In 1985 , Miss Utah 1984 , Sharlene Wells Hawkes , became the first foreign-born , bilingual Miss America , as she was born in Asunción , Paraguay . Miss Alabama 1994 , Heather Whitestone , won the 1995 pageant becoming the first deaf Miss America ( she lost most of her hearing at the age of 18 months ) . At the Miss America 1999 pageant held on September 19 , 1998 , Nicole Johnson ( Miss Virginia 1998 ) became the first Miss America with diabetes and the first contestant to publicize an insulin pump . Around the same time , Miss America officials announced they had lifted the ban on contestants who were divorced or had had an abortion . This rule change , however , was rescinded and Miss America CEO Robert L. Beck , who had suggested it , was fired . Angela Perez Baraquio , Miss Hawaii 2000 , was crowned Miss America 2001 , thereby becoming the first Asian-American , the first Filipino-American , as well as the first teacher ever to win the pageant
Miss America 1999
Miss America 1999
Miss America