Once again, we decided to attend the autograph signing for Miss America former forever titleholders!

This year, it was held on the 6th floor in the Claridge hotel. When we got off the elevator it became very clear that there was not much planning put into it. The hall was very narrow and the line wrapped all the way around the building- before 10am.

Three of us bought frames with white matting to have the formers sign. We can then put a picture in the frame (either of Kira, Miss New York, who ever would win Miss America, or even a Class photo) and then raffle the frame off at a local or Miss New York pageant, for scholarship of course. I am thinking of donating my frame to the Empire Rose Organization.

Formers included:

• 1948: BeBe Shopp
• 1963: Jackie Mayer
• 1965: Vonda Van Dyke
• 1969: Judi Ford Nash
• 1979: Kylene Barker McNeill
• 1981: Susan Powell
• 1985: Sharlene Wells Hawkes
• 1987: Kaliye Cash
• 1988: Kaye Lani Rae Rafko-Wilson
• 1989: Gretchen Carlson
• 1990: Debbye Turner Bell
• 1991: Marjorie Vincent Tripp
• 1995: Heather Whitestone
• 1996: Shawntel Smith Wuerch
• 1999: Nicole Johnson
• 2000: Heather French Henry
• 2001: Angela Perez Baraquio
• 2002: Katie Harman Ebner
• 2003: Erika Harold
• 2007: Lauren Nelson
• 2009: Katie Stam Irk
• 2013: Mallory Hagan