Kalyn Chapman facts for kids

Kalyn Chapman James is an American model and TV host. She is also a beauty pageant winner from Mobile, Alabama. In 1993, she was crowned Miss Alabama. She was the first African American to win this pageant. Kalyn then competed for the Miss America 1994 title. She was one of the top ten finalists.

Kalyn's Pageant Journey

Kalyn Chapman started her pageant career by winning local titles. She was the first African American to win the Miss University of South Alabama title. After this, she competed in the 1991 Miss Alabama pageant. She placed as the first runner-up that year.

Becoming Miss Alabama

The next year, Kalyn made history again. She became the first African American to be named Miss Mobile Area. Just before the 1992 Miss Alabama pageant, she hurt her knee. Despite her injury, she placed as second runner-up for the state crown.

In 1993, Kalyn won the Miss Leeds Area title. This made her eligible for the 1993 Miss Alabama pageant. This was her third time trying for the state title. In June 1993, she was one of 45 finalists. For the talent part of the competition, Kalyn performed a modern dance. Her dance was set to the song "The River" by Duke Ellington. Her main goal, or "platform," was to improve education for children in Alabama.

On June 19, 1993, Kalyn won the competition. She received her crown from the previous Miss Alabama, Kim Wimmer. This made her the first African American to be crowned Miss Alabama. As Miss Alabama, she traveled across the state. She hosted local beauty pageants and spoke to many student and community groups.

Competing for Miss America

As Miss Alabama, Kalyn represented her state at the Miss America 1994 pageant. This national competition took place in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in September 1993. Her talent for this pageant was also modern dance. She was chosen as one of the Top 10 semi-finalists for the national title.

Her time as Miss Alabama ended on June 18, 1994. That day, Heather Whitestone was crowned the new Miss Alabama. Today, Kalyn helps other young women. She gives an annual scholarship called the Kalyn Chapman James Scholarship. This $1,000 award goes to the highest-scoring African-American contestant. It helps encourage more African Americans to join the Miss Alabama Pageant.

Life and Education

Kalyn Chapman was born in Mobile, Alabama. She graduated from Murphy High School in 1988. After high school, she traveled to teach dance camps at colleges. She then attended Loyola University New Orleans.

College and Career Start

While in New Orleans, Kalyn auditioned for a Walt Disney show. She was the only person chosen to perform in The Dick Tracy Show. This show was at Disney-MGM Studios in Orlando, Florida. She worked there for one year. After a knee injury, she returned to Mobile. She did not go back to Loyola University.

From 1990, she attended the University of South Alabama. Her studies were paused when she became Miss Alabama in 1993. She later finished her college degree in 1997. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).

Family and Professional Life

After her time as Miss Alabama, Kalyn married Terry Roller in 1994. She was known as Kalyn Chapman-Roller for a while. That marriage ended in 1998. In 1999, Birmingham Magazine named her one of Birmingham, Alabama's "most beautiful people."

In 2003, she married Rico James. She is now known professionally as Kalyn Chapman James. They have two daughters named Phoenix and Zen. Since 2003, Kalyn has lived in Miami, Florida.

Kalyn has had a busy career since her pageant days. She has worked as a model, dancer, and choreographer. She has also been a voiceover artist and a TV host. Her jobs include being an event emcee and a fitness instructor. She was a reporter for Fox Sports Network. Kalyn was also a spokeswoman for VisionLand. She taught art for a non-profit group called Arts for Learning. Currently, she helps with sponsorships at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts.

Kalyn has appeared in many TV commercials. She was in ads for Tia Lusso liqueur and Old Navy Bermuda Shorts. Her family has also been in commercials. These include ads for Sanibel Island Tourism, Hershey's Air Delights, and Disney Parks. In Miami, Kalyn has danced professionally for Univision shows. She has also performed in awards shows with famous artists. Since February 2013, she has hosted the TV series Art Loft for WPBT.