Nana Meriwether | |
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 Meriwether in 2012 | |
| Born | (1985-05-24)May 24, 1985 (age 39) |
| Education | |
| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
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| Major competition(s) |
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Nana Meriwether (born May 24, 1985) is an American former professional volleyball player and beauty pageant titleholder. She competed atMiss USA 2012, representingMaryland, and finished as the first runner-up. On December 19, 2012, winner Olivia Culpo wonMiss Universe 2012, and Meriwether assumed the title of Miss USA three weeks later.
She is also the cofounder of the nonprofit organization the Meriwether Foundation, and a two-timeAll-American volleyball player atUniversity of California, Los Angeles.
Meriwether was born on May 24, 1985, inAcornhoek, Tintswalo Hospital, South Africa. Her father isDelano Meriwether, the first African-American student atDuke University School of Medicine, and her mother, Nomvimbi Meriwether, isSouth 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 inPotomac, Maryland and graduated fromSidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C.[2]
Meriwether played volleyball atDuke University for one semester.[3] She later transferred to theUniversity of California, Los Angeles, where she was named a two-timeNCAA All-American volleyball player and graduated with a degree inpolitical science.[4] After graduating, Meriwether played volleyball professionally forLas Indias de Mayagüez inPuerto Rico, and trained for theUnited States women's national volleyball team for the2008 Summer Olympics.[5][6] She later completed a degree in premedical sciences at theUniversity of Southern California.[2]
Meriwether's first pageant wasMiss California USA 2008, representingMalibu, but she didn't reach the semifinals. Meriwether returned to Miss California USA in 2009, representingBeverly Hills, where she finished as the third runner-up toCarrie Prejean. Meriwether competed in Miss California USA 2010 and finished as first runner-up. She competed in the Miss California USA for the final time in 2011, where she finished as fourth runner-up.[7] After competing inMiss California USA for four years, Meriwether returned to her home state ofMaryland, and enteredMiss Maryland USA 2012. She won the title and received the right to represent the state atMiss USA.
Meriwether represented Maryland atMiss USA 2012, where she eventually finished as the first runner-up toOlivia Culpo ofRhode Island. On December 19, 2012, Olivia Culpo won the title ofMiss 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 three weeks later.
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.[8] Meriwether worked as an executive assistant toGlenda Bailey, the editor-in-chief ofHarper's Bazaar.[9] She has worked for and contributed toCarine Roitfeld'sCR Fashion Book,Vanity Fair, andVogue Australia.[10]
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| Preceded by | Miss USA 2012 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Miss Maryland USA 2012 | Succeeded by Kasey Staniszewski |
