Nana Meriwether

Nana Meriwether
Meriwether in Las Vegas during the Miss USA 2012 pageant.
Born (1985-05-24) May 24, 1985
Johannesburg, South Africa
Residence New York City, U.S.
Education Duke University
University of California, Los Angeles
University of Southern California
Home town Potomac, Maryland, U.S.
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Title Miss Maryland USA 2012
Miss USA 2012
Beauty pageant titleholder
Hair color Black
Eye color Brown
Major
competition(s)		 Miss California USA 2008
(Unplaced)
Miss California USA 2009
(3rd Runner-Up)
Miss California USA 2010
(1st Runner-Up)
Miss California USA 2011
(4th Runner-Up)
Miss Maryland USA 2012
(Winner)
Miss USA 2012
(1st Runner-Up)[lower-alpha 1]

Nana Meriwether (born May 24, 1985) is an American philanthropist, former professional volleyball player, and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss USA 2012. As Miss Maryland USA 2012, she competed at Miss USA 2012 and finished as the first runner-up. On December 19, 2012 after Olivia Culpo won Miss Universe 2012, Meriwether assumed the title of Miss USA.

She is additionally the cofounder of the nonprofit organization the Meriwether Foundation, and a two-time All-American volleyball player at University of California, Los Angeles.

Life and career

Early life

Meriwether was born on May 24, 1985 in Acornhoek South Africa. Her father is Delano Meriwether, the first African-American student at Duke University School of Medicine, while her mother, Nomvimbi Meriwether, is South African and works as a lawyer.[1] Her parents had been doing volunteer work in South Africa at the time of Meriwether's birth. She was raised in Potomac, Maryland and graduated from Sidwell Friends School in Bethesda, Maryland.[2]

Meriwether played volleyball at Duke University for one semester.[3] She later transferred to the University of California, Los Angeles, where she was named a two-time NCAA All-American volleyball player and graduated with a degree in political science.[4] After graduating, Meriwether played volleyball professionally for Las Indias de Mayagüez in Puerto Rico, and trained for the United States women's national volleyball team for the 2008 Summer Olympics.[5][6] She later completed a degree in premedical sciences at the University of Southern California.[2]

Pageantry

State titles

Meriwether competed in her first pageant for the Miss Universe Organization, Miss California USA 2008, representing Malibu, where she didn't place in the semifinals. Meriwether returned to Miss California USA in 2009, this time representing Beverly Hills, where she finished as the third runner-up to Carrie Prejean. Meriwether competed in Miss California USA 2010 and finished as first runner-up to Nicole Johnson. She competed in the Miss California USA for the final time in 2011, where she finished as fourth runner-up to Alyssa Campanella.[7]

After competing in Miss California USA for four years, Meriwether returned to her home state of Maryland, and entered Miss Maryland USA 2012. She won the title, and received the right to represent the state at Miss USA.

Miss USA 2012

Meriwether represented Maryland at Miss USA 2012, where she eventually finished as the first runner-up to Olivia Culpo of Rhode Island. On December 19, 2012, Olivia Culpo won the title of Miss Universe 2012. Due to pageant protocol, Miss USA must resign her title in order to fulfill her duties as Miss Universe. The first runner-up assumes the title of Miss USA, meaning that Meriwether became the new Miss USA 2012. After assuming the crown, Meriwether became the oldest contestant ever to be crowned Miss USA at the age of 27.[8]

Other ventures

Meriwether is a cofounder of the Meriwether Foundation, which she runs along with the members of her family. The organization operates programs in health, education, nutrition, and development in rural and impoverished communities of Southern Africa.[9] Currently, Meriwether works as an executive assistant to Glenda Bailey, the editor-in-chief of Harper's Bazaar.[10] She has worked for and contributed to Carine Roitfeld's CR Fashion Book, Vanity Fair, and Vogue Australia.[11] Founded by Joseph Lubin, Meriwether joined ConsenSys in 2018 where she helps build decentralized companies and applications for the Ethereum blockchain.

References

  1. ↑ "Nana Meriwether". MUO. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  2. 1 2 (June 4, 2012). Nana Meriwether, Sidwell Friends grad, is first runner-up at Miss USA, The Washington Post
  3. ↑ (February 20, 2006). Breaking the Barrier, Inside – Duke University Medical Center
  4. ↑ (July 8, 2012). UCLA volleyball alumna Nana Meriwether finds a new way to compete by participating in pageants, Daily Bruin
  5. ↑ http://www.indiasmayaguez.com/servicioshistoria.html
  6. ↑ "Nana Meriwether". LinkedIn. Nana Meriwether. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  7. ↑ (June 4, 2012). More on Miss USA Maryland Nana Meriwether, Baltimore Sun
  8. ↑ "Nana Meriwether Becomes The New Miss USA". Independent Online. December 20, 2012. Archived from the original on December 24, 2012. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Meriwether Foundation About Us".
  10. ↑ "Nana Meriwether". Harper's Bazaar. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  11. ↑ "City Lately About Us".

Notes

  1. ↑ Meriwether was originally first runner-up, but became Miss USA after the original titleholder, Olivia Culpo, won Miss Universe. Due to pageant protocol, Miss USA must resign her title in the event she wins Miss Universe.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Rhode Island Olivia Culpo		 Miss USA
2012		 Succeeded by
Connecticut Erin Brady
Preceded by
Allyn Rose		 Miss Maryland USA
2012		 Succeeded by
Kasey Staniszewski
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