| "> | | | | USA Universe 1985 title, she was considered by many |
| Chelsy Smith | | | | experts to be the United States' greatest foreign-born |
| Did you know- America's Chelsy Smith, a black girl, | | | | beauty queen. At the beginning of 1985, She, Miss |
| became the first woman from Texas to win the MU | | | | Texas, had won the national title in Lakeland, |
| trophy in the mid-90s. Smith's triumph was all more | | | | Florida.After winning the nation's top beauty contest, |
| stunning because it happened in Namibia, the youngest | | | | she competed at the 33rd Miss Universe Pageant in |
| nation in the last decade of the 20th century. An | | | | Miami Beach, FL. Since the onset of the international |
| African elephant was one of the international prizes | | | | event, Miss United States 1985 was one of the |
| that Namibia gave to Miss USA & Miss Universe | | | | pre-pageant favorites, along with other candidates |
| 1995. After meeting with Namibia's Head of State Sam | | | | such as Sylvia Martinez (Venezuela's delegate), |
| Nujoma, an ex Marxist guerrilla in the 1970s and 1980s, | | | | Teresa Sanchez (Spain's contestant) Julia Mora (El |
| she traveled to America. During the course of her | | | | Salvador's delegate) and Sandra Borda Caldas |
| reign, she visited a host of cities, including Taipei | | | | (Colombia). Venezuela's Martinez had won the Miss |
| (Taiwan), Lima (Peru), and Tokyo (Japan). Smith was | | | | South America title in Lima, Peru. In the final, Miss |
| one of the few female black to win the Miss Universe. | | | | Martinez-Herring was selected among the 10 best |
| San Antonio | | | | delegates of the Miss Universe. From then on, she has |
| Did you know- By 2003, San Antonio hosted the Miss | | | | inspired a number of beauty queens in Texas: From |
| USA Pageant. Meanwhile, Nicole O'Brian, the host | | | | Christy Crane Fitchner and Michelle Renee Royer to |
| delegate, was second runner-up. | | | | Kandace Krueger and Crystle Stewart. By the late |
| Laura Shaw | | | | 1990s, she became an actress. Since then, she has |
| Did you know- Miss Texas Universe 1984, Laura | | | | been involved in many films such as "The Alamo: |
| Shaw, did not even make the semi-finals in the Miss | | | | Thirteen Days to Glory" (1987), "Beauty and the Beast" |
| United States Pageant, but won the Miss Photogenic | | | | (1988), "Alien Nation" (1989), "The Forbidden Dance" |
| trophy. | | | | (1990), "Exit to Eden" (1994), "Flipper" (1995), "Frasier" |
| Texas | | | | (1998), "Rabbits" (2002), and "The Punisher" (2004). |
| Did you know- Texas won the Miss USA Universe | | | | Elizabeth LuAnn Caughey |
| Contest for the five straight time in the 80s. That was | | | | Did you know- Miss Texas, Elizabeth LuAnn Caughey, |
| a huge deal in this pageant-mad state. In addition to | | | | became first runner-up at the 1982 Miss USA and then |
| this, it boasted four other Miss USA trophies: 1977, | | | | she represented her country at the Miss World in |
| 1995, 2001, and 2008, making it the America's leading | | | | London, England. In the United Kingdom, she came in |
| producer of beauty queens. | | | | seventh place. Curiously, Miss Texas Lisa Gayle Allred, |
| El Paso | | | | Caughey's successor, finished second in Miss United |
| Did you know- On March 1, 1988, the Miss United | | | | States Universe 1983. During the event, Allred, the |
| States Pageant was held in El Paso, TX. | | | | heavy favorite to win the American contest, won the |
| Laura Martinez Herring | | | | Miss Photogenic Award. She also competed in the |
| Did you know- When the Mexican-born American | | | | Miss World 1983, where was one of seven finalists. |
| student Laura Elena Martinez-Herring won the Miss | | | | |