Mia Heaston
Encyclopedia
Mia Ann Heaston is a beauty queen from Covington, Tennessee
who competed in the Miss USA
pageant in 2007.
Heaston, was a resident of Chicago, Illinois when she won the Miss Illinois USA
2007 title in a state pageant held in Chicago on Sunday, November 19, 2006. She won the competition in her first attempt at the title and was crowned by outgoing titleholder Catherine Warren
of Lake Forest
. She is the first and only African-American to win the pageant, which has been held every year since 1952. Heaston represented Illinois
in the Miss USA 2007
pageant that was held at the Kodak Theatre
in Hollywood, California on March 23, 2007.
Heaston is the daughter of Mark and Maxcine Heaston and has two biological brothers and three cousins whom she considers extended brothers. She grew up in Tennessee and is a 1999 graduate of Covington High School. Heaston previously competed in the Miss Tennessee
2001 pageant, after winning the Miss Tipton County local title. She was a student at the University of Memphis
at the time, and graduated cum laude from the university in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts
degree in broadcast journalism. While a student at the university, Heaston was initiated into the Epsilon Epsilon Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha
sorority. In 2005 she graduated summa cum laude with an MBA from Dowling College
. She currently works as a Medical Sales Specialist for Alcon Laboratories in Charlotte, NC.
Heaston married attorney Dexter Benoit on June 13, 2009 in Memphis, TN.
Covington, Tennessee
Covington is a city in central Tipton County in the State of Tennessee. Covington is the largest city and county seat of, Tipton County. Covington is located in one of just five counties of West Tennessee that are located along the Mississippi River, thus it is in extreme western Tennessee.This...
who competed in the Miss USA
Miss USA
The Miss USA beauty contest has been held annually since 1952 to select the United States entrant in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization operates both pageants, as well as Miss Teen USA...
pageant in 2007.
Heaston, was a resident of Chicago, Illinois when she won the Miss Illinois USA
Miss Illinois USA
The Miss Illinois USA pageant is a competition that selects the representative for the state Illinois in the Miss USA pageant.Illinois is one of the most successful states in the competition. It is one of only four states to have won four or more Miss USA titles and one of only three states to...
2007 title in a state pageant held in Chicago on Sunday, November 19, 2006. She won the competition in her first attempt at the title and was crowned by outgoing titleholder Catherine Warren
Catherine Warren
Catherine Ann Warren is a beauty queen from Lake Forest, Illinois who has competed in the Miss USA pageant and the Miss International pageant.Warren won the Miss Illinois USA 2006 title in a state pageant held in late 2005...
of Lake Forest
Lake Forest, Illinois
Lake Forest is an affluent city located in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The city is south of Waukegan along the shore of Lake Michigan, and is a part of the Chicago metropolitan area and the North Shore. Lake Forest was founded around Lake Forest College and was laid out as a town in...
. She is the first and only African-American to win the pageant, which has been held every year since 1952. Heaston represented Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
in the Miss USA 2007
Miss USA 2007
Miss USA 2007, the 56th Miss USA pageant, was held in Hollywood, California, on March 23, 2007, after two weeks of events and preliminary competition. The winner of the pageant was Rachel Smith, of Tennessee....
pageant that was held at the Kodak Theatre
Kodak Theatre
The Kodak Theatre is a live theatre in the Hollywood and Highland shopping mall and entertainment complex on Hollywood Boulevard and North Highland Avenue in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles...
in Hollywood, California on March 23, 2007.
Heaston is the daughter of Mark and Maxcine Heaston and has two biological brothers and three cousins whom she considers extended brothers. She grew up in Tennessee and is a 1999 graduate of Covington High School. Heaston previously competed in the Miss Tennessee
Miss Tennessee
The Miss Tennessee competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Tennessee in the Miss America pageant.-History:...
2001 pageant, after winning the Miss Tipton County local title. She was a student at the University of Memphis
University of Memphis
The University of Memphis is an American public research university located in the Normal Station neighborhood of Memphis, Tennessee and is the flagship public research university of the Tennessee Board of Regents system....
at the time, and graduated cum laude from the university in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in broadcast journalism. While a student at the university, Heaston was initiated into the Epsilon Epsilon Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha
Alpha Kappa Alpha
Alpha Kappa Alpha is the first Greek-lettered sorority established and incorporated by African American college women. The sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at Howard University in Washington, D.C., by a group of nine students, led by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle...
sorority. In 2005 she graduated summa cum laude with an MBA from Dowling College
Dowling College
Dowling College is a private co-educational liberal arts college with three campuses spread across Long Island, New York. The college's main campus in Oakdale, NY sits on the site of William K. Vanderbilt's former Idle Hour estate, which is now known as Fortunoff Hall. The Brookhaven Campus in...
. She currently works as a Medical Sales Specialist for Alcon Laboratories in Charlotte, NC.
Heaston married attorney Dexter Benoit on June 13, 2009 in Memphis, TN.