Nicole Johnson (Miss America)
Nicole Johnson | |
|---|---|
 Nicole Johnson signing autographs at the Miss America 2008 pageant | |
| Born | January 9, 1974 St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of South Florida Regent University University of Pittsburgh |
| Occupation | National Director |
| Employer | Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation |
| Title | Miss Lynchburg Festival 1998 Miss Virginia 1998 Miss America 1999 |
| Predecessor | Katherine Shindle |
| Successor | Heather French |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 1 |
| Website | www |
Nicole Johnson (born January 9, 1974)[1] is an American beauty queen, author, public health professional and activist. Crowned Miss America 1999 and Miss Virginia 1998, she became the first Miss America with diabetes and the first contestant to publicize the use of an insulin pump.[2][3] She now advocates for diabetes research, treatment, and education, having been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1993.
Education[]
Johnson holds a B.A. in English from the University of South Florida and an M.A. in journalism from the School of Communication & the Arts at Regent University in Virginia.[4] She also has a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Pittsburgh gained in 2007. In 2013, Johnson received a Doctor of Public Health degree from the University of South Florida.
Pageantry[]
Early pageantry[]
Johnson first started competing in pageants in Florida and placed in the Top 10 at Miss Florida in 1995 and was third runner-up in the Miss Florida USA 1995 pageant. After moving to Virginia to pursue post-graduate education at Regent University she continued competing and placed in the top ten at Miss Virginia 1997.[5][6]
Miss Virginia 1998[]
In March 1998 she won the Miss Lynchburg Festival title and went on to win the Miss Virginia 1998 title on June 29, 1998.[6]
Miss America 1999[]
In September Johnson represented Virginia in the Miss America 1999 pageant, becoming the second woman representing that state to win the Miss America title.[4][7] She sang "That's Life" in the talent competition.[4] In 1997 she started wearing an insulin pump on her hip to control her illness, which she wore while competing at Miss Virginia and Miss America, the first Miss America contestant and winner to do so.[6][8][9][10]
Diabetes activism[]
Johnson became a spokesperson for the American Diabetes Association in the 1990s and had testified in legislative hearings in Washington, D.C. prior to winning the Miss Virginia title.[8]
In 2004, her communication skills and journalism background led her to become the anchor of dLife, a weekly TV series about diabetes that aired on CNBC. Johnson has also written several books over her career: three cookbooks with Mr. Food, an independent cookbook titled, Nicole Johnson's Diabetes Recipe Makeovers, an autobiography titled Living with Diabetes, and a book for young adults titled, Young Adult Type 1 Diabetes Realities.
She continues to work as a diabetes advocate and patient care expert - professionally and in a volunteer capacity. Her consulting clients have included Novo Nordisk, Animas Corporation, AmMed Direct LLC and Eli Lilly and Company. On a volunteer basis, she has served in leadership roles within the JDRF and the American Diabetes Association. Her academic credentials have most recently led her to public health work at the University of South Florida where she is the Executive Director of a program she created called Bringing Science Home. In 2010, Johnson founded Students With Diabetes (SWD), at the University of South Florida, to serve the needs of the young adult population with diabetes.
Personal life[]
Johnson was briefly engaged to investment banker Conn Jackson in 2000.[11]
In 2003, Johnson married journalist Scott Baker.[12] The couple met in the mid-90s at a seminar Baker held for college students interested in news careers.[12] Together the couple had a daughter.[citation needed] Johnson and Baker later divorced in 2008.[citation needed]
Acting[]
Prior to her participation in 1995 Miss Florida pageant, she appeared in a supporting part in the independent Australian film, No Worries (1994), directed by David Elfick.[13] In 1997, she had a minor cameo part as an extra in Neil LaBute's In the Company of Men.[14] She later appeared in a supporting role in the independent horror film, Blood Games (2003).
Filmography[]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | No Worries | Lisa | |
| 1997 | Anita Liberty | Make-out Queen | Short film |
| 1997 | In the Company of Men | Extra | |
| 2003 | Blood Games | Lucy Nightingale | |
| 2008 | dLife | Herself (host) | Television series |
References[]
- ^ "Meet Miss Virginia 1998 Nicole Johnson". Miss America Organisation. 1998. Archived from the original on April 23, 1999.
- ^ "A Crown, Scepter & Insulin Pump The New Miss America, Nicole Johnson, Has Drawn Attention To The Device, Which Frees Diabetics From The Strict Scheduling Of Conventional Insulin Regimens. - Philly.com". Articles.philly.com. October 5, 1998. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
- ^ Kaplan-Mayer, Gabrielle (2003). Insulin Pump Therapy Demystified: An Essential Guide for Everyone Pumping. Marlowe & Co. ISBN 0-7867-3068-4. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Curran, John (September 19, 1998). "Miss Virginia Nicole Johnson wins Miss America pageant". Times Daily.
- ^ "Device helps Miss Lynchburg to stay competitive". The Free Lance-Star. June 28, 1998.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Associated Press (June 29, 1998). "Diabetic Crowned Miss VA". The Free Lance-Star.
- ^ Curran, John (September 21, 1998). "New Miss America 'Never Gave Up'". The Free Lance-Star.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Virginian wins Miss America pageant". Chicago Tribune. September 20, 1998. Retrieved September 19, 2009.
- ^ "The Reliable Source". The Washington Post.
- ^ Kaplan-Mayer, G.; Scheiner, G. (2009). Insulin Pump Therapy Demystified: An Essential Guide for Everyone Pumping Insulin. Da Capo Press, Incorporated. p. 43. ISBN 9780786730681. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Owen, Rob (August 9, 2003). "The anchorman and the beauty queen". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- ^ Murray, Scott; Raffaele Caputo, and Alissa Tanskaya (1995). Australian Film, 1978-1994: A Survey of Theatrical Features. Oxford University Press. p. 366. ISBN 978-0-195-53777-2.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
- ^ "In the Company of Men (1997)". Turner Classic Movies. Rovi. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nicole Johnson. |
- Miss America winners
- Miss America 1999 delegates
- Miss Virginia winners
- 1974 births
- Living people
- University of South Florida alumni
- University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health alumni
- Regent University alumni
- People from Atlanta
- People from Seminole, Florida
- People with type 1 diabetes