| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
| Born | Kimberly Clarice Aiken October 11, 1975 Columbia, South Carolina United States |
|---|---|
| Hair color | Black |
| Eye color | Brown |
| Title(s) | Miss Columbia, SC Miss South Carolina 1994 Miss America 1994 |
| Major competition(s) |
Miss America 1994 (winner) |
Kimberly Clarice Aiken Cockerham (born October 11, 1975 in Columbia, South Carolina) was Miss America 1994.[1] Aiken was 18 years old when she won the coveted title, and was only the fifth woman of African descent to be crowned. She won Miss Columbia and Miss South Carolina en route to her 1994 Miss America crown.
Kimberly's pageant coach was CB Mathis of CB's Limited in Lancaster, SC.[2]
Aiken used the plight of the homeless as her platform. Her year of service as Miss America helped generate public awareness about homelessness and brought a better public understanding of this significant social dilemma. Aiken has made numerous television appearances and was once recognized by People Magazine as one of the "Fifty Most Beautiful People in the World".
She was initiated as a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority at Epsilon Tau Chapter. After graduating from New York University, Aiken pursued a career in public accounting with Ernst & Young LLP, one of the Big Four accounting firms. Today, she is an image consultant and motivational speaker. A professional speaker for nearly ten years, she entertains and inspires audiences with her programs, using her varied experiences and sharing stories of overcoming obstacles, such as brain surgery. She is also a regular columnist for Pageantry Magazine, as well as a wife and mother.
She is the daughter of Valerie and Charles Aiken of Columbia, SC, and the cousin of Josef Bookert. She married Haven Cockerham and has two children.
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