How did Miss Richfield 1981 come about? Russ King said his character evolved after dressing up for a Miss America party at a friend’s house. King said Richfield is his hometown and 1981 is the year he graduated from high school. Shortly after the party, someone from his office saw a picture of him in drag and suggested he should perform. His coworkers brought him to a drag show and the rest is history.
Since we’re on the topic of beauty queen, here are some famous celebrities who participated in pageants:
1. Oprah Winfrey: Before becoming a talk show host, Winfrey won the 1971 Miss Fire Prevention and Miss Black Tennessee titles.
2. Jeri Ryan: The Borg character, “Seven of Nine,” in Star Trek: Voyager competed as Miss Illinois in the 1990 Miss America Pageant.
3. Halle Berry: Before acting, Berry’s pageant titles include Miss Teen All American, Miss Ohio-USA, and first runner-up to Miss USA.
4. Diane Sawyer: Sawyer won Junior Miss in 1962 and used her pageant scholarship money to attend Wellesley College. She started her career as a weathergirl and now an anchor.
5. Imelda Marcos: Before reigning as First Lady of the Philippines, Marcos served as Miss Manilla 1953.
6. Marla Maples: Before becoming the second Mrs. Donald Trump, Maples was named Miss Photogenic and won fourth place in Georgia’s Miss Teen Pageant.
7. Tiffani-Amber Thiessen: Thiessen was Miss Junior America and winner of the ‘Teen Magazine Model Search before getting her roles in “Saved by the Bell” and “Beverly Hills 90210.”
8. Michelle Yeoh: Most Americans know Yeoh as Pierce Brosnan’s sidekick in the “James Bond: Tomorrow Never Dies.” Many Asians recognize her as former Miss Malaysia 1983.
9. Paula Zahn: Before Zahn entered television journalism, she competed in pageants and made the finals of the 1973 Miss Teenage America.
10. Kathie Lee Gifford: This star in “Live with Regis and Kathie Lee,” once represented Maryland in the Junior Miss Pageant.