Read Being Miss America: Behind the Rhinestone Curtain (Discovering America) Online
Authors: Kate Shindle
Being Miss America: Behind the Rhinestone Curtain (Discovering America) (31 page)
p. 198
.
her work with AIDS charities on NBC’s
Today. “Meet the New Miss Universe,”
Today
(video), August 26, 2010.
p. 198
.
a number of other HIV/AIDS specific organizations
. “Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo Returns to AID FOR AIDS,” editorial, aidforaids.com, April 8, 2013.
p. 199
.
an HIV-positive child fostered by her family
. “Miss America’s AIDS Platform: Making It Personal,” FoxNews.com: Infectious, April 9, 2010.
p. 199
.
“and the girl can sing!!”
Roxanne Roberts and Amy Argetsinger, “Miss America Judge Rush Limbaugh: Miss VA ‘Has It All,’
”
Washington Post
, February 1, 2010.
p. 199
.
an AIDS volunteer at age nine
. Macy L. Freeman, “Miss America Headlines Conference at Howard in Personal Campaign Against HIV,” Howard University News Service, November 15, 2010.
p. 199
.
Miss America 1971, Phyllis George
. “American Signature, Inc., to Debut the Miss America Youth Collection,” Miss America: Press Releases, October 14, 2010.
p. 200
.
a World AIDS Day conference at Howard University
. Freeman, “Miss America Headlines Conference.”
p. 201
.
“where the Miss America pageant belongs.”
Wayne Parry, “Atlantic City Welcomes Home Miss America Pageant,” ap.org., February 14, 2013.
p. 202
.
Don Wadsworth . . . made it happen
. Parry, “Atlantic City Welcomes Home.”
p. 202
.
Casino Reinvestment Development Authority
. Jennifer Bogdan, “Miss America Pageant Will Get $7.3M to Return to Atlantic City,”
Press of Atlantic City
, April 15, 2013.
p. 202
.
asserting that the price was too low
. “Lender Says He Won’t Approve Sale of Atlantic City Trump Plaza,” Associated Press, April 23, 2013.
p. 203
.
spread over a three-year contract
. Bogdan, “Miss America Pageant Will Get $7.3M.”
p. 203
.
both of whom work to stop child sexual abuse
. Miss America Organization, “Two Miss Americas to Speak on Child Abuse Tuesday,” April 23, 2013. Via e-mail.
p. 205
.
“worthy of his Hollywood roots.”
Jennifer Bogdan, “Miss America’s Finances Fluctuate, Records Show,”
The Press of Atlantic City
, February 8, 2014.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This one really did take a village; I’m grateful to all those who contributed stories, memories, details, photos, and the various other types of fuel that propel a writer toward the finish line.
It’s fair to say that without Mark Crispin Miller, this book probably wouldn’t have gotten off the ground. After I spoke in one of his NYU classes, Mark encouraged me, strategized with me, pitched me to the higher-ups, and helped me to shape the story of Miss America as I have lived it. Thank you for having confidence in a rookie nonfiction writer, and for guiding me to the University of Texas Press.
Speaking of UT, I would have been lost without the patience, diligence, and vision of Robert Devens, Lynne Chapman, Sarah Rosen, Jan McInroy, and their terrific team in Austin. They pushed, they advised, and they inspired me to improve upon what was already on the page.
Thanks also to my literary agent, Laurie Liss, who has been an awesome advocate and guide for me, and is just generally an all-around cool chick. And to the various other agents and managers in my life, thank you for understand
ing when I needed to batten down the hatches and turn down offers.
To those who generously provided photos, without hesitation, and without even having a complete manuscript to read: Vicki Gold Levi, Bob Ruffolo, Kaye Lani Rae Rafko, Don Kravitz, and Daryl Schabinger, I am indebted to you.
Thanks to Doug Wert, a tireless champion who has always been in my corner.
Thank you to whichever genius decided to run train tracks through the Adirondack Mountains; Amtrak’s round trips to Montreal were often the only way for me to escape the craziness of a million other projects and focus on this one . . . even if the border patrol guards thought I was a little crazy.
This book would not have been possible without those who guided me through the Miss America experience: the “Dream Team” in Chicago, my traveling companions, Marilyn and John Feehan (and all the rest of the amazing volunteers who showed me what Miss America can be and encouraged me to see it through), and the countless contestants and other Miss Americas who have inspired me more than they know.
Finally, thanks to you, the reader. This is one person’s interpretation, through a single lens, and based on a specific set of experiences. Clearly, there are many others. But I appreciate that you took the time to consider mine.
INDEX
ABC (network),
38–39
,
54
,
195–196
Abs of Steel
,
132
Adams, Abigail,
42
AIDS.
See
HIV/AIDS
American Cancer Society,
90
American Heart Association,
90
American Idol
,
117
American Nursing Association,
90
“American Pie” (McLean),
58–59
Amway,
196
And the Band Played On
(Shilts),
98–99
Anti-Defamation League (ADL),
25–26
Archibald, George (
Washington Times
),
167
Atlantic City,
17
,
39
,
61
,
66
,
151
,
153
; Bathing Beauty Contest in,
14–15
,
17
; and friction with pageant,
18
; Miss America week in,
72
,
142
,
146
; move of pageant from,
154
,
160–161
,
182
; pageant and public image of,
16
; popularity of Miss America Pageant in,
68–69
,
143
; return of pageant to,
201–203
,
205
.
See also
Miss America Boardwalk Parade
Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority (ACCVA),
182
,
202–203
Ay, Evelyn (Miss America 1954),
31
,
32
,
179–180
Bacharach, Harry,
18
Bachelor, The
,
184
Banet-Weiser, Sarah,
81
,
119–120
Baraquio, Angela Perez (Miss America 2001),
40
,
145
,
151
,
166
Barker, Olivia (
USA Today
),
169
Bartel, Jean (Miss America 1943),
29
,
31
,
92
,
139
; death of,
12–13
; legacy of,
13–14
Bauer, George,
159
,
162
,
166–169
,
175–176
Beatles,
76
Benham, Dorothy (Miss America 1977),
40
,
76
,
77
,
78–79
Bergeron, Marion (Miss America 1933),
17
Berry, Jennifer (Miss America 2007),
40
Betbeze, Yolande (Miss America 1951),
26
,
27–28
,
30
,
40
,
139
; legacy of,
29
; on Lenora Slaughter,
31
; and refusal to wear swimsuit,
26–27
,
28
Beyer, Bud,
97
Big Bopper,
58–59
Black Panthers,
58
“Blues in the Night,”
76
Bogdan, Jennifer (
The Press of Atlantic City
),
204
Boston Globe
,
108–109
Bow, Clara,
42
Brando, Marlon,
30
Brigantine, New Jersey,
65–66
Bush, Barbara,
118
Cabaret
,
134
Caligari, Bill,
114
“Call Me ‘Ms.,’
”
75
Cameron, Caressa (Miss America 2010),
198–200
,
209
; and AIDS/HIV platform issue,
198–199
Campbell, Mary Katherine (Miss America 1923),
16
Carlson, Gretchen (Miss America 1989),
92
,
179–180
,
181
Carney, James,
161
Carroll, James (
Boston Globe
), on Kate Shindle,
108–109
Carson, Johnny,
78
Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA),
202–203
CBS (network),
54
Charity Navigator,
204
Charles, Suzette (Miss America 1984),
86–87
Chicago Jewish News
,
24
Chicago Tribune
,
162
Children’s Miracle Network (CMN),
196–198
,
200
,
211
Christie, Chris,
201–202
Chu, Carl,
171–174
Claridge Casino and Hotel,
7
,
132
,
150–151
Clinton, Hillary,
118
Clymer, Misty,
163
CMT (Country Music Television),
182
,
195
controversies,
17
,
20
,
78
,
86
,
120
,
149
,
162–163
Cooper, Bette (Miss America 1937),
20
Corcoran, Eddie,
18
Cornett, Leanza (Miss America 1993),
121
; and refusal to wear crown at appearances,
120
,
139
crown, Miss America,
120
,
139
,
178
,
190
; Tara Dawn Holland on,
123
“Day the Music Died, The,”
58–59
Dean, James,
30
Deford, Frank,
x
,
41
,
54–55
,
79
,
158
,
209
Diana, Princess of Wales,
10
Dietrich, Marlene,
44
“Dixie,”
83
Don’t Forget the Lyrics
,
190–191
Downs, Deidre (Miss America 2005),
176
DSW,
196
Dunlap, Ericka (Miss America 2004),
169–170
Eaby, Harry,
160
Earhart, Amelia,
25
Early, Gerald, on Vanessa Williams,
85–86
eating disorders,
131–136
Ely, Ron,
78
ephedrine,
134
Express,
196
Feehan, John (Sir),
69
“Feelings,”
76
feminism,
139
,
169
,
206–208
; post–World War II,
44–45
; Sarah Banet-Weiser on,
119–120
; Second Wave,
60–61
,
77
Ferentz, Ric,
19
Fitzgerald, Zelda,
15
Ford, Judi (Miss America 1969),
40
,
61
Fox, James,
163
French, Heather (Miss America 2000),
121
,
166
Friedan, Betty,
60
Frisch, David,
146
Fulmer, Phil,
9
George, Phyllis (Miss America 1971),
62
,
76
,
78–79
,
199
Gifford, Kathie Lee, and Regis Philbin,
115
,
118
Gladwell, Malcolm,
96
Glass, Nancy,
118
Glen Osser Orchestra,
76
Godin, Tawny (Miss America 1976),
62
,
78
,
139
Good Morning America
,
7
Gorman, Margaret (Miss America 1921),
15–16
Graham, Billy,
32
Gravatt, Frank P.,
18
Great Depression,
29–30
Guadagno, Kim,
201–202
Guccione, Bob,
86
Hagan, Mallory (Miss America 2013),
201
,
203
Haglund, Kirsten (Miss America 2008),
183
,
200
Handler, Chelsea,
188
Harman, Darla and Glen,
154–155
,
156
,
158
Harman, Katie (Miss America 2002),
154–157
,
158
,
161
,
166
Harold, Erika (Miss America 2003),
164–169
,
170
HIV/AIDS: education and prevention,
8
,
99–100
; epidemic,
89
,
96–98
; and NAMES Project’s AIDS Memorial Quit,
6
,
100
; and National HIV/AIDS Hotline,
107
; as platform issue for Miss America,
8
,
51–52
,
96–102
,
106–112
,
198–200
; as platform issue for Miss Universe,
198
; treatment,
111–112
