Nicole Johnson

Biography

Nicole Johnson (born January 9, 1974) is an American beauty queen, author, public health professional and activist. Crowned Miss America 1999 and Miss Virginia 1998, she became the first Miss America with diabetes and the first contestant to publicize the use of an insulin pump. She now advocates for diabetes research, treatment, and education, having been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1993.

== Education == Johnson holds a B.A. in English from the University of South Florida and an M.A. in journalism from the School of Communication & the Arts at Regent University in Virginia. She also has a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Pittsburgh gained in 2007. In 2013, Johnson received a Doctor of Public Health degree from the University of South Florida.

== Pageantry ==

=== Early pageantry === Johnson first started competing in pageants in Florida and placed in the Top 10 at Miss Florida in 1995 and was third runner-up in the Miss Florida USA 1995 pageant. After moving to Virginia to pursue post-graduate education at Regent University she continued competing and placed in the top ten at Miss Virginia 1997.

=== Miss Virginia 1998 === In March 1998 she won the Miss Lynchburg Festival title and went on to win the Miss Virginia 1998 title on June 29, 1998.

=== Miss America 1999 ===

In September Johnson represented Virginia in the Miss America 1999 pageant, becoming the second woman representing that state to win the Miss America title. She sang "That's Life" in the talent competition. In 1997 she started wearing an insulin pump on her hip to control her illness, which she wore while competing at Miss Virginia and Miss America, the first Miss America contestant and winner to do so.

== Diabetes activism ==