Nana Meriwether

Last updated

Nana Meriwether
Nana Meriwether 2012.jpg
Meriwether in 2012
Born
Acornhoek, South Africa
Education
Beauty pageant titleholder
Title
Major
competition(s)

Nana Meriwether (born May 24, 1985) is an American former professional volleyball player and beauty pageant titleholder. She competed at Miss USA 2012, representing Maryland, and finished as the first runner-up. On December 19, 2012, winner Olivia Culpo won Miss Universe 2012, and Meriwether assumed the title of Miss USA three weeks later.

Contents

She is also the cofounder of the nonprofit organization the Meriwether Foundation, and a two-time All-American volleyball player at University of California, Los Angeles.

Life and career

Early life

Meriwether was born on May 24, 1985, in Acornhoek, Tintswalo Hospital, South Africa. Her father is Delano Meriwether, the first African-American student at Duke University School of Medicine, and her mother, Nomvimbi Meriwether, is South African and works as a lawyer. [1] Her parents had been doing volunteer work in South Africa at the time of Meriwether's birth. She was raised in Potomac, Maryland and graduated from Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C. [2]

Meriwether played volleyball at Duke University for one semester. [3] She later transferred to the University of California, Los Angeles, where she was named a two-time NCAA All-American volleyball player and graduated with a degree in political science. [4] After graduating, Meriwether played volleyball professionally for Las Indias de Mayagüez in Puerto Rico, and trained for the United States women's national volleyball team for the 2008 Summer Olympics. [5] [6] She later completed a degree in premedical sciences at the University of Southern California. [2]

Pageantry

State titles

Meriwether's first pageant was Miss California USA 2008, representing Malibu, but she didn't reach the semifinals. Meriwether returned to Miss California USA in 2009, representing Beverly Hills, where she finished as the third runner-up to Carrie Prejean. Meriwether competed in Miss California USA 2010 and finished as first runner-up. She competed in the Miss California USA for the final time in 2011, where she finished as fourth runner-up. [7] After competing in Miss California USA for four years, Meriwether returned to her home state of Maryland, and entered Miss Maryland USA 2012. She won the title and received the right to represent the state at Miss USA.

Miss USA 2012

Meriwether represented Maryland at Miss USA 2012, where she eventually finished as the first runner-up to Olivia Culpo of Rhode Island. On December 19, 2012, Olivia Culpo won the title of Miss Universe 2012. Due to pageant protocol, Miss USA must resign her title in order to fulfill her duties as Miss Universe. The first runner-up assumes the title of Miss USA, meaning that Meriwether became the new Miss USA 2012 three weeks later.

Other ventures

Meriwether is a cofounder of the Meriwether Foundation, which she runs along with the members of her family. The organization operates programs in health, education, nutrition, and development in rural and impoverished communities of Southern Africa. [8] Meriwether worked as an executive assistant to Glenda Bailey, the editor-in-chief of Harper's Bazaar . [9] She has worked for and contributed to Carine Roitfeld's CR Fashion Book, Vanity Fair , and Vogue Australia . [10]

Notes

  1. ↑ Meriwether was originally first runner-up, but became Miss USA after the original titleholder, Olivia Culpo, won Miss Universe. Due to pageant protocol, Miss USA must resign her title in the event she wins Miss Universe.

Related Research Articles

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shandi Finnessey</span> American model (born 1978)

Shandi Ren Finnessey is an American actress, model, TV host and beauty pageant titleholder. She is best known for winning the Miss USA title, as Miss Missouri USA. She previously held the title of Miss Missouri 2002 and competed in Miss America, where she won a preliminary award. She placed as first runner-up at the Miss Universe 2004 competition.

The Miss Maryland USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state Maryland in the Miss USA pageant. The pageant is directed by D&D Productions.

The Miss Rhode Island USA competition is the beauty pageant that selects the representative for the state Rhode Island in the Miss USA pageant. It is currently directed by D&D Productions.

Wilhelm Delano Meriwether is an American physician and a former track and field athlete. He is best known for having been the head of the United States government immunization program during the 1976 swine flu outbreak and as the 1971 US outdoor track and field champion in the 100-yard dash.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alyssa Campanella</span> American model (born 1990)

Alyssa Marie Campanella is an American beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss USA 2011. Having previously been crowned Miss California USA 2011, Campanella was the sixth woman representing California to win the Miss USA title. As Miss USA, Campanella was also crowned Miss New Jersey Teen USA 2007 and was first runner-up at Miss Teen USA 2007. Campanella was the sixth woman representing California to win the Miss USA title. As Miss USA, Campanella represented the United States at Miss Universe 2011, where she reached the Top 16.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lưu Thị Diễm Hương</span> Vietnamese beauty pageant winner

Lưu Thị Diễm Hương is a Vietnamese model and beauty pageant titleholder who won the title of Miss Vietnam World 2010. Diễm Hương was born on August 30, 1990, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Diễm Hương did not go to Miss World 2010 but she was sent to represent Vietnam in the Miss Earth 2010 pageant in Nha Trang, Vietnam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss USA 2012</span> 61st Miss USA pageant

Miss USA 2012 was the 61st Miss USA pageant, held on June 3, 2012, at the PH Live in Las Vegas, Nevada and it was televised live on NBC. Alyssa Campanella of California crowned her successor Olivia Culpo of Rhode Island at the end of the event. This was Rhode Island's first Miss USA title. Culpo represented the United States at Miss Universe 2012 six months later and went on to win the Miss Universe title, becoming the eighth American to do so.

Irene Sofía Esser Quintero is a Venezuelan actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Venezuela 2011. Esser grew up in Río Caribe, Sucre, Venezuela. She represented Venezuela in Miss Universe 2012, finishing as 2nd Runner-Up.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Janine Tugonon</span> Filipino model ang beauty pageant titleholder

Janine Marie Raymundo Tugonon is a Filipino actress, TV host, model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2012. She represented the Philippines at the Miss Universe 2012 pageant, winning 1st runner up.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss USA 2013</span> 62nd Miss USA pageant

Miss USA 2013 was the 62nd Miss USA pageant, held on June 16, 2013 at The AXIS in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 50 states and the District of Columbia competed for the title and the pageant was televised live on NBC. Outgoing titleholder Nana Meriwether of Maryland crowned her successor Erin Brady of Connecticut at the end of the event. This was Connecticut's first ever Miss USA crown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olivia Culpo</span> American model (born 1992)

Olivia Frances Culpo is an American model, actress, and media personality. After winning the Miss Rhode Island USA competition, she went on to win Miss USA 2012, and then Miss Universe 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renae Ayris</span> Australian dancer and model (born 1990)

Renae Ayris is an Australian dancer, model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Australia 2012 and placed 3rd Runner-Up at the Miss Universe 2012 pageant. In 2014 she appeared in the starring role of Shannon Noll's music video for his single We Only Live Once

Gabriela Markus is a Brazilian engineer, model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Brazil 2012. She represented Brazil in Miss Universe 2012 finishing as 4th Runner-Up. .

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erin Brady</span> American television host, model and beauty pageant titleholder

Erin Joyce Brady is an American tv host, model and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss USA 2013. She then represented the US at Miss Universe 2013 in Moscow, Russia, on November 9, where she placed in the Top 10. Brady is the first woman from the state of Connecticut ever to be crowned Miss USA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luna Voce</span> Dutch-Italian model and beauty queen

Luna Isabella Voce is a Dutch-Italian model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universo Italia 2013 and represented her country at Miss Universe 2013 but unplaced.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yaritza Reyes</span> Dominican actress, singer, model and beauty pageant titleholder

Yaritza Miguelina Reyes Ramírez is a Dominican actress, singer, model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Dominican Republic 2013 and represented the Dominican Republic at Miss Universe 2013 in Moscow, Russia. she also won Miss Mundo Dominicana 2016 and then represented Dominican Republic at Miss World 2016 in Washington, D.C., United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olivia Jordan</span> American actress, model and TV host

Olivia Jordan Thomas is an American actress and beauty pageant titleholder, who was crowned Miss World 2013, Jordan she represented the United States She also where she finished in the Top 20. Crowned Miss USA 2015 Jordan represented the United States at Miss Universe 2015, and was second runner-up. She is the first woman from Oklahoma to be crowned as Miss USA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deshauna Barber</span> American model and U.S. Army officer

Deshauna Barber is an American motivational speaker, beauty pageant titleholder and captain in the United States Army Reserve. On June 5, 2016, she was crowned Miss USA 2016 by the outgoing titleholder Olivia Jordan of Oklahoma. She represented the United States at the Miss Universe 2016 pageant and finished as a Top 9 finalist.

References

  1. ↑ "Nana Meriwether". MUO. Archived from the original on May 9, 2018. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  2. 1 2 (June 4, 2012). Nana Meriwether, Sidwell Friends grad, is first runner-up at Miss USA, The Washington Post
  3. ↑ (February 20, 2006). Breaking the Barrier, Inside – Duke University Medical Center
  4. ↑ (July 8, 2012). UCLA volleyball alumna Nana Meriwether finds a new way to compete by participating in pageants, Daily Bruin
  5. ↑ "Las Nuevas Indias de Mayaguez". Archived from the original on August 13, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Nana Meriwether". LinkedIn. Nana Meriwether. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  7. ↑ (June 4, 2012). More on Miss USA Maryland Nana Meriwether Archived December 23, 2012, at the Wayback Machine , Baltimore Sun
  8. ↑ "Meriwether Foundation About Us". Archived from the original on June 19, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Nana Meriwether". Harper's Bazaar. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  10. ↑ "City Lately About Us". Archived from the original on January 17, 2017. Retrieved June 24, 2016.


Awards and achievements
Preceded by Miss USA
2012 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Miss Maryland USA
2012		Succeeded by
Kasey Staniszewski
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.