 |
Kaye Lani Rae Rafko | |
|---|---|
 Rafko in 2007 | |
| Born | August 26, 1963 Monroe, Michigan, United States |
| Occupation | Nurse |
| Title | Miss Monroe County 1987 Miss Michigan 1987 Miss America 1988 |
| Predecessor | Kellye Cash |
| Successor | Gretchen Carlson |
| Spouse | Charles Wilson |
| Children | 3 |
Kaye Lani Rae Rafko Wilson (born August 26, 1963) is the winner of the 1988 Miss America Pageant. She is from Monroe, Michigan, where a street is now named for her.
On September 19, 1987, Rafko was named as the Miss America 1988, after winning the Miss Michigan pageant of 1987. [1] In the Miss America competition her platform included help for hospice services and her talent was a Tahitian dancing performance. Rafko has participated in a number of fundraising activities and has been a vocal advocate for nursing and hospice programs. She has addressed medical professional organizations around the world on the topic of nursing, including groups in Malaysia, Paris, Rome, and Singapore.
Rafko is a registered nurse and is married to Charles (Chuck) Wilson. They have three children: Nick, Alana and Joe. Rafko is the executive director of Gabby's Ladder, a bereavement program for children and their families, an organization she founded after the death of her fourth child. [2] Other family included a younger brother, Nick, who played football at the University of Wisconsin–Madison from 1989 to 1993, and who was killed in a car accident on June 26, 1994.
Rafko is a cohost of Only in Monroe, a monthly public-access television program, which was taken over by Late Show host Stephen Colbert for the July 2015 episode, with Wilson and rapper Eminem appearing as guests. [3] She was also filmed in the 1989 documentary Roger & Me .
Monroe is the largest city and county seat of Monroe County, Michigan, United States. The population was 20,462 as of the 2020 census. The city is bordered on the south by Monroe Charter Township, but the two are administered autonomously. Monroe is the core city in the Monroe metropolitan area, which is coterminous with Monroe County and had a population of 154,809 in 2020. Located on the western shores of Lake Erie approximately 14 miles (23 km) north of Toledo, Ohio and 25 miles (40 km) south of Detroit, the city is part of the Detroit–Ann Arbor–Flint combined statistical area.
Miss USA is an American beauty pageant that has been held annually since 1952 to select the entrant from United States in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization operated both pageants, as well as Miss Teen USA, until 2020, when the organization announced it was licensing operation of the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants to Crystle Stewart, Miss USA for 2008 prior to her suspension in October 2022, thus returning the said pageants to the Miss Universe Organization.
Miss Teen USA is a beauty pageant that run since 1983 by the Miss Universe Organization for girls aged 14–19. Unlike its sister pageants Miss Universe, which currently broadcasts on Fox and Miss USA, this pageant is webcast on the Miss Teen USA website and simulcast on mobile devices and video game consoles. The Miss Universe Organization previously operated Miss Teen USA, as well as Miss USA, until 2020 when the rights to produce both pageants were licensed to Miss USA 2008 Crystle Stewart prior to her suspension in October 2022, thus returning the said pageants to the Miss Universe Organization. The parent company of all three pageants and the Miss Universe organization remains the same under the licensing agreement: JKN Metaverse Inc., a subsidiary of JKN Global Group.
Heather Leigh Whitestone McCallum is a former beauty queen and conservative activist who was the first deaf Miss America title holder, having lost most of her hearing at 18 months.
Nancy Anne Fleming is an American beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss America 1961 on September 10, 1960.
Terry Anne Meeuwsen Friedrich is an American television personality, co-host of the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN)'s 700 Club, author and singer. Meeuwsen is the founder of Orphan’s Promise, a philanthropic organization leading charity efforts for orphans, especially advocating for help in Ukraine.
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Regina Askia-Williams is a Nigerian-born, American-based actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder. She recently received her certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and practices in New York City. She writes and speaks publicly advocating for African outreach in children's health, education, and economic development.
The Miss Louisiana competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Louisiana in the Miss America pageant. Although no delegate from Louisiana has ever won the Miss America title, four have placed 1st runner-up. As of 2022, Louisiana is the lone member of the Confederacy during the Civil War which has not produced a Miss America.
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Pamela Anne Eldred was an American beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Michigan 1969 and later Miss America 1970.
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Kirsten Iora Müller-Daubermann is a public speaker, eating disorder awareness activist, commentator, and president of the Kirsten Haglund Foundation. She served as Miss America 2008.
Rima Fakih Slaiby is a Lebanese American model, philanthropist, former professional wrestler and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss USA 2010. Having previously been crowned Miss Michigan USA 2010, Fakih was the first Arab American woman and the third woman from Michigan to win the Miss USA title.
The United States Junior Chamber, also known as the Jaycees, JCs or JCI USA, is a leadership training service organization and civic organization for people between the ages of 18 and 40. It is a branch of Junior Chamber International (JCI). Areas of emphasis are business development, management skills, individual training, community service, and international connections. The U.S. Junior Chamber is a not-for-profit corporation/organization as described under Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(4).
Alison McCreary Gengelbach is an American beauty pageant titleholder from Florence, Alabama, who was named Miss Alabama 1996. She won the Quality of Life award and was named third runner-up at the Miss America 1997 pageant.
CC Barber is an American beauty pageant titleholder from Scappoose, Oregon, who was crowned Miss Oregon 2009. She competed for the Miss America 2010 title in January 2010 and placed in the Top 15 semi-finalists.
The Miss America 2019 pageant/competition was the 92nd Miss America pageant, though the Miss America Organization celebrated its 98th anniversary in 2018. This discrepancy is due to national pageants not being held from 1928–1932 or in 1934 because of financial problems associated with the Great Depression. The 2019 competition was held in Atlantic City, New Jersey. On May 23, 2018, it was announced that the pageant would air live on ABC on Sunday, September 9, 2018. This was the last Miss America to be aired on ABC before would be moving to NBC beginning from 2020 pageant.
Hazel MacKaye was an American theater professional and advocate of women's suffrage. She is best known for helping present a series of pageants in support of women's suffrage.
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