Jenna Edwards

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Jenna Edwards
Beauty pageant titleholder
Birth name: Jenna Edwards
Birthdate: July 29, 1981 (age 25)
Birth location:
Clinton, Mississippi
Eye color: Blue
Hair color: Brown
Title(s): Miss Florida 2004
Miss Florida USA 2007
Major Competition(s): Miss America 2005
Miss USA 2007

Jenna Edwards (born July 29, 1981) is a beauty queen from Miami, Florida who has held the titles Miss Florida and Miss Florida USA. Edwards represented Florida at the Miss America 2005 pageant and will represent Florida at the Miss USA 2007 pageant.

Edwards grew up in Clinton, Mississippi and graduated from Central Hinds Academy in 1999. After spending two years at Mississippi College, she transferred to the University of Miami, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Studies and English Literature. 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. 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 titleholder Shandi Finnessey.

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[edit] 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.[1] Her first runner-up was Shannon Schambeau who would later become Miss District of Columbia 2005.

Edwards represented Florida in the Miss America 2005 pageant broadcast live from Atlantic City, New Jersey in September 2007. She did not place in the nationally televised pageant, but did win a preliminary swimsuit award.

[edit] 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 on 15 July 2006, winning the title and becoming the third Miss Florida to win the Miss Florida USA crown. She will represent Florida at the Miss USA pageant held at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, California on March 23, 2007.

[edit] 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. The organisation aims to encourage local communities to host party days for girls with cancer.[2] It has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show and in People Magazine (March 2002) and won the Ford Motor Company's "Commitment to Kids" Award in 2001.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Thompson, Jamie. "22 years of practice pays off", St Petersburg Times, 2004-06-27. Retrieved on 2007-02-02.
  2. ^ Butler Baldwin, Gloria. "Queen for a Day:Church group gives cancer patients tiaras", Jackson Clarion-Ledger, 2004-02-07. Retrieved on 2007-02-22.

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Cristin Duren
Miss Florida USA
2007
Succeeded by
Incumbent
Miss USA 2007 | State Delegates
AL: Rebecca Moore | AK: Blair Chenoweth | AZ: Courtney Barnas | AR: Kelly George | CA: Meagan Tandy | CO: Keena Bonella | CT: Melanie Mudry | DE: Nicole Bosso | DC: Mercedes Lindsay | FL: Jenna Edwards | GA: Brittany Swann | HI: Chanel Wise | ID: Amanda Rammell | IL: Mia Heaston | IN: Jami Stallings | IA: Dani Reeves | KS: Cara Gorges | KY: Michelle Banzer | LA: Elizabeth McNulty | ME: Erin Good | MD: MichaƩ Holloman | MA: Despina Delios | MI: Kelly Best | MN: Alla Ilushka | MS: Jalin Wood | MO: Amber Seyer | MT: Stephanie Trudeau | NE: Geneice Wilcher | NV: Helen Salas | NH: Laura Silva | NJ: Erin Abrahamson | NM: Casey Messer | NY: Gloria Almonte | NC: Erin O'Kelley | ND: Rachel Mathson | OH: Anna Melomud | OK: Caitlin Simmons | OR: Sharitha McKenzie | PA: Samantha Johnson | RI: Danielle Lacourse | SC: Ashley Zais | SD: Suzie Heffernan | TN: Rachel Smith | TX: Magen Ellis | UT: Heather Anderson | VT: Jessica Comolli | VA: Lauren Barnette | WA: LeiLani Jones | WV: Kasey Montgomery | WI: Caitlin Morrall | WY: Robyn Johnson