This week’s threads are going to highlight the world of beauty pageant winners. I haven’t watched one in years, but over the past few years, there have been a ton of black beauty pageant contestants crowned winners for several different titles.
Caressa Cameron-Jackson (born August 4, 1987) is an American beauty pageant titleholder who was Miss Virginia 2009 and Miss America 2010. She is the eighth African American Miss America, the first African-American Miss Virginia to be crowned Miss America, and the first African American Miss America to win the title with a sitting African American president.
Cameron’s teen years were difficult and she was bullied at school. After the reigning Miss Virginia spoke at her school, Cameron decided to become involved in pageants. She is a graduate of Massaponax High School. and Virginia Commonwealth University. Additionally, Cameron attended and graduated from Barbizon Modeling and Acting School in Virginia in 2002.
Cameron won the Miss Virginia title on June 28, 2009, having previously competed for that title three times. In prior competitions, she was first runner-up in 2008. Due to her first runner-up placement at Miss Virginia 2008, she qualified for National Sweetheart pageant. She placed fourth runner-up at National Sweetheart 2008. She was also second runner-up in 2007 and 2006. She was 2nd runner-up to Amber Copley at Miss Virginia USA 2006. In addition to competing at Miss Virginia USA, Cameron placed 2nd runner-up to Tori Hall at Miss Virginia Teen USA 2005.
On January 27, 2010, she won a $2,000 scholarship in winning the Preliminary Talent competition in vocal pop.On January 30, 2010, Cameron won the Miss America 2010 Pageant held at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, Nevada
Caressa traveled over 250,000 miles during her year of service championing her personal platform, Real Talk: AIDS in America and has spoken to over 80,000 students across the country about healthy choices. For her efforts, Caressa was the recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award and a Congressional Honor.
An accomplished vocalist and talent award winner at Miss America, Caressa was honored to perform during the 2009 Presidential Inauguration festivities, the 2010 White House Christmas Tree lighting and more.
Cameron wed her high school sweetheart, Nathaniel Bernard Jackson Jr., (a graduate of Virginia Military Institute) on December 2, 2012. They welcomed their first child Tres on June 27, 2016. They reside in Locust Grove, Virginia where she works as a development consultant for various non-profits throughout the Washington D.C. area.