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The Panelists are Debbye Turner Bell, Miss America 1990, Debbye Turner Bell, Miss America 1990 and Katie Stam Irk, Miss America 2009
Co-Hosts Nina Davuluri, Miss America 2014 and Ericka Dunlap, Miss America 2004

FORMER MISS AMERICAS TO SERVE AS CO-HOSTS AND PANELISTS FOR THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY MISS AMERICA COMPETITION DECEMBER 16 ON NBC UNIVERSAL'S STREAMING SERVICE, PEACOCK

UNCASVILLE, CONN. (December 15, 2021) – The Miss America Organization, whose mission is to prepare great women for the world and the world for great women, today announced that Forever Miss Americas Nina Davuluri and Ericka Dunlap will co-host its 100th Anniversary Miss America Competition, taking place on Thursday, December 16 at 8:00PM ET at the award-winning 10,000-seat Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.  Forever Miss Americas Heather French Henry, Katie Stam Irk and Debbye Turner Bell will serve as panelists during the final night of the competition, which will stream live across all time zones on NBCUniversal’s streaming service, Peacock. 
Fifty outstanding women are competing for the job of Miss America 2022 and over $435,500 in scholarships, including a record $100,000 scholarship for the winner. On Thursday night, only one of the fifty women competing will be crowned by reigning Miss America, Camille Schrier, and will walk away with a six-figure salary and $100,000 in scholarship assistance. 
“As we planned our 100th Miss America Anniversary competition, we felt who better to honor and celebrate the heritage of this iconic institution than the amazing women who have actually held the title,” said Shantel Krebs, Miss America Organization Board Chair and Interim President and CEO.  “We are excited to have our Forever Miss Americas join us as co-hosts and panelists as they truly understand the hard work and commitment that each of these incredible young women have put in over the past year as they prepare for our final night of competition and the official title of Miss America 2022.” 

The Forever Miss America co-hosts for the 100th Anniversary Miss America Competition are:  

Nina Davuluri, Miss America 2014

<p>Nina Davuluri is an acclaimed filmmaker, activist, actor and entrepreneur. She first gained international recognition by becoming the first Indian American and South Asian to become Miss America in 2014. Her most recent venture combines the network she has cultivated, her love for advocacy, and disrupting global beauty standards by producing her new documentary, #COMPLEXion. Since serving as Miss America 2014, Nina has traveled around the world to address an array of audiences on her platform: “Celebrating Diversity through Cultural Competency.”  As part of her consciousness-raising efforts on behalf of diversity, Nina also launched a social media campaign, #CirclesOfUnity, to encourage constructive and civil dialogue on diversity issues. Through her social media channels, Nina asks people to share “representative thoughts and stories about their experiences on how we as a nation can advance cultural awareness.” </p>

Ericka Dunlap, Miss America 2004

Ericka Dunlap is an award-winning Public Relations Strategist, Entrepreneur, Community Advocate, TV Show Host, Amazing Racer and also known as Miss America 2004. Her accomplishments during her year of service as Miss America have inspired leaders in education, government and business to refer to her wisdom as a trusted advisor, board member and motivator. For over 15 years, she has delivered numerous keynote addresses, commencement speeches and workshops on the topics of Self-Care, Etiquette, Diversity & Inclusion and Cultural Competency. Ericka has used her platform and range of experiences to create valuable opportunities for individuals and organizations as a devoted Coach, Mentor and Role Model.

The Forever Miss America panelists for the 100th Anniversary Miss America Competition are:

Heather French Henry, Miss America 2000

Heather is a nationally renowned advocate for military veterans and a professional media specialist.  During her year as Miss America 2000, she worked with the Whitehouse and members of Congress and Senate to create landmark legislation to provide more funding and healthcare for homeless veterans and women veterans. For over 20 years, Heather has continued her work for veterans. She is the only woman to have served as the Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Affairs for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, serving under two Governors. She and her husband, former Lt. Governor Dr. Stephen Henry, founded the Rosemary Clooney Museum in partnership with Paramount Studios which houses the beloved White Christmas Movie Costume Collection.  She is now working to curate and preserve the 100th Anniversary Miss America Collection. Professionally, Heather is the Vice President of Media Training for the Brielle Cotterman Group, specializing in media strategy for women entrepreneurs.

Katie Stam Irk, Miss America 2009

Katie Stam Irk was crowned the first and only Miss America from the state of Indiana in 2009. Since passing on the title, Katie continues to travel on her national speaking tour as an advocate, host, branding professional, author, and performer; primarily focusing on agriculture, faith, and service. In December 2017, Katie started her own publishing company called Esther Press Publishing. She released her first piece, Merely Moving Shadows in April 2018. Merely Moving Shadows is a 10-week devotional guide and can be found online at www.merelymovingshadows.com.  Katie grew up on a dairy farm in southern Indiana and continues her work full-time in the agriculture industry as the Director of Marketing and Communications for CGB AgriFinancial. Katie and her husband Brian live in Fishers, Ind., and have three beautiful children: Charlotte (8), Rose (6), and Wrigley (5).  

Debbye Turner Bell, Miss America 1990

Dr. Debbye Turner Bell is a veterinarian, author, journalist, corporate trainer, minister, motivational speaker, wife, and mother. Since being crowned Miss America in 1990, Turner Bell has spoken to millions of students at countless schools, youth organizations and college campuses, addressing topics such as personal excellence, determination, goal setting and the importance of a solid education. Turner Bell’s beliefs reflect her own life-lessons – it took seven years and eleven tries in two states before she was crowned Miss America. For 11 years, Turner Bell enjoyed her role in broadcast journalism as a staff correspondent for CBS News starting in 2001. She served as the lead U.S. news anchor for Arise News, a global cable news network from 2013 to 2016 and can currently be seen as an expert contributor to the show DOGS 101 on Animal Planet.  In addition to her speaking and media work, Dr. Turner Bell is the Founder and CEO of Debbye Turner Bell Consulting, through which she provides leadership development training in communications, influence, and diversity to corporate and business leaders, managers, and executives. 
For more information, tickets and other purchases that help support Miss America candidates and their educational endeavors, visit missamerica.org. To watch the final night of the Miss America competition, sign up for FREE by visiting peacocktv.com or by downloading the Peacock TV app on your Smart TV, mobile device or tablet. More information can be found here.  
 
ABOUT THE MISS AMERICA ORGANIZATION 
The Miss America Organization, a 501(c) (4), is one of the most recognizable household names in America working to empower young women through education and service. The Miss America Organization is comprised of 51 licensed state organizations, including all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The organization awards more than five million dollars in cash scholarships each year and millions more in-kind per year through national, state, and local programs. For more information, visit https://www.missamerica.org.

To schedule an interview with Miss America 2022 or Miss America Organization Board Chair and Interim CEO Shantel Krebs, please contact Stacy Aboyoun (973-632-1576) or Nicolette Fossetta (973-879-5092) or missamerica@bmlpr.com.

Follow “The Miss America Organization” on social media 
 
Facebook: @missamerica 
Twitter: @MissAmericaOrg 
Instagram: @missamerica 
Official website: www.MissAmerica.org&nbsp;
Hashtag: #MissAmerica 
 

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