Chelsi Smith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chelsi Smith
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Smith as Miss Universe 1995
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| Born |
Chelsi Mariam Pearl Smith
August 23, 1973 Redwood City, California, U.S.
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| Died | September 8, 2018 (aged 45) Mifflin, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| Title | Miss Texas USA 1995 Miss USA 1995 Miss Universe 1995 |
| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
| Major competition(s) |
Miss USA 1995 (Winner) Miss Universe 1995 (Winner) |
Chelsi Mariam Pearl Smith (born August 23, 1973 – died September 8, 2018) was an American actress, singer, and TV host. She was famous for winning the Miss USA 1995 and Miss Universe 1995 beauty pageants. Chelsi was the third African-American woman to win Miss USA. She was also the sixth American woman to become Miss Universe.
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Early Life and Education
Chelsi Smith was born in Redwood City, California. Her parents were Craig Smith and Mary Denise Trimble. When she was very young, her mother's parents, Barnie and Jeanette, took care of her.
When Chelsi was seven, she moved with her grandparents to Kingwood, Texas. She went to high school in Deer Park, Texas. Before winning Miss USA, she was studying education at San Jacinto College.
Beauty Pageants
Chelsi Smith loved competing in beauty pageants. She became very successful in them.
Miss Texas USA
Chelsi first competed in a big pageant in 1994. She was a semifinalist in the Miss Texas USA pageant. The next year, she tried again as Miss Galveston County USA. She won the title and also the Miss Congeniality award. This award is for being the most friendly contestant. Chelsi was the first woman of African-American heritage to win Miss Texas USA.
Miss USA
On February 10, 1995, Chelsi competed in the Miss USA pageant. She scored the highest in the first rounds. This helped her get into the semifinals in first place. She was the fourth person from Texas in a row to reach the semifinals.
Chelsi then moved into the top six. She answered questions from the judges. When asked about changing the First Lady's image, Chelsi said she would tell her not to change. She believed the First Lady should stay true to herself. Chelsi won the Miss USA title. She also won the Miss Congeniality award again. She is the only Miss USA winner to also win this award.
After winning Miss USA, Chelsi appeared on the TV show Wheel of Fortune. She also presented an award at the People's Choice Awards.
Miss Universe
After becoming Miss USA, Chelsi traveled to Windhoek, Namibia. She competed in the 1995 Miss Universe pageant. It was broadcast live on May 12, 1995. Again, she had the highest score in the first rounds. This put her in the top ten.
Chelsi made it to the final three contestants. She won the Miss Universe title. She was the first Miss USA to win Miss Universe in 15 years. At the end of her year as Miss Universe, she crowned Alicia Machado as the new winner.
Life After Pageants
After her reign as Miss Universe, Chelsi worked as a model. She worked for companies like Hawaiian Tropic and Jantzen. She also appeared on TV shows like Martin and Due South.
Chelsi also became a singer. She recorded her first song, "Dom Da Da." This song was part of the movie soundtrack for The Sweetest Thing. In 2003, she acted in the movie Playas Ball. She also hosted a TV special for Beyoncé Knowles. Chelsi was a judge at the 2006 Miss Teen USA pageant.
In 2011, she received an award for being an "Influential Multiracial Public Figure." Chelsi married fitness coach Kelly Blair. They later divorced.
Death
Chelsi Smith was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2017. She became weaker in 2018. She passed away at her mother's home in Mifflin, Pennsylvania, on September 8, 2018. She was 45 years old.
Images for kids
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Chelsi Smith (left) with Miss Universe 1996, Alicia Machado (middle), and Indonesian First Lady, Siti Hartinah (right) in 1997.
See also
In Spanish: Chelsi Smith para niños
