

@garydeblasio8810

3 жыл бұрын

Michigan and KY were in Ohio's group. Also a lot of the non finalists talent winners. I think OH didn't make top 5 because she really wasn't that pretty.

@gwp5066

Жыл бұрын

@@garydeblasio8810 not sure why i care but I think on the final night she was hurt by 1. poor talent performance. Not sure why she had an orchestra playing with her. completely, overpowered her. 2. i think the prelims are on youtube and you can see her hair and make up was softer and fresher. The stylists did her no favors on the big night.

4.10

You kidding me w/your reply? This pageant gives out scholarships, for brains, college, talent. Yes, 3 minor one for prelim swimsuit each year. The %age of points that swimsuit & all related to this "outer beauty" you are upset about has been downgraded significantly over the years. It doesn't matter WHATSOEVER how pretty you are if you can't answer questions in a press interview or prove yourself in the prelim interview, which by the way is where a contestant is most likely to secure her win.

Is Honey Castro Filipina?

@bennettbb2736

6 жыл бұрын

Yes she is... If you do a search on KZread on Honey Castro Interview, you will find a video discussing her life which includes her Filipino heritage!!!

@annerector8765

3 жыл бұрын

@@bennettbb2736 Honey Castro---what a great name! Also, she should have at least been 1st runner up.

🇺🇲🗽

😂

Was this the year that Halle Berry was Miss Ohio?

I still watch the show, but it's not what it used to be. It's more of a reality and beauty show, ruled by political correctness. How I long for the pageants of decades ago, spectacles I waited for every September. So sad how one of the greatest American institutions has changed.

Miss South Carolina's 1st runner-up placement is a shocker. It's interesting to note former Miss America 1957 Marian McKnight Conway (from SOUTH CAROLINA!!) was among the judges. (Her obvious bias probably explains Sherri Thrift's unexpected finish.)

@StillHilljayne

Жыл бұрын

Sherry clogged for her talent and pageant judges tend to love that.

it's either hogwalla or Westminster,,,,,,either way just call her grrrrrrrrrrrannnie

Sherry almost won it

@VTMCompany

3 жыл бұрын

But...her pageant walk left much to be desired.

@timothyleon558

Жыл бұрын

But didn’t

A confessed racist

I knew her in real life and she ended up quite sad. Addicted to pills living next to her mom in meridian and a special needs child and a filthy house.

@pgntlvr

6 ай бұрын

If that's true why would you post that here? Wow!👎

Those dresses might have been the style of the time but damn they are ugly.