Caressa Cameron
Encyclopedia
Caressa Cameron is an American
beauty pageant titleholder from Fredericksburg, Virginia
, who won the title of Miss America
2010.
Cameron graduated from Massaponax High School
and currently attends Virginia Commonwealth University
located in Richmond, Virginia
.
She won the Miss Virginia
title on June 28, 2009 having previously competed for that title three times. In prior competitions she had placed first runner-up in 2008 and second runner-up in 2007 and 2006. In addition to competing at Miss Virginia, Cameron placed 2nd runner-up to Tori Hall
at Miss Virginia Teen USA
2005 and 2nd runner-up to Amber Copley
at Miss Virginia USA
2006.
On January 27, 2010, she won a $2,000 scholarship
in winning the Preliminary Talent competition in vocal pop.
On January 30, 2010, she won the Miss America 2010
pageant held at Planet Hollywood
in Las Vegas, Nevada
. She won a $50,000 scholarship
, beating out 52 other contestants, and became the third Miss Virginia to win the national title.
She is 5 foot 4 inches, and wears a size 7 shoe.
Cameron is the eighth African American
woman to hold the prestigious title. The first African American woman to win the title was Vanessa L. Williams
in 1983, who was then followed by Suzette Charles
who is biracial with African American heritage. Cameron is the first African American among the three Miss Virginia winners to be crowned Miss America.
Her teen years were difficult and awkward. She had to deal with bullying at school. One day the young lady who was Miss Virginia at the time came and spoke at Caressa's school. She encouraged the audience to take negativity and turn it into something positive. These words helped Caressa take more positive steps in her life.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
beauty pageant titleholder from Fredericksburg, Virginia
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Fredericksburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia located south of Washington, D.C., and north of Richmond. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 24,286...
, who won the title of Miss America
Miss America
The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
2010.
Cameron graduated from Massaponax High School
Massaponax High School
Massaponax High School is a public secondary school in Spotsylvania, VA. It is part of Spotsylvania County Public Schools and is located on 8201 Jefferson Davis Highway....
and currently attends Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University is a public university located in Richmond, Virginia. It comprises two campuses in the Downtown Richmond area, the product of a merger between the Richmond Professional Institute and the Medical College of Virginia in 1968...
located in Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
.
She won the Miss Virginia
Miss Virginia
The Miss Virginia competition is a scholarship pageant for women, with the titleholder representing Virginia in the Miss America pageant. The competition was founded in 1953 as a scholarship contest for young women, although women had represented Virginia in the Miss America pageant since the 1930s...
title on June 28, 2009 having previously competed for that title three times. In prior competitions she had placed first runner-up in 2008 and second runner-up in 2007 and 2006. In addition to competing at Miss Virginia, Cameron placed 2nd runner-up to Tori Hall
Tori Hall
-External links:*...
at Miss Virginia Teen USA
Miss Virginia Teen USA
The Miss Virginia Teen USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Virginia in the Miss Teen USA pageant....
2005 and 2nd runner-up to Amber Copley
Amber Copley
Amber Brooke Copley is a beauty queen from Abingdon, Virginia who has competed in the Miss Teen USA and Miss USA pageants....
at Miss Virginia USA
Miss Virginia USA
The Miss Virginia USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Virginia in the Miss USA pageant.Virginia has been only moderately successful in terms of number of semi-finalists, they have had two Miss USAs. They are one of only three states to have had two Miss...
2006.
On January 27, 2010, she won a $2,000 scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
in winning the Preliminary Talent competition in vocal pop.
On January 30, 2010, she won the Miss America 2010
Miss America 2010
Miss America 2010, the 89th Miss America pageant, was held at the Theatre for the Performing Arts in Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on January 30, 2010...
pageant held at Planet Hollywood
Planet Hollywood
Planet Hollywood, a restaurant inspired by the popular portrayal of Hollywood, was launched in New York on October 22, 1991, with the backing of Hollywood stars Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.-History:...
in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
. She won a $50,000 scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
, beating out 52 other contestants, and became the third Miss Virginia to win the national title.
She is 5 foot 4 inches, and wears a size 7 shoe.
Cameron is the eighth African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
woman to hold the prestigious title. The first African American woman to win the title was Vanessa L. Williams
Vanessa L. Williams
Vanessa Lynn Williams is an American pop-R&B recording artist, producer, dancer, model, actress and showgirl. In 1983, she became the first woman of African-American descent to be crowned Miss America, but a scandal generated by her having posed for nude photographs published in Penthouse magazine...
in 1983, who was then followed by Suzette Charles
Suzette Charles
Suzette Charles is an American singer and entertainer.-Career:Born in Mays Landing, she represented New Jersey in the 1983 Miss America pageant held in Atlantic City, New Jersey...
who is biracial with African American heritage. Cameron is the first African American among the three Miss Virginia winners to be crowned Miss America.
Her teen years were difficult and awkward. She had to deal with bullying at school. One day the young lady who was Miss Virginia at the time came and spoke at Caressa's school. She encouraged the audience to take negativity and turn it into something positive. These words helped Caressa take more positive steps in her life.
External links
- TheLoop21.com interview with Caressa Cameron
- "Miss America 2010 Caressa Cameron sings God Bless America" video, Miss America 2010 Caressa Cameron sings "God Bless America" at the Independence Day Parade in Philadelphia on July 4, 2010.