BY REON CARTER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
ATLANTIC CITY -- Miss Virginia Nicole Johnson, 24, was crowned Miss America 1999 Saturday night at Atlantic City Convention Hall.
Before a cheering crowd decked in enough bangles and beads to blind the 51 contestants on stage, she accepted her crystal scepter and tiara, strolled down the runway and into an on-air press conference. The nationally televised program, hosted by Monday Night Football sportscaster and former Bengal Boomer Esiason and Meredith Vieira, moderator of ABC's The View, featured an MTV-style video and clips of the contestants taped in their hometowns.
Miss Johnson sang "That's Life" and wore a two-piece blue suit during the swimsuit competition. During the on-stage question segment, she talked about being an insulin-dependent diabetic. Diabetes awareness will be her platform during her year of service First runner-up and winner of a $30,000 scholarship was Miss North Carolina Kelli Bradshaw, 22.
Second runner-up and winner of $20,000 was Miss Florida Lissette Gonzalez, 22.
Miss Missouri Deborah McDonald, 24, third runner-up, will receive $15,000 and Miss Kentucky Chera-Lyn Cook, 21, fourth runner-up will receive $10,000.
Miss Cook, a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University, won one of three preliminary talent competitions this week singing "When A Man Loves A Woman."
Miss Indiana Julianne Hackney, 20, of Vincennes was among the top 10 semifinalists.
Miss Ohio Cheya Watkins, 21, of Evendale did not make the first cut. Miss Watkins was embroiled in controversy this week after allegations surfaced that she might have misrepresented her educational background. Leonard Horn, the CEO of the Miss America Organization, said Friday she could continue in the competition, because the inquiry was ongoing. Judges were told not to consider the allegations when scoring.
The remaining semifinalists were Miss District of Columbia Nicole Messina, 23; Miss Oklahoma Julie Payne, 23; Miss Alaska Joslyn Tinker, 22, and Miss Arkansas Erin Wheatley, 22. Each will receive $8,000.
Miss Johnson receives a $40,000 scholarship and more than $100,000 fees during her 20,000 mile-a-month national speaking tour.
The audience was filled with Miss America wannabes of all ages, rhinestone crowns perched atop their heads and satin sashes draped from one shoulder.
Leslie Taylor, 16, Teen Chesterfield Supreme Queen, and her friend Heather Geddis, 18, Teen Miss Chesterfield, have traveled to Atlantic from Virginia to see the show for the past four years. "It's so glamorous and exciting," said Leslie, who has competed in 40 pageants. "This is the most awesome pageant of them all. It's like training to be here, because I want to be Miss America someday."
