Miss America pageant

Miss America pageant

 The Miss America pageant is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, and many former winners will be attending the festivities. We're taking a look all the way back to 1980 to find out what happened to the pageant queens.

Miss America 1980

Then: Cheryl Prewitt overcame a childhood tragedy to become Miss America.

Miss America 1981

Then: Susan Powell  was an opera singer.

Miss America 1982

Then: Elizabeth Ward reportedly wore a gown made from a tablecloth and used her pageant money to study acting.

Now: Since then, she went on to have an acting career, appeared on the cover of Playboy and claimed she had a one-night stand with a future U.S. president. 

Miss America 1983

Then: Debra Maffett  had been in TV.

Miss America 1984

Then: Vanessa Williams became the first black Miss America before losing her crown due to a nude photo scandal.

Now: She married an NBA star , and became a successful TV and movie actress and singer

Then: Suzette Charles  took over Miss America duties after Vanessa Williams relinquished her crown.

Now: She became an actress and singer  and began a friendship with a controversial boxer.

Miss America 1985

Then: Sharlene Wells  was the only foreign-born Miss America and played the harp.

Now: She later became a sports reporter . Find out what she does now. Follow her on Twitter.

Miss America 1986

Then: Miss Mississippi Susan Akin  had to contend with her family's connection to an infamous civil rights murder case. The case was turned into a movie

Now: She now lives in a small town in Tennessee. Find out how she's handled post-pageant life.

Miss America 1987

Then: Kellye Cash , the grandniece of a famous country singer, was a singer like her great-uncle.

Now: She portrayed another famous singer on tour and is active in a political party.

Miss America 1988

Then: Kaye Lani Rae Rafko used her reign to advocate for hospice programs.

Now: She appeared in a Michael Moore documentary. Find out what she does for a living.

Miss America 1989

Then: Gretchen Carlson (photos) was the first classical violinist to win the Miss America crown.

Now: Find out what she does now.

Miss America 1990

Then: Debbye Turner was the first Miss Missouri to win the title and played the marimba.

Now: Find out what she does now.

Miss America 1991

Then: Marjorie Vincent  played the piano for her talent  and campaigned against domestic violence.

Now: She became a news reporter for a while and reportedly went back to law school.

Miss America 1992

Then: Carolyn Sapp  the first Miss Hawaii to wear the crown, starred in a TV movie about her relationship with an abusive boyfriend.

Now: Find out what she does now.

Miss America 1993

Then: Leanza Cornett  was the first Miss America to campaign for awareness of this illness and refused to wear her crown in public.

Now: She became an entertainment correspondent and married a fellow entertainment reporter .

Miss America 1994

Then: Kimberly Aiken  won when she was only 18 years old and advocated for the homeless.

Now: Find out what she does now.

Miss America 1995

Then: Heather Whitestone became the first deaf Miss America.

Now: She has written several books and underwent a controversial procedure in 2002.

Miss America 1996

Then: Shawntel Smith  was Miss Oklahoma, and her platform was getting high school students to work after graduation.

Now: Find out what she does now.

Miss America 1997

Then: Tara Dawn Holland  was an advocate for literacy and a singer.

Now: She's married, and her public appearances focus on a controversial topic. What is it?

Miss America 1998

Then: Kate Shindle used her platform to advocate for AIDS prevention around the world.

Now: She went on to a successful Broadway career and has a big role in an upcoming show.

Miss America 1999

Then: Nicole Johnson who has diabetes, advocated for diabetes education during her time as Miss America.

Now: She has helped raise millions for diabetes research (how much?) and wrote a book about living with the disease.

Miss America 2000

Then: Heather French  the first Miss Kentucky to win the crown, advocated for homeless veterans.

Now: She married a controversial Kentucky politician, spoke to Oprah Winfrey about a personal tragedy and continues to work for veterans.

Miss America 2001

Then: Angela Perez Baraquio was the first Asian-American to wear the crown.

Now: Find out what she does now.

Miss America 2002

Then: Katie Harman , who was crowned shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks, sang a famous soprano aria.

Now: She is married to an Oregon Air National Guard pilot with two children.

Miss America 2003

Then: Erika Harold  stirred up controversy when she announced a new platform after she won.

Now: She spoke at the 2004 Republican National Convention.

Miss America 2004

Then: Ericka Dunlap  the first black Miss Florida, used her platform to celebrate diversity.

Now: She is pursuing a country music career, and she and her husband competed on a popular reality show.

Miss America 2005

Then: Deidre Downs  advocated for a cure for childhood cancer during her extra-long reign.

Now: She got married in 2008 and last year graduated from medical school. Find pictures and details of the wedding.

Miss America 2006

Then: Jennifer Berry  was a ballet dancer and an advocate for an anti-drunk-driving group.

Now: She got married in 2007 and lives in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Miss America 2007

Then: Lauren Nelson  used her platform to bring awareness to protecting children from online dangers.

Now: She posed as a teen to catch sexual predators. Find out what she does now.

Miss America 2008

Then: Kirsten Haglund  used her own struggles to bring awareness to eating disorders.

Now: She founded a group to help people with eating disorders and has made several appearances on a Fox News talk show.

Miss America 2009

Then: Katie Stam , the first Miss Indiana to win the title, appeared with her fellow contestants on a reality show.

Now: Find out what she does now.

Miss America 2010

Then: Caressa Cameron  sang a Beyoncé tune on her way to winning the crown.

Now: After a year of travel , she will hand over the title to her successor.