Susan Powell

Susan Powell is an American actress, singer, and television personality known for becoming Miss America in 1981.

Susan Powell was born and raised in Elk City, Oklahoma, attending Oklahoma City University where she studied voice under Florence Birdwell in the opera and musical theater departments, participating in summer stock at Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma. After first being crowned Miss Oklahoma, Powell won the 1981 national competition, being named Miss America in September 1980.

After her one year reign, Powell embarked on a life-long singing career which has taken her from the Seattle Opera to the New York City Opera to the New Japan Philharmonic. She has sung as a soloist for John Williams and the Boston Pops and many other symphony orchestras, but also appeared in operas and musicals around the country.

In 1993, Powell premiered "Home Matters", a series on The Discovery Channel she hosted for nine seasons. Powell continues to tour and lecture, continuing to assist in local preliminary Miss America contests, and judging the 2007 pageant. In 2002, she was recognized by the Oklahoma Hall of Fame as an Ambassador of Good Will from the state for the second time, the first such recognition occurring in 1981.

References

* [http://www.missamerica.org/our-miss-americas/1980/1981.asp Official biography] at [http://www.missamerica.org/ Miss America website]
*imdb|1226273