Marjorie Judith Vincent is an American journalist and former beauty contestant who was crowned Miss America 1991.
Marjorie Vincent | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Alma mater | DePaul University Duke University Florida Coastal School of Law |
| Occupation | Broadcast journalism |
| Title | Miss Illinois 1990 Miss America 1991 |
| Predecessor | Debbye Turner |
| Successor | Carolyn Sapp |
| Spouse |
Wesley Tripp (m. 2006) |
| Children | 1 |
Early life and education
editVincent's parents, Lucien and Florence Vincent of Cap-Haïtien, Haiti migrated to the United States in the early 1960s; Marjorie was the first of their children to be born in the United States.[1] She grew up in Oak Park, Illinois, attending Catholic school and taking ballet and piano lessons. Vincent entered DePaul University as a music major, switching to business in junior year and graduating in 1988. Winnings from beauty pageants helped to pay her schooling.[2]
Pageantry
editAfter two unsuccessful pageant tries, at Miss North Carolina and Miss Illinois,[3] she won Miss Illinois, allowing her to advance to Miss America. At the Miss America pageant, she performed the Fantaisie-Impromptu (Op. posth. 66) by Chopin, won the crown, and became Miss America 1991 on 7 September 1990, succeeding Debbye Turner.[2][4] Her win marked the first occasion in which there were back-to-back African American Miss America winners.[5] Vincent was the last Miss America to be serenaded by Bert Parks.
Career
editVincent, who already had two years in law school at Duke University before becoming Miss America, changed her goal from international law to television journalism, becoming a news anchor at WGBC in Meridian, Mississippi in October 1993.[3][6] She later worked at WHOI in Peoria, Illinois and the Ohio News Network in Columbus, Ohio.[citation needed]
Vincent completed her J.D. degree at Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville, Florida.[7] She's been admitted to the Florida Bar since 2011 and previously worked for the Office of the Attorney General in Daytona Beach, Florida. She currently works as an ADA in Alabama
Personal life
editVincent has a son, Cameron, who was born in 1994.[1] She married Wesley Tripp in November 2006.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b Tauber, Michelle; Neill, Mike; Russell, Lisa; Fowler, Joanne; Dam, Julie; Tresniowski, Alex; Miller, Samantha; Dougherty, Steve; Yu, Ting (October 16, 2000). "American Beauties: 80 Years". People.
- ^ a b Burgess, Marjorie. "Marjorie Judith Vincent". Contemporary Black Biography. Gale Group, Inc.
- ^ a b Haynes, Karima A. (January 1994). "Miss America: from Vanessa Williams to Kimberly Aiken". Ebony. Chicago: Johnson Publishing Company. Retrieved 31 August 2009.
- ^ Libman, Norma (August 25, 1991). "Year of Living as Miss America Offers an Education in Life". The Chicago Tribune.
- ^ a b "Marjorie Vincent (1964- ) •". 28 May 2010.
- ^ "Marjorie Vincent, former Miss America, named TV anchor in Meridian, MS - for NBC-affiliate WGBC-TV". Jet. Chicago: Johnson Publishing Company. 6 December 1993. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved 31 August 2009.
- ^ "Coastal Law's Black Law Students Association earns National Acclaim" (Press release). Jacksonville, Florida: Florida Coastal School of Law. 13 February 2009. Retrieved 31 August 2009.