Miss America Pageant 1990 (September 1989)

[@55hivealive3]

Seven of Nine is my all time favorite Star Trek character, Jeri hypnotizes me every time I see her perform

[@kylejohnson6867]

This is one of my favorite years for a number of reasons: Miss Missouri’s marimba is so wonderfully unexpected and entertaining; Miss Pennsylvania’s eyes are mesmerizing; Miss Maryland’s piece is brilliant; Miss Washington’s talent is beautiful, it actually sounds like rain to me (I know this isn’t the most difficult piece but sometimes that s not what’s important); and Miss Oklahoma’s talent is one of my favorite vocal performances ever, I would have loved to hear her perform this back when Glenn Osser and his orchestra was still there, I mean she has rehearsed this piece so well I think had the orchestra been live it could have compared with the best (Kiss Me In the Rain; He Touched Me; Golden Rainbow; and Happy Days are Here Again). A heartfelt thanks to each contestant for these great memories. You are all at the top of your game.

[@prodigaldrifter]

Ms. Illinois (Jeri Ryan) brought me here. After watching her in Star Trek: Voyager as Seven of Nine

[@neetrab]

OMFG!!!!!I've been looking for this video (specifically Jeri Lynn Zimmerman's performance of "On My Own"). I couldn't remember which year it was. Thought she was on around the show 92-'95 or something like that. Couldn't find her performance ANYWHERE!! My family taped this particular show on beta and haven't watched since because the beta was too old and we weren't able to view recordings on it anymore. I just remember hearing her performance and watched it over, and over, and over, and over, etc. And humming/singing the few parts that I remembered every so often from from over 30 years ago to today! Wow!! And Who knew she'd be a big star after this show??? Wow! And then when I saw her on Star Trek and other shows, I just remember saying, "OMG! It's Miss Illinois!!" Lol! This is definitely my favorite Miss America competition. I remember some of this. Miss Missouri who I thought was so deserving of the crown and of course Ms Pennsylvania who reps my state. And even "The Lady in Red" performance. Okay, okay, I'll shut up now and watch the show. Thank you SOOOOOO MUCH FOR POSTING THIS!!! Brings back so many memories!!! God, I love KZbin!! 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@pageantsheyday]

Love the irony! I felt she was pretty unforgettable in talent. Staci James Miss NV 2 years before did a better delivery when she was 2nd RU to Kaye Lani. I remember she made the press that year because she had her hair designed by some fancy man. I watched the interview tapes for that year, her's was not one of them. But CO, MD, MO were 10s!! The rest were average at best. IL won prelim swimsuit one night.

[@neetrab]

​​@@pageantsheyday I'm sure I saw the other performances from previous years. I used to watch this show religiously. This is my favorite from 1990!

[@pageantsheyday]

You have great taste, @@neetrab . The preliminary talent nights for this year are on my channel. Really amazing talents!! Some of the non-finalist winners outshined the Top 10. SC, NJ, IO, VA, GA,,,,very great performances.

[@jja8750]

@@pageantsheyday They all looked fantastic in those clips (of the 9 who scored highest in Talent, but didn't make Top 10). This makes me think that most of those women were probably very close to the 10, anyway. My goodness, I thought Virginia and Iowa were knock-outs, and the to fins that they were so good in Talent, too! Bummed that neither made the actual Top 10

[@aalflyguy1184]

All my praise to Heather Whitestone MA 1995. Was in the audience at convention center that night, nobody was going win the title night. However, WA was the FIRST contestant with a disability (hearing impaired) to compete for MA and she placed top ten!

[@emmarose4234]

Wonder if Jennifer Wall ever met Heather!!! Also, anyone know what happened to Jennifer since?

[@renegaderunner332]

She was good but Miss Virginia, Cullen Johnson, should have won that year.

[@ca22499]

I love this one so much. I can fly!

[@willnc6380]

One of the best opening of the pageant!

[@allanbrown6318]

Totally agree! My favorite opening ever!

[@figureskating2724]

Our favorite opening too. Song was awesome and used again if we remember correctly.

[@kitkeller5831]

Virginia Cha became the first finalist from my home state, and played one of my favorite pieces of music.

[@davidseay7790]

she was my pick had her and debbie 1st rup the other rups i had fight! md best talent and gown

[@gregtanner8610]

i love and adore virginia cha! that was one of the best gowns EVER and played one of my fave piano pieces. is it just me or is she not unusually large busted for an asian lady? they were lovely as well.

[@renegaderunner332]

Had she been in the following years pageant, she would have won.

[@marcco44]

my favorite miss america

[@renegaderunner332]

Mine too!

[@neetrab]

Mine three!!!

[@terriehiggins9489]

Well deserved win for Miss Missouri. She outshined them all in every area of the competition. She is now an accomplished veterinarian.

[@user-ms7ms3mt3j]

Love their big full hair

[@Tackyonetwo]

I noticed the specific greeting that Miss Colorado gave to Miss Texas during the top 10 announcement. It wasn't until the Miss Texas pageants were uploaded on KZbin that I discovered that Debbie Riecks, Miss Colorado, had previously competed at Miss Texas.

[@KennethofTroy]

...i thought the same thing. that's what's making this SO much fun!!! thanks again for sharing these gems... :D

[@Chicoandtheman]

So in 1987: Leah Kaye Lyle: 4th runner up Debbie Riecks: 3rd Runner up 1988: Debbie Riecks: 4th Runner up Leah Kaye Lyle: 1st Runner up 1989: Debbie Riecks: Miss Colorado Leah Kaye Lyle: Miss Texas Miss America: Leah Kaye Lyle: Top 10 Debbie Riecks: 2nd runner up. Fun Facts: Both held the titles of Miss Haltom Richland Area. Debbie in 88 and she crowned Leah Kaye in 89. So Debbie (Miss HRA 88) competed at Miss America against Leah who she crowned as her Miss HRA successor! Also, Miss HRA was a powerhouse local in Texas at that time with DEEP pockets and sponsorships. Every single bit of competition wardrobe you saw Debbie competing with at Miss America (all Stephen Yearick) was purchased and given to her by Miss HRA org to compete at Miss Texas 1988 the year before. As part of her winning Miss HRA 88 she got to keep her Miss Texas competition wardrobe so…she used her Miss Texas 88 competition wardrobe at Miss America! I’m sure the Texas Org was THRILLED about that. Lol

[@Tackyonetwo]

@@Chicoandtheman Interesting! Thanks!

[@jeromejackson6111]

one of the smartest Miss Americas'

[@auntiechercher4266]

Is this an awesome dance by Miss Florida or what? 43:10.

[@ca22499]

Amazing

[@jja8750]

Amazing. And do you know, she actually fell during that routine in the Miss Florida pageant, and still won! I wonder how close she was to the Top 5. I actually thought most of the women in the 10 were so good that any of them could have been a runner-up.

[@auntiechercher4266]

@@jja8750 I agree with you. As a girl who danced growing up I know alot of the steps, jumps and turns that Miss Florida does here. I also was on Pointe for three years - I only wish I was as good as this girl. My turns were close! Excellent choreography.

[@janetduncan87]

There's also a Pageant for gals who are 5'5 and under. Miss America Petite. It's for us shorter ladies and teens.

[@malcolmmarshall5946]

I remember this one well. My pick was Illinois or Maryland, with Colorado and Missouri close behind. After talent part, it was pretty easy to predict that group of girls would be top 5.

[@evelynsmith8419]

Miss Illinois was on one of the Star Trek series

[@auntiechercher4266]

I think Miss Florida should have been at least a runner up after that Pointe dance.

[@jja8750]

@@auntiechercher4266 She was superb. But I also thought Pennsylvania and Oklahoma has that "something" that felt runner-up ish. But they missed. Texas was beautiful and a had a striking gown, but I wonder if her piano playing turned some judges off? I thought it was amazing, but maybe a bit too intricate and bombastic for them??

[@auntiechercher4266]

@@jja8750 I didn't see those performances, so I'll have to watch them and give you my opinion.

[@bryanedney2723]

I couldn't choose between Miss Maryland (Virginia Cha) and Miss Missouri (Debbye Turner). But who can top a Marimba-playing Veterinary Student who won the preliminary swimsuit award? I was pleased Missouri won!

[@pageantsheyday]

I remember picking Missouri when the program book came out. I thought her or Colorado.

[@renegaderunner332]

As much as I like Marjorie Judith Vincent, Debbye Turner's predecessor, I think that if Virginia Cha had been in the same pageant the following year with Marjorie Vincent, she would have beat Marjorie.

[@gregtanner168]

Had top 5 exactly right except I had Debbie turner and Virginia cha switched in placement. It was impossibly close that year to me. I gave cha nod by a whisker because her gown is one of my faves ever. Great year. Too bad a n out the LA and SC not making top ten noise. Can you imagine if they had how impossible to judge.

[@TMProofreader]

Any more pageant videos?

[@janetduncan87]

I'd like to know what all of these women did afterwards.

[@Scoomzzz]

I miss real looking women who are beautiful in all their many different ways. It's annoying seeing cookie cutter women that none of us can look like without constant work. And I mean surgical, not exercise lol.

[@iHeartAmySue]

Isn’t it wonderful? They look like you and me but at our very bests. That’s what pageants should be about - giving us something to strive for.

[@Juliaflo]

To think that Donald Trump was on this judging panel.

[@SG1Mitchell]

And sneaking into the changing rooms

[@jeromejackson6111]

No sings "Ther she is " Like the legendary Bert Parks. just sayin.

[@hiroll8618]

Louisiana and Hawaii are prettiest