- Jenna Edwards
Pageant titleholder bio
photo=
caption=Jenna Edwards, January 12, 2005.
title=Miss Florida 2004Miss Florida USA 2007
nationalcompetition=Miss America 2005Miss USA 2007
location=Brandon, Mississippi United States
birthname= Jenna Edwards
eye color= Blue
birth = birth date and age|1981|07|29
hair color=BrownJenna Edwards (born July 29, 1981) is a
beauty queen fromBrandon, Mississippi who has held the titlesMiss Florida andMiss Florida USA . Edwards represented Florida at theMiss America 2005 pageant and theMiss USA 2007 pageant.Edwards grew up in
Clinton, Mississippi and graduated from Central Hinds Academy in 1999. After spending two years atMississippi College , she transferred to theUniversity of Miami , earning aBachelor of Science degree in Communication Studies and English Literature.Pageantry
In 1998 and 1999 she competed in the
Miss Mississippi Teen USA pageant, and placed first runner-up both years. She won her first major title, Miss Teen All-American, in 1999.cite news|title=Crowning Glory ; Beauty queen Jenna Edwards shares a wealth of confidence--and glittering tiaras--with ailing girls |date=2002-03-18|publisher=People Magazine] Edwards was an official hostess/entertainer for that pageant in 2000 and 2001. In 2000 she won the Miss Oktoberfest pageant, beating future Miss USA titleholderShandi Finnessey .Miss America
In September 2002 Edwards won the Miss University of Miami preliminary title, and competed for the Miss Florida title in mid-2003. Edwards failed to place in that pageant, which was won by
Ericka Dunlap . Dunlap would later go on to win the Miss America title. In February the following year she won Miss Winter Park, another preliminary title, and competed at the state pageant held in June. In that pageant she won both swimsuit and evening gown preliminaries, and was crowned Miss Florida 2004. [cite news|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2004/06/27/State/22_years_of_practice_.shtml|title=22 years of practice pays off|first=Jamie|last=Thompson|date=2004-06-27|publisher=St Petersburg Times|accessdate=2007-02-02] Her first runner-up wasShannon Schambeau who would later becomeMiss District of Columbia 2005. [cite news|title=University of Miami student is Miss Florida 2004 |publisher=Associated Press Newswires|date=2004-06-27]Edwards represented Florida in the
Miss America 2005 pageant broadcast live fromAtlantic City, New Jersey in September 2007. She did not place in the nationally televised pageant, but did win a preliminary swimsuit award. [cite news|title=Florida, Massachusetts win in first night of preliminaries |publisher=Associated Press|date=2004-07-13]Miss USA
In April 2006, Edwards returned to the pageant stage, winning the Miss
North Miami USA title, a preliminary for Miss Florida USA. Edwards competed for the Miss Florida USA 2007 title on15 July ,2006 , winning the title and becoming the third Miss Florida to win the Miss Florida USA crown. [cite news|title=Jenna Edwards of North Miami is next Miss Florida USA |publisher=Associated Press|date=2006-07-15] She represented Florida at theMiss USA pageant held at theKodak Theatre inLos Angeles, California onMarch 23 ,2007 , but did not place.Edwards passed on the Miss Florida USA title to
Jessica Rafalowski on14 July ,2007 .Queen for a Day
Edwards is well known for starting the charity "Queen for a Day", for which she won the Miss America Overall Community Service award. Queen for a Day is a
non-profit organization founded in 2000 that is dedicated to helping young cancer sufferers, allowing them to dress up and crowning them "Queen for a Day". The organisation aims to encourage local communities to host party days for girls with cancer. [cite news|url=http://www.clarionledger.com/news/0402/07/m09.html|title=Queen for a Day:Church group gives cancer patients tiaras|publisher=Jackson Clarion-Ledger|date=2004-02-07|accessdate=2007-02-22|first=Gloria|last=Butler Baldwin] It has been featured on "The Oprah Winfrey Show " [cite news|title=Interview: Surprise your angel; panelists receive surprises from people who consider them their angels |publisher=The Oprah Winfrey Show|date=2002-04-01] and in "People" Magazine (March 2002) and won theFord Motor Company 's "Commitment to Kids" Award in 2001.References
External links
* [http://www.missflorida.org Miss Florida website]
* [http://missamerica.org/competition-info/state-contestants.asp?state=Florida&year=2004&GO=GO%21 Miss Florida 2004 official profile]
* [http://www.missfloridausa.com/ Official Miss Florida USA website]
* [http://www.missusa.com/ Official Miss USA website]
* [http://www.jennaedwards.net Official web site]
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