In 1971, at 17 years old, Oprah Winfrey won the Miss Fire Prevention contest in Nashville, Tennessee, by differentiating herself through her ambition and public speaking skills. While she was the only Black competitor in the pageant, her win was largely credited to a specific moment during the judging session.
When judges asked the finalists what they wanted to be when they grew up, other contestants gave traditional answers like “teacher” or “nurse.” Having already heard those responses, Oprah thought on her feet and declared she wanted to be a television journalist like Barbara Walters.
The pageant was sponsored by local radio station WVOL and the Nashville Gas Co.. It focused on intelligence and public presence rather than just beauty. For her victory, she received a Longines watch and a digital clock radio.
The win directly launched her media career. When she went to the WVOL radio station to claim her prizes, a DJ invited her to read news copy on tape. Impressed by her voice, the station hired her on the spot to read afternoon newscasts, making her their first female news reader while she was still in high school.
This victory set the stage for her to be crowned Miss Black Tennessee later that year and eventually become Nashville’s first Black female news co-anchor at age 19.
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