Shawnae Jebbia

Pageant titleholder bio
photo=
title=Miss Massachusetts USA 1998, Miss USA 1998
nationalcompetition=Miss USA 1998 (winner)
location= California, U.S.
birthname=Shawnae Jebbia
nationality=American
birth = birth date and age|1971|9|13
ethnicity= Shawnae Jebbia (born September 13, 1971) is an entertainer and former beauty queen from Mansfield, Massachusetts who won the Miss USA title in 1998.

Jebbia won the Miss Massachusetts USA title in 1997, in her first attempt at a pageant title. [cite news|title=Mansfield woman wins Miss Massachusetts USA crown|publisher=Associated Press|date=1997-08-31] She went on to represent Massachusetts in the Miss USA 1998 pageant, becoming that state's first Miss USA winner. [cite news|title=Miss Massachusetts crowned new Miss USA |publisher=Associated Press|date=1998-03-11] Whilst Jebbia had little prior experience, her first runner-up Shauna Gambill had previously held the Miss Teen USA 1994 title. Jebbia's "sister" titleholder, Miss Massachusetts Teen USA 1998 Susie Castillo, went on to hold the Miss Massachusetts USA title and became Massachusett's second Miss USA titleholder in 2003.

Jebbia then competed at the Miss Universe 1998 pageant later that year. High scores in evening gown and in the swimsuit competition advanced her to the final 5 but after the interview round she was did not make the final 3 finalists. [cite news|title=And the Miss Universe crown goes to. . . |publisher=Boston Globe|first=Suzanne|last=Ryan|date=1998-05-13] The winner was Wendy Fitzwilliam of Trinidad and Tobago, who Jebbia lived and made appearances with during her reign.

Jebbia grew up in Sonoma County, California and lived in Sebastopol, California for six years. [cite news|title=Ex-Local Takes on the Universe|publisher=The Press Democrat|page=B1|date=1998-05-04|first=Miriam|last=Silver] She received a degree in Communications from Jacksonville University and graduated cum laude on an athletic scholarship.cite news|title=In Defense of our Miss USA|publisher=The Boston Globe|date=1998-04-16|first=Suzanne|last=Ryan] She has appeared on television and film, including a stint on the ESPN2 exercise program "Co-ed Training" prior to winning Miss USA. [cite news|title=Mansfield woman eyes USA crown|publisher=Worcester Telegram & Gazette|date=1997-09-01|first=Mary Anne|last=Magiera|page=A3] After experiencing a hearing impairment Jebbia moved out of the entertainment industry and is currently studying towards a Masters degree in nursing. [cite web|publisher=Shawnae Jebbia|title=Shawnae Jebbia, Miss USA 1998 Dancing With the Stars tape submission|url=http://youtube.com/watch?v=a5PSYK_Azpo|accessdate=2008-05-19] She has acted as the spokesperson for the Natura hearing aid. [cite news|title=High-tech hearing aids changed their lives, and users sound off with praise|first=Carey|last=Hamilton|publisher=The Salt Lake Tribune|page=B5|date=2004-04-02]

References

External links

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Miss Universe Organization titleholders
Year=1998
Miss Universe=Wendy Fitzwilliam
Miss USA=Shawnae Jebbia
Miss Teen USA=Vanessa Minnillo