In the first week of her reign , she also adopted a secondary platform for sexual abstinence . The Washington Times suggested that pageant officials demonstrated a liberal bias when they allowed Miss America 1998 Kate Shindle , whose platform was HIV prevention , to advocate condom distribution and needle exchange during her time as Miss America . On October 8 , 2002 , Harold gave a speech at the National Press Club in Washington during which she stated that she would talk about sexual abstinence and that she " will not be bullied " into dropping the topic from her platform . Thirty-eight members of Congress sent her a letter of support , encouraging her to press on with her " healthy message of abstinence until marriage . " During her time as Miss America , Harold interacted with legislators and testified before Congress on bullying and abstinence , which provided her with additional motivation to pursue a political career
Miss America 1998
Miss America 1998
Erika Harold