Herlong participated in a local beauty pageant while she was in the high school . After taking first place , she continued to participate in the beauty pageant titles , eventually becoming Miss South Carolina at age 23 and then going on to compete in the nationwide Miss America pageant . She attended Columbia College in South Carolina . Herlong begin speaking to students at local schools , which inspired her to create her first musical motivational program
Miss America pageant
Miss America 1980
Jane Herlong