Susan Akin
Susan Akin | |
|---|---|
 Susan Akin, 1985 | |
| Born | August 12, 1964 |
| Alma mater | University of Mississippi |
| Title | Miss University 1985 Miss Mississippi 1985 Miss America 1986 |
| Predecessor | Sharlene Wells |
| Successor | Kellye Cash |
Susan Akin (born August 12, 1964) is an American beauty pageant titleholder from Meridian, Mississippi who was Miss Mississippi 1985 and Miss America 1986.[1]
Biography
Akin was a member of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women at the University of Mississippi.[2]
In the past, Susan traveled extensively with Bob Hope, performing at conventions both in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Susan has been politically active since her win and was formerly the spokesperson for the National Down's Syndrome Association, during which she spoke before many state legislatures and advocacy groups.[3] She now lives in Meridian, Mississippi. She is also the granddaughter of Bernard L. Akin, a conspirator in the murders of Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner of 1964.[4][5] The Meridian Star reported Akin's response to her grandfather's involvement:
When asked about some of the negative publicity she had received about her grandfather, Miss Akin commented, "That's something that doesn't involve me. I wasn't even born and can't be involved in this. And the people who have taken it out of context thinking they can drag me down, cannot and they're not.[6]
When the press asked about Akin's opinions of mixed marriages the New York Press reported:
The new Miss America says she opposes mixed marriages ... I feel in mixed marriages it could be mainly up to the individual, but to me I feel at this time intermixing could lead to more problems ...[7]
Before the pageant, computer modelling successfully predicted that Akin would be named Miss America, her odds set at 7 to 1.[8]
In 1991, Akin appeared in a segment on Unsolved Mysteries to discuss the unexplained death of Crystal Spencer, an aspiring actress who died in the same apartment building where Susan and her husband, Jet Taylor, lived in 1988.[9]
Titles won
- Miss La Petite
- Little Miss Mississippi
- Little Miss America 1970
- Miss University (University of Mississippi)
- Miss Mississippi 1985
References
- ^ [1]
- ^ "Ole Miss Pi Phi Web Site". Retrieved 22 January 2010.
- ^ "Miss America : 1986". Archived from the original on 6 February 2010. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "What's Past is Past". Miami Herald. 3 October 1985.
- ^ "Miss America's Family Once Linked to Civil Rights Slaying". The Modesto Bee. 3 October 1985. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
- ^ "Miss America 1986 Scrapbook: Miss America Comes Home". The Meridian Star. 18 October 1985. p. 30.
- ^ "Miss America 1986 Scrapbook: Miss America Says No to Mixed Marriage Idea". The Meridian Star(New York AP). 18 October 1985. p. 29.
- ^ "Professor's computer picks Miss Mississippi". Wilmington Morning Star. Wilmington, NC. Associated Press. September 10, 1985. p. 1D. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
- ^ David Ferrell, "COLUMN ONE : Murder or Natural Causes? : Four years after Crystal Spencer's death, her case remains a mystery. Following the trail leads to rumors, theories and mishandled evidence", "Los Angeles Times", February 24, 1992.
External links
- Susan Akin at IMDb