@gahx3itsleelahhh my whole family are the akin's. its my moms maiden name and my middle name..i remember when i was little they would tell me, youre cousin was miss america! i was like whoaaa. so, i guess somewhere in there..we could maybe, kinda be related?
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.
I can add a few things about your mother. Your mother is one of the most beautiful ladies I have ever known and her talents are many. But, what I will tell you about your Mother that makes her more special than the others is her heart. She is as beautiful on the inside as she is the out! She never made the rest of us who called her friend feel any less beautiful than she,even though it was always tough to stand beside her for a photo! You are blessed to call her Mother
All of this stuff being said that my mother was in a terrible accident and is scared badly and weighs 300 pounds are all false false!!! My mother is still very beautiful and still sings in church,many times a solo. These remarks hurt my feelings --
@missnph I was hoping to have seen her on stage with the other winners at the 75th anniversary pageant and last yrs 90th...What kept her from coming to it? I do remember her being at the 70th with the other winners. Noone on the Miss America community hall blogspot talk about it or know why. Can you please let us know, and hopefully that will shut peoples ignorant mouths.
The Pageant has taken beauty out of the pageant --The girl from Virginia that won in 2010 is by far the most un attractive Miss America in it's history--They gave her the talent award and put her n the top ten but they should never have put her in the top five and the title of Miss America --NEVER!!!!--If the think the networks are going to keep broadcasting when they select girls such as Miss Virginia the Pageant will fail again--Just look at Debi Turner --She was down right beautiful!!!- --
@1ddote WHat is wrong with you? You are forgetting how incredibly and heavily weighed the preliminary interview is to this job. SOmeone can win both a talent and swimsuit prelim, but if she can't control herself during the prelim interview, how would it look for the MAO if their winner wasn't articulate or a people person?
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.
@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.
I was really disappointed when the Miss Mississippi pageant celebrated its 50th anniversary two years ago, when Susan akins nor did Cheryl Prewitt even show up to help celebrate it! MaryAnn Mobley and Linda Lee Mead were there. I Wonder why they other two werent there?
@raspberryman1968 I heard a while back that Susan Akin was in a terrible car accident that left her face scarred. Did she stay away for that purpose. It was indicate that it was so severe as to take away from the natural beauty she had. Just a thought.
@raspberryman1968 Thats because Susan Akins is now about 315 lbs & dead broke. A complete mess. Married AND DIVORCED several times... she wouldn't be caught dead at a pageant now. Not the way she looks!
If I am not mistaken Susan and her husband were on Unsolved Mysteries. It was a terrible case and one which should have put shame on the worst person - the most uncaring.
@cheryljane Dawn Smith, Miss South Carolina in 86 was in one of those shows along with her family b/c of the murder or her sister back either before or just after the pageant.
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.
Susan Akin is my all time favorite Miss America. The best contestant definitely won that year. This was one of the last Miss America pageants before political correctness destroyed it.
@memboy7 I have watched a lot of the pageants from the the 79 pageant on. I agree it's a dead contest now, but really, pls explain what you are getting at when you say it changed for political correctness? And why do you say it was after that year.? What triggered at the pageant for this be your opinion? I am not being critical, just curious. I would argue that when Vanessa Williams won and broke the color barrier, that that event alone ushered in political correctness, no?
No question about it...Miss Washington should have won that year! I think that pageant was trying to play it safe by not having non-white miss america for a while.........especially after the diaster in 1984!
I remember watching that year with a large group of people. Everyone was shocked that the striking Miss Michigan who was the first karate talent in the Miss America Pageant didn't win, although she was a finalist. Her talent was riveting...I think she went on to compete in the Miss USA pageant in 1987 as the candidate from Indiana
Yes, its true. Susan Akins (grandfather and father I think)were both linked to the kidnapping and murder of 3 civil rights workers in the mid 60's. However, Susans Mom had divorced her father by then and didnt have any real connection to the Klan. But its all true and made headlines when it was discovered.
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.
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).
Melinda Cumberledge is my teacher (:
LaylaaMarieee 1 month ago
@gahx3itsleelahhh my whole family are the akin's. its my moms maiden name and my middle name..i remember when i was little they would tell me, youre cousin was miss america! i was like whoaaa. so, i guess somewhere in there..we could maybe, kinda be related?
15MrsTebow 1 month ago
"it's a tough decision, adding up those points" was that a slight at the judges?
TheZappawizard 3 months ago
i love the miss america pageant in 1980's i wish it was like that today.
pa634ntf4n 4 months ago
@raspberryman1968 i don't know who you think you're talking about. thats my cousin & she's still beautiful.
15MrsTebow 5 months ago
susan akin is my 4th cousin! @gahx3itsleelahhh how is she your cousin?
15MrsTebow 5 months ago
@15MrsTebow by Mary Ann Fondren, do you know her?
gahx3itsleelahhh 2 months ago
susan aiken is my cousin :)
gahx3itsleelahhh 6 months ago
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.
primogennaio 11 months ago
No wonder he drinks! They should have been ashamed to put this poor man on the spot like that! What fucking idiots!
davbear221 1 year ago
I can add a few things about your mother. Your mother is one of the most beautiful ladies I have ever known and her talents are many. But, what I will tell you about your Mother that makes her more special than the others is her heart. She is as beautiful on the inside as she is the out! She never made the rest of us who called her friend feel any less beautiful than she,even though it was always tough to stand beside her for a photo! You are blessed to call her Mother
dm30117 1 year ago
All of this stuff being said that my mother was in a terrible accident and is scared badly and weighs 300 pounds are all false false!!! My mother is still very beautiful and still sings in church,many times a solo. These remarks hurt my feelings --
missnph 1 year ago
@missnph My mother is vanessa williams and people say she is not Chinese--- Rell- they are velly wong
roselandalvin 1 year ago
@missnph I was hoping to have seen her on stage with the other winners at the 75th anniversary pageant and last yrs 90th...What kept her from coming to it? I do remember her being at the 70th with the other winners. Noone on the Miss America community hall blogspot talk about it or know why. Can you please let us know, and hopefully that will shut peoples ignorant mouths.
Parker528 3 months ago
The Pageant has taken beauty out of the pageant --The girl from Virginia that won in 2010 is by far the most un attractive Miss America in it's history--They gave her the talent award and put her n the top ten but they should never have put her in the top five and the title of Miss America --NEVER!!!!--If the think the networks are going to keep broadcasting when they select girls such as Miss Virginia the Pageant will fail again--Just look at Debi Turner --She was down right beautiful!!!- --
1ddote 1 year ago
@1ddote WHat is wrong with you? You are forgetting how incredibly and heavily weighed the preliminary interview is to this job. SOmeone can win both a talent and swimsuit prelim, but if she can't control herself during the prelim interview, how would it look for the MAO if their winner wasn't articulate or a people person?
Parker528 3 months ago
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.
DriveAustra 1 year ago
@DriveAustra i don't know i think it looked nice
loverboy7432 1 year ago
@DriveAustra i don't know i think it looked nice
they give a bouquet of flowers now and a sash
loverboy7432 1 year ago
@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.
DriveAustra 1 year ago
@DriveAustra They also need to send that pageant back to Atlantic City.
Juliaflo 2 months ago
I was really disappointed when the Miss Mississippi pageant celebrated its 50th anniversary two years ago, when Susan akins nor did Cheryl Prewitt even show up to help celebrate it! MaryAnn Mobley and Linda Lee Mead were there. I Wonder why they other two werent there?
raspberryman1968 1 year ago
@raspberryman1968 I heard a while back that Susan Akin was in a terrible car accident that left her face scarred. Did she stay away for that purpose. It was indicate that it was so severe as to take away from the natural beauty she had. Just a thought.
Parker528 1 year ago
@raspberryman1968 Thats because Susan Akins is now about 315 lbs & dead broke. A complete mess. Married AND DIVORCED several times... she wouldn't be caught dead at a pageant now. Not the way she looks!
lafawndagould 1 year ago
If I am not mistaken Susan and her husband were on Unsolved Mysteries. It was a terrible case and one which should have put shame on the worst person - the most uncaring.
cheryljane 2 years ago
@cheryljane Dawn Smith, Miss South Carolina in 86 was in one of those shows along with her family b/c of the murder or her sister back either before or just after the pageant.
Parker528 3 months ago
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.
jimdevo 3 years ago
Susan Akin is my all time favorite Miss America. The best contestant definitely won that year. This was one of the last Miss America pageants before political correctness destroyed it.
memboy7 3 years ago
What do you mean political correctness? Is that anti-feminisim?
greg2009 3 years ago
I mean just what I stated. The pageant is dead now.
memboy7 2 years ago
@memboy7 I have watched a lot of the pageants from the the 79 pageant on. I agree it's a dead contest now, but really, pls explain what you are getting at when you say it changed for political correctness? And why do you say it was after that year.? What triggered at the pageant for this be your opinion? I am not being critical, just curious. I would argue that when Vanessa Williams won and broke the color barrier, that that event alone ushered in political correctness, no?
Parker528 1 year ago
No question about it...Miss Washington should have won that year! I think that pageant was trying to play it safe by not having non-white miss america for a while.........especially after the diaster in 1984!
coolcougs 4 years ago
I remember watching that year with a large group of people. Everyone was shocked that the striking Miss Michigan who was the first karate talent in the Miss America Pageant didn't win, although she was a finalist. Her talent was riveting...I think she went on to compete in the Miss USA pageant in 1987 as the candidate from Indiana
lbninja 4 years ago
I remember her from the Food City commercials she did in the late 80's.
sammyreed 4 years ago
Yes, its true. Susan Akins (grandfather and father I think)were both linked to the kidnapping and murder of 3 civil rights workers in the mid 60's. However, Susans Mom had divorced her father by then and didnt have any real connection to the Klan. But its all true and made headlines when it was discovered.
terpmaniac 4 years ago
Wasn't Susan Akin's dad involved in the slaying of those civil rights workers??? Wasn't he a member of the Klan?? There was an Akin involved in that.
doobeedoo58 4 years ago
Is Honey Castro Filipina?
lexlib 4 years ago
Yes indeed, she is a Filipina-American.
I feel that she should have won.
A Filipina, Angela Perez Baraquio, actually won Miss America 2001 making her the first and only Asian to have won the title so far.
latinoguy 4 years ago
Correct me if I am wrong but I believe this was the very first year that Gary Collins sang "There She Is" to the new Miss America.
bigbilly2006 4 years ago
Yes, this was the first year that Gary Collins sang "There She Is" to the new Miss America. It was not sang in 1982, 1983, and 1984.
jivecake 4 years ago
Ironically, Miss Ohio Sue Ellen Cochran, was a double prelim winner (talent/swimsuit) yet failed to place in the top 5.
blackonyx2002 5 years ago
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.
rwel9118 4 years ago
@blackonyx2002 Same happened to Melissa Short, Miss Hawaii in the 96 pageant (Tara Holland's year).
Parker528 3 months ago
Susan Akin is one of my favorite Miss Americas!
missamerica1974 5 years ago
Gary is awesome. My fav. pageant host!
rwel9118 5 years ago
Honey Castro,Miss Washington should had won
latinoguy 5 years ago
Was this the year that Halle Berry was Miss Ohio?
JFLD8 5 years ago
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).
blackonyx2002 5 years ago
Halle Berry was in Miss USA--that other pageant.
doobeedoo58 4 years ago
Gary is a genius, how about putting his classic talk shows up. :-)
komodoman 5 years ago