History – Our Former Miss DCs

Margaret Gorman, Miss DC 1921 and the very first Miss America, attended Western High School, which is now Duke Ellington School of the Arts.

The first Miss America, Margaret Gorman, hailed from Washington, DC. She is pictured here on the right with her successor, Evelyn Lewis, Miss DC 1922, at the 1922 Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City, NJ.

Year, Name and Placement at the Miss America Pageant

1921 Margaret Gorman (Miss America 1921)

1922 Evelyn C. Lewis

1923 Lorraine Bunch (Semi-finalist)

1924 Helen Gould Sweeney (Semi-finalist)

1925 Abbie Virginia Eagan

1926 Marjorie Joestings (First Runner -up)

1927 Gladys Cookman

1933 Rita Burns

1935 Helen Loyce Clum (Semi-finalist)

1936 Shirley Schwartz

1937 Helen Elizabeth Greene

1938 Dorothy Mae Parker (Semi-finalist)

1939 Evelyn Mae Foster

1940 Catherine Virginia Howe* (Semi-finalist)

1941 Jean Fidelis Cavanaugh (Second Runner-up)

1942 Marilyn Elaine Makin

1943 Dixie Lou Rafter^ (Fourth Runner-up)

1944 Venus Ramey*^ (Miss America 1944)

1945 Dorothy Louise Powell (Semi-finalist)

1946 Jeanne Marie Carlson

1947 Margaret Augusta Wilson

1948 Joann Virginia Miller

1949 Mary Jane Hayes

1950 Sandra Joanne Stahl* (Semi-finalist)

1951 June Beverly Klein

1952 Iris Anne Fitch*#

1953 Helen Fiske Smith

1954 Linda Maud Weisbrod* (Semi-finalist)

1955 Judith Ann Dunkle

1956 Margo Zita Sandra Lucey (First Runner -up)

1957 June Roberta Cook

1958 Lee Rose Berkow

1959 Virginia Noble Pailes*

1960 Ruth Rea^ (Third Runner-up)

1961 Scarlett Jean Shinault+

1962 Ann Harris Verner

1963 Rosanne Tueller*^ (First Runner-up)

1984 Desiree Keating

1985 Cherie A.Ward

1986 Karen Lynn Watson

1987 Cheryl Chapman

1988 Patricia Morrin

1989 Donya M. Rose

1997 Sonya Gavankar

1998 Nicole Messina*& (Semi-finalist)

1999 Toyia Tynae Taylor+

2000 Rashida Tulani Jolley&

2001 Marshawn Evans* (Third Runner-up)

2002 Sarah-Elizabeth Langford

2003 Lisa Ferris

2004 Therese Lizardo&

2005 Shannon Schambeau^ (Fourth Runner-up)

2006 Kate Michael

2007 Shayna Rudd+

2008 Kate Marie Grinold (Semi-finalist)

2009 Jennifer Corey (Semi-finalist)

* – Preliminary Talent Winner

^ – Preliminary Swimsuit Winner

+ – Non-Finalist Talent Award

& – Quality of Life Award Finalist

# – Miss Congeniality Award

Where Are They Now?

Kate Marie Grinold, Miss DC 2008

Kate Marie Grinold has started her own business with Shannon Schambeau Patterson (Miss DC 2005, 4th Runner-up to Miss America)

Check out their Facebook group: “Rodan + Fields Independent Consultants Red Carpet”
Direct link: http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=116670831699658&ref=ts
Website: www.kmg.myrandf.com

“We invite new business partners to join our fast growing team. We are a motivated group of individuals who have all been involved with pageantry. We range from former titleholders, contestants, local directors, choreographers, trainers

Our desire is to help change skin and change lives! This is an amazing opportunity to partner with Dr. Rodan and Dr. Fields, the creators of Proactiv and be one of the first in your area.

Remember, timing is everything! Don’t let this opportunity pass you by!”

Shayna Rudd, Miss DC 2007

Shayna is currently a MBA student at Trinity University concentrating in non-profit management. She is also the CEO/Founder of the Ladydiva Corporation, a non-profit that seeks to cultivate, encourage and empower young women ages 14-20 from impoverished areas in the District of Columbia and Philadelphia, PA.

Shayna will be featured in the CW new reality show about DC socialites entitled, “Blonde Charity Mafia.” Additionally Shayna is officially an author. Her book, “Living and Learning: The LadyDiva Guide to Embracing the Truth About You!” will be released this fall! Despite her many accomplishments, Shayna’s greatest achievement is being a high school English and creative writing teacher for students in DC. Most recently Shayna was crowned Miss Black USA.

Kate Michael, Miss DC 2006

Kate Michael, Miss District of Columbia 2006, remains active in the District. She recently completed a Masters in Government from Johns Hopkins University and continues courses toward an MBA at Hopkins to supplement her undergraduate BBA in International Business from the University of Georgia.

At one time a professional dancer in a ballet company, at theme parks and off-Broadway, Kate continues to grace the stage at community theatres in the District. Her media features include a spread in Elle magazine, articles in DC Style Magazine, Inside Edition, the Washington Post, the Atlanta Journal Constitution, various local news media, and her personal blog, KStreetKate.net. She is producing a new web-based show, “The District Dish.”

Shannon Schambeau, Miss DC 2005

Shannon was the Manager for Donor Relationship Management for the Special Olympics global headquarters in Washington, D.C. She has been a volunteer, advocate and fundraiser for over 16 years. Shannon holds a Master’s in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from St. Leo University. She was chosen as the Student Representative Commencement Speaker for the 2005 Graduate Programs. Shannon was a Magna Cum Laude graduate and received the Outstanding Student in Management and Outstanding Student in the School of Business 2002-2003 Awards from the University.

In January 2006, Shannon competed for the title of Miss America. She captured a swimsuit preliminary award and finished the competition as 4th runner-up. On November 10, 2007 Shannon married John Patterson, former Pitcher for the Washington Nationals Baseball Team. Shannon and John met at an appearance during her reign as Miss DC. She is currently residing in Texas and continues to stay involved long-distance with the Miss DC Organization.

Therese Lizardo-Escaño, Miss DC 2004

Therese is a graduate of The George Washington University. She graduated Cum Laude and she holds degrees in Biology, Psychology, and Women’s Studies. She graduated in 2002, is now a medical student at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Prior to entering medical school, Therese conducted oncology research at GWU’s Department of Pharmacology and Physiology. Therese is also very active with global health. She traveled to third world countries with the Operation Hope Medical Mission, and she assisted a team of physicians who performed cleft lip and palate facial reconstructive surgeries.

Therese is now a third year medical student at The George Washington University School of Medical and Health Sciences. She recently won first place at the GWU Medical Center Annual Research Day for her oncology research. Therese was also awarded the GWU SMHS Rosenberg Fellowship, as she was named the top applicant among 85 students who were awarded fellowships by the GWU SMHS.

Therese is very excited about her future. She is a student of GWU SMHS’s Integrative Medicine Track, as she believes that the most effective forms of healing involve mind-body wellness. She looks forward to incorporating complementary alternative medicine into her practice and helping her patients lead a healthy way of life, both physically and mentally. herese is the proud wife of Dr. Jude Escaño, CPT who just returned from serving with the U.S. Army in Iraq.

Lisa Ferris, Miss DC 2003

Lisa graduated from The Catholic University of America in 2006 with a Bachelor of Music and moved to New York shortly thereafter to continue to pursue theater. She recently was in Cedar City, Utah working with the Utah Shakespearean Festival. She played Young Maria in “Lend Me a Tenor: the Musical,” and danced in the ensemble of Twelfth Night and understudied the role of Olivia. In December 2007 she relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada where she is pursuing a Masters of Fine Arts at the University of Las Vegas.

Sarah-Elizabeth Langford, Miss DC 2002

Sarah-Elizabeth grew up in Georgia where her father was a state senator. After graduating from Pace Academy, she earned a degree in French from the University of Michigan in 2000, where she was an All-American member of the gymnastics team. She graduated from Howard University School of Law and then did a fellowship in D.C. called “Capitol City Fellows.” In 2007 she moved from DC to Atlanta to do real estate development, specifically affordable housing for senior citizens. In addition she recently played a small role in a movie with Vivica Fox called “Three Can Play That Game.”

Langford’s first pageant experience came in 2003 when she competed for Miss DC and later Miss America. She performed gymnastics during the talent competition and won a non-finalist scholarship of $5,000.

Marshawn Evans, Miss DC 2001

Former Miss America finalist and Entertainment Attorney, is the founder of ME Unlimited (Marshawn Evans Unlimited), a corporate consulting firm focusing on peak performance, diversity, workforce readiness, and leadership strategies. ME Unlimited consults with Fortune 500 companies and HR departments on leading peak performance strategies, while offering insight from the world of professional sports, employment law principles, and competitive industries

A graduate of Georgetown Law, Marshawn practiced with one of Atlanta’s most prestigious law firms, and has been featured by Glamour Magazine, USA Today, The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, ABC, Fox News, and NBC’s The Apprentice with Donald Trump.

Marshawn’s successes in the classroom and the courtroom have taken her to the now infamous boardroom as one of Donald Trump’s handpicked candidates on Season 4 of NBC’s hit show, “The Apprentice; She travels the country as a professional lecturer, spokesperson, and speaking consultant. She has a newly released book, SKIRTS in the Boardroom: A Woman’s Survival Guide to Success in Business & Life (Wiley 2008). She is also Owner and President of EDGE 3M Sports & Entertainment (www.edge3m.com).

Rashida Tulani Jolley, Miss DC 2000

Rashida is a rare talent. She is a harpist, vocalist, songwriter, composer, arranger and recording artist. Her talents have landed her a blitz of television, radio and publication coverage. The product of a great line of musicians and motivational speakers, Rashida has a diverse background in performing. She combines her vast knowledge of pop culture with entertaining renditions of Top-40 music.

Rashida’s many vocal and harp performances at concert halls, embassies, universities, schools, conferences, political functions and other venues has produced numerous rewards and many industry accolades. This gifted musician has performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Lincoln Theatre and various sporting venues. Recently, Rashida opened for R&B sensation, John Legend. In 2004, she released her first CD “Love is not a Game.”

Toyia Taylor, Miss DC 1999

Toyia is currently the Urban Leaders Program Director for the organization Girls for Gender Equity, Inc. Girls for Gender Equity is committed to the physical, psychological, social and economic development of girls and women. Through education, organizing and physical fitness, Girls for Gender Equity encourages communities to remove barriers and create opportunities for girls and women to live self-determined lives.

Nicole Messina Billow, Miss DC 1998

Nicole Billow is a Financial Advisor with Morgan Stanley in Voorhees, NJ. As a mother of two young boys, Nicole knows the importance of planning daily to get the most out of the day for herself, her family and her clients. Nicole brings her planning mentality to her business, focusing on retirement and wealth accumulation planning for individuals and companies.

Nicole’s attention to detail is exercised daily as she works with clients to help them set goals, communicate their objectives and understand their risk tolerance in order to develop a customized, diversified portfolio. Nicole incorporates her prior work experience with the Ritz-Carlton Hotels to go above and beyond her clients’ expectations in providing service.

A graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, Nicole now resides in Marlton, NJ with her husband, Mitch, and her two sons, Shane, 2 and Matthew, 10 months. In her spare time, she teaches dance classes and choreographs for young women competing in the Miss America Scholarship Program. Nicole was a preliminary talent winner and top ten finalist in the 1998 Miss America Pageant.

Sonya Gavankar McKay, Miss DC 1997

Sonya is a documentary editor and host of educational programming for The Freedom Forum and Newseum in Washington, D.C. She hosts “Close-Up,” a weekly public affairs show on C-SPAN that features conversations between high school students and Washington’s most recognized journalists and politicians. Sonya travels with the live band, “Freedom Sings,” in a program about censorship in music. She also lends her voice and likeness to “Rita Laboutit,” host of the interactive, online current events game, “NewsMania.”

Sonya has worked as a journalist for CNN, ABC, and The Home and Garden Network. She is also a casting director for independent films and photography that have been shown in several Washington area galleries. Additionally, Sonya serves as the President of the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Foundation’s Washington, D.C. Seminar, HOBY, a motivational organization that helps high school students develop their leadership skills. Sonya is a graduate of American University and holds a degree in broadcast journalism with extensive work in military studies and peace and conflict resolution. She is recently married and lives in Arlington, Virginia with her husband, Malcolm. Sonya also serves as a Board Member of the Miss DC Scholarship Organization.

Tricia Morrin Lloyd, Miss DC 1988

Tricia just finished seven years as Executive Director of the U.S. Office in Washington, D.C. for the Pontifical North American College, the American seminary in Rome. Many consider it to be the West Point of the Catholic Church. She was their chief fundraiser and recently completed a $25 million capital campaign. One perk that went with her job was meeting Pope John Paul II in her wedding dress, with her husband, John, so the Holy Father could bless their marriage. She said “he was just so incredible and kind,” and chuckles, “no pressure there!”

If you want to know key things about visiting Rome and which restaurants not to miss, she is the one to tap. Tricia serves as President of the Miss D.C. Scholarship Organization and is always looking for good volunteers who will step up to the plate to help! She welcomes those who would like to assist the scholarship fund! Additionally, Tricia is a volunteer with the Junior League of Washington, President of the Downtown Washington Sierra Club, a Dame in the Order of Malta and in the Constantinian Order of St. George and a member of the John Carroll Society.

We are proud of our Titleholders and our Former Contestants. There are so many success stories!

Chelsey Sophia Rodgers, First Runner-up 2007, First Runner-up 2006, and Miss District of Columbia USA 2008

Chelsey Rodgers, a graduate of Howard University School of Law, currently works as a lawyer in New York. She is also a freelance writer and model for various publications including Black Health Magazine, AUC Magazine and BIAS Magazine. She has been featured in the online magazine, Smartsista, is a published author in two anthologies, and currently serves as Editor-at-Large of Urban Trends magazine

Chelsey received her juris doctorate in May 2008 from Howard University School of Law where she served as a student attorney for the Criminal Justice Clinic, Editor-in-Chief of the law school newspaper, and member of the Huver I. Brown Trial Advocacy Moot Court Team. She was a Howard Law Merit Fellow for two years and was recently awarded the CALI Academic Achievement Award in Legal Writing.

Rodgers graduated from Spelman College Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. A strong proponent of helping to strengthen the community, Chelsey wants to create two not-for-profit organizations, the Penelope Lynn Foundation, to provide self-esteem counseling and furnished, subsidized housing to women who have recently left battered women’s shelters, and the Vivian Joy Burley Cancer Foundation, to raise donations to fund research to find a cure for breast cancer. She is currently Director of the Miss DC Outstanding Teen Organization.

Michelle Crosby, Contestant 2006, Third Runner-up 2007

Co-founder and Executive Director of two non-profit organizations dealing with science and technology in Washington, D.C., Michelle Crosby is a graduate of American University School of International Service with a minor in violin performance. Third-runner up in the Miss District of Columbia 2007 pageant, and third runner-up in the Miss National Sweetheart Pageant, Michelle also placed first in the Interview competition.

Mistress of Ceremonies for the Turkish Fesitval 2007, and former concertmaster of American University Symphony Orchestra, Michelle recently won the title of Miss District of Columbia Earth: Nation’s Capital and competed for the national title in July 2008. She intends to pursue a Ph.D. in International Relations and hopes to continue with a life-long pursuit of public service. Michelle was married on May 30, 2009. She continues to stay involved with the Miss DC Organization and is serving as contestant coordinator for the 2009 Pageant.

Heather Hegedus, Contestant Miss DC 2000, 2001 Top 4 finalist, and 2002 1st runner-up

Heather Hegedus is a General Assignment Reporter and the Weekend Anchor at WFSB Hartford, the CBS Affiliate and #1 news station in Connecticut.

Since competing in Miss DC, Heather has spent the past 10 years moving around the Northeast for her career.

Heather graduated Magna Cum Laude from Georgetown University with a degree in Government. She spent a year at the London School of Economics in England. She has a Master’s of Science degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.

One of Heather’s first TV jobs, behind the scences,  was at the NBC News Washington Bureau. Following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Heather interviewed then Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Jordan’s Queen Noor and field produced from the White House and Pentagon. Heather also worked at The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, where she was chosen by PBS Magazine to interview Mr. Lehrer about his experiences moderating years of Presidential Debates.

Heather then moved to New York City and attended Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. While in New York City, she spent time behind the camera for NY1 News, shooting from ground zero on the first commemoration of the attacks. From the streets of the Big Apple, Heather suddenly found herself in the small community of Binghamton, N.Y., as the main anchor/reporter at WIVT-TV. She covered everything from historic flooding in the region to the ambitions of then-NY Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. She also Co-Anchored the 6 and 11pm news every night.

Heather’s next job wasn’t far away – in Syracuse, N.Y., where she was weekend anchor/reporter at WSYR-TV. She gained national exposure on The Weather Channel and CNN covering lake-effect snowstorms, and a Syracuse developer’s plans to build the world’s largest mall. Her work was included in compilations that earned the station Associated Press and Edward R. Murrow awards.

Heather continues to volunteer with STRIVE – a nationwide job training program- the same program she worked with while competing for Miss DC. She just bought her first home!

Safiya Songhai, 2003 1st runner-up and 2001 2nd runner-up

Safiya graduated summa cum laude from Howard University, and will receive her Master’s in Fine Arts from New York University graduate film Program and the Tisch School of the Arts. She won a Student Emmy from the DC chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. She is also working in the areas of voice- over talent, film direction and television production and has recently won the title of Miss Black Massachusetts.