Faith Jenkins 2001 Miss America Prelim Talent Winner

[brynedney]

I met Faith when she came to Los Angeles to sing at a Convention 4 my Fraternity. I caught up with her in the elevator after her performance and told her that she was unjustly robbed of the title! To date, She and Vanessa Williams are the only African-American contestants to with BOTH prelim Talent and Swimsuit competitions. But I told her "Never put a period where God puts a comma!" God is always at work! Great Job, Faith!! You were the winner that year in my book!! Be Encouraged!

[misslouisiana2020]

louisiana loves ya faith!!! :) <3

[govzzz89]

Oh well, obviously the judges saw something in Miss Hawaii Angela Baraquio that night to make her the eventual winner. She sang way better than Miss America 2004 Erica Dunlop though..I don't know how she won that one. Suck it up and accept it....life goes one and YOU should too!! Grow up!

[bahagharingsuperstar]

i watched that pageant then....and i would say that ms jenkis was good. talnted. brainy. confident, but a bit nervous. miss baraquio on the other hand, was also good, confident, brainy and effortless....did u see her dance? winner.

[aloofbooks]

If anyone saw the pageant that year, it was clear that Donny and Marie kept making subtle references to Angela Perez Baraquia and how great she was throughout the pageant.

They were clearly trying to manipulate the judges.

[stal1ng]

Racial Discimination???! (You just had to go there, didn't you?) If I remember correctly, Ms. America has crowned quite a few women of color like Angela. And how was Faith robbed exactly? It sounds like she carted away a whole lot, not to mention the experience,and more importantly, SPORTSMANSHIP. Bitter luck next time.

[wookard612]

Faith Jenkins is still a winner! She has won the most scholarship money in the history of the pageant...unfortunately she was robbed of the title...I think it is more discrimination based on her home state rather than race...Louisiana has been robbed more than once (Patricia Brant 2nd to Rafko, Erica Schwartz 2nd to Holland, DuPont 2nd to Downs)

[rwel9118]

I agree...each of the young women you named should have won!!!

[aloofbooks]

I think you are correct. Lousaina has had SO MANY first runner ups. At least five I believe. It is the only southern state not to have Miss America winner.

[gruvindaheart]

I have watched and judged many contestants perform this song as their talent. And by far I think this is my favorite. The star search note from 1:50 to 2:01 clinches it. I felt Faith should have won but Angela was also wonderful. Either way, it was a win-win.

[Texan75074]

In the words of the Dallas newspaper after Miss America that year: "Miss Louisiana was robbed." EastCoastGirl you are only partially correct: Faith won both prelim awards, but because there was a judge who they say "failed to disclose" that he'd judged another contestant (Miss Texas) they gave additional awards after they disqualified him. Miss LA was still the rightful winner. I still think it was all a political move to ensure Baraquio would be crowned.

[blackonyx2002]

But wouldn't it be possible to have judged someone at a local then she wins state and goes on to compete at nationals? Don't these judges get around? If so, they would judge someone at some level who would win the whole thing.

[jaraskiw]

She is still Ms. America, a lawyer, speaker, motivator. She knows that in her heart and just because they had a reason to give an Asian American the crown they did. And on the back of this great woman. But trust me she is not mad. She is too good to let herself suffer from jealousy. I met her in 2001 and she talked to me about racism and I still have her autographed photo.

[eastcoastgirl3]

What a lot of people will never remember is Junnie Cross, Miss Delaware 2000 won prelim talent and Whitney Boyles, Miss Kentucky won prelim swimsuit. MAO had to recalculate the scores because there was a conflict of interest with two of the judges that year.

[apolalcala]

Angela Perez Baraquio is half Filipino. I am an American but in my point of view she should not be in question because she deserved it more than anyone else..Thank You!

[lexlib]

Actually Angela Perez Baraquio is puer Filipino.

[australdrive]

Miss America 2001 Angela Perez Baraquio was the first Asian American and the first teacher to become Miss America. She competed in Faith Jenkin's shadow the entire night. I do not know how she lost to Angela, but she did. It was disappointing seeing the real winner get first runner up.

[muscled57]

How in the world did this girl not win that year? She won prelim talent, prelim swimsuit, and was the Quality of Life Winner. She finished second.

[pastdweller]

Can you or somebody else please upload the swimsuit portion of Miss America 2001?