Miss Oklahoma Awarded Miss America 1996 Crown

Miss Oklahoma Shawntel Smith got the birthday present many young girls only dream about Saturday: She was crowned Miss America.

Smith blew kisses to the crowd, mouthed thanks to the judges and blinked back tears after her name was announced. “I don’t believe this,” she appeared to say before Heather Whitestone pinned the crown on her shimmering red hair.

“I could not have gotten a better birthday present than this,” she said later.

She said her victory would mean much to Oklahomans still recovering from the April 19 bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City.

“I’d like to take the opportunity to tell everyone in the United States, thank you so much for coming together in a time of need in my state. We received so much support and so many prayers from other people around the nation,” Smith said.

Miss Oregon Emily John Orton was first-runner up, followed by Miss Arkansas Paula Gaye Montgomery, Miss California Tiffany Stoker, and Miss Illinois Tracy Hayes.

Smith was among the contestants who supported the swimsuit competition.

“Personally, I feel the suit is modest enough that I don’t think I’m compromising any of my beliefs or values,” said Smith, adding that the tradition helps show off contestants’ physical fitness.

Smith, who turned 24 Saturday, was the first woman in her family to graduate from college. She earned a business administration degree from Northeastern State University.

In the talent competition, she sang “Woman in the Moon.”

The others in the top 10 were Miss Alabama Leigh Sherer, Miss Mississippi Monica Louwerens, Miss New York Helen Goldsby, Miss Kansas Amy Beth Keller and Miss Massachusetts Marcia Turner.

Whitestone, a ballerina from Birmingham, Ala., got an eventful 75th year started last September by becoming the first disabled Miss America. Whitestone, 22, became one of the pageant’s most popular winners.

Highlights of her tenure included two White House visits, working on the federal law for people with disabilities, and accompanying Kathie Lee Gifford in sign language as Gifford sang the National Anthem during the Super Bowl.

Whitestone, who named another Alabama native - Helen Keller - as her role model, gave motivational talks with the message “Anything Is Possible” in her travels throughout the country.

The anniversary pageant unleashed a slew of commemorative items, including new books and CD-ROMs, gathered former winners together and conducted a nationwide search for memorabilia - all in the name of celebrating the gimmicky 1921 beauty contest that evolved into an American institution.