Ericka Dunlap
Encyclopedia
Ericka Dunlap is an American beauty pageant titleholder from Orlando
, Florida
who was named Miss Florida 2003
and subsequently crowned Miss America 2004
. Dunlap was the first African American
woman to be crowned Miss Florida
.
, attended William R. Boone High School
, and is a graduate of the University of Central Florida
. While attending college at the University of Central Florida, she became a member of Delta Sigma Theta
sorority.
She and her former husband Brian appeared on The Amazing Race 15
, where they placed third overall.
According to a report Dunlap and her husband divorced (Questionable). They did, however, appear in fellow Amazing Race contestant's, Meghan and Cheyne, wedding party.
becoming the seventh African American woman to hold the title.
Dunlap's platform was "United We Stand, Divided We Fall Behind: Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion." Dunlap appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show
, Hollywood Squares
, Live With Regis and Kelly
, and Fox News’ The O'Reilly Factor
. She also served as Grand Marshal of the Talladega 500NASCAR
race.
In 2009, she appeared on the 15th installment
of the television series The Amazing Race
and finished in third place.
Ms. Dunlap’s international appeal began with her travels to the Middle-East during her reign as Miss America to entertain and serve the American troops for Thanksgiving. Most recently, Ericka traveled to Afghanistan to once again boost morale and inspire our treasured military men and women.
Currently, Ericka is a Public Relations Specialist and has formed Crown Jewel Consulting. Her charitable organization, The Crown Jewel Foundation, promotes social development skills and image awareness in young girls, and is set to re-launch in the summer of 2011 with the Princess Power Project. She continues to travel as a special guest speaker as well as developing her entrepreneurial interests in her hometown of Orlando, FL.
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
who was named Miss Florida 2003
Miss Florida
The Miss Florida competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Florida in the Miss America pageant. Florida has twice won the Miss America crown.-Winners:* Assumed the crown after Miss Florida won Miss America...
and subsequently crowned Miss America 2004
Miss America 2004
Miss America 2004, the 83rd Miss America, pageant, was broadcast from the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey on September 20, 2003 on ABC Network.-Placements:*Miss America 2004: Ericka Dunlap...
. Dunlap was the first 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 be crowned Miss Florida
Miss Florida
The Miss Florida competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Florida in the Miss America pageant. Florida has twice won the Miss America crown.-Winners:* Assumed the crown after Miss Florida won Miss America...
.
Personal
Dunlap is a native of OrlandoOrlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
, attended William R. Boone High School
William R. Boone High School
William R. Boone High School is a public high school in Orlando, Florida, United States. Built in 1952, the school is one of twenty high schools in the Orange County Public Schools system, created to accommodate the growing number of students at Orlando High School...
, and is a graduate of the University of Central Florida
University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida, commonly referred to as UCF, is a metropolitan public research university located in Orlando, Florida, United States...
. While attending college at the University of Central Florida, she became a member of Delta Sigma Theta
Delta Sigma Theta
Delta Sigma Theta is a non-profit Greek-lettered sorority of college-educated women who perform public service and place emphasis on the African American community. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was founded on January 13, 1913 by twenty-two collegiate women at Howard University...
sorority.
She and her former husband Brian appeared on The Amazing Race 15
The Amazing Race 15
The Amazing Race 15 is the fifteenth installment of the reality television show The Amazing Race. The Amazing Race 15 featured 12 teams of two, with a pre-existing relationship, in a race around the world....
, where they placed third overall.
According to a report Dunlap and her husband divorced (Questionable). They did, however, appear in fellow Amazing Race contestant's, Meghan and Cheyne, wedding party.
Career
In 2004 she was crowned Miss AmericaMiss 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...
becoming the seventh African American woman to hold the title.
Dunlap's platform was "United We Stand, Divided We Fall Behind: Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion." Dunlap appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show is an American syndicated talk show hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey. It ran nationally for 25 seasons beginning in 1986, before concluding in 2011. It is the highest-rated talk show in American television history....
, Hollywood Squares
Hollywood Squares
Hollywood Squares is an American panel game show in which two contestants play tic-tac-toe to win cash and prizes. The "board" for the game is a 3 × 3 vertical stack of open-faced cubes, each occupied by a celebrity seated at a desk and facing the contestants...
, Live With Regis and Kelly
Live with Regis and Kelly
Live! with Kelly is a syndicated American television morning talk show, hosted by Kelly Ripa. The show has aired since 1983 in New York City and 1988 nationwide. Tony Pigg has been the show's announcer since its inception...
, and Fox News’ The O'Reilly Factor
The O'Reilly Factor
The O'Reilly Factor, originally titled The O'Reilly Report from 1996 to 1998 and often called The Factor, is an American talk show on the Fox News Channel hosted by commentator Bill O'Reilly, who often discusses current controversial political issues with guests.The program was the most watched...
. She also served as Grand Marshal of the Talladega 500NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
race.
In 2009, she appeared on the 15th installment
The Amazing Race 15
The Amazing Race 15 is the fifteenth installment of the reality television show The Amazing Race. The Amazing Race 15 featured 12 teams of two, with a pre-existing relationship, in a race around the world....
of the television series The Amazing Race
The Amazing Race (U.S. TV series)
The Amazing Race is an American reality game show in which teams of two or four race around the world against other teams, with the first-place team winning $1,000,000. As the original version of the Amazing Race franchise, the CBS program has been running since 2001 and is airing its nineteenth...
and finished in third place.
Ms. Dunlap’s international appeal began with her travels to the Middle-East during her reign as Miss America to entertain and serve the American troops for Thanksgiving. Most recently, Ericka traveled to Afghanistan to once again boost morale and inspire our treasured military men and women.
Currently, Ericka is a Public Relations Specialist and has formed Crown Jewel Consulting. Her charitable organization, The Crown Jewel Foundation, promotes social development skills and image awareness in young girls, and is set to re-launch in the summer of 2011 with the Princess Power Project. She continues to travel as a special guest speaker as well as developing her entrepreneurial interests in her hometown of Orlando, FL.