Terry Anne Meeuwsen
Encyclopedia
Terry Anne Meeuwsen Friedrich (born March 2, 1949 in De Pere, Wisconsin
) is an American
television personality, co-host of the Christian Broadcasting Network
(CBN)'s 700 Club, author
and singer.
Meeuwsen was the 1972 Miss Green Bay, 1972 Miss Wisconsin
and the winner of the Miss America
pageant in 1973, taking both the talent and swimsuit competitions. She remains the only Miss Wisconsin delegate to hold the Miss America title.
Following her reign as Miss America, Meeuwsen began television work at WTMJ-TV
in Milwaukee
in 1978, leaving the station in 1986 to raise her family.
Meeuwsen appeared numerous times during the 1980s as a guest co-host of The 700 Club
, the flagship
show of the Christian Broadcasting Network
(CBN). In 1993, she became a permanent co-host on the show, sitting daily beside CBN founder Pat Robertson
. Since 2000, she has also co-hosted the CBN show, Living the Life with comedian
Louise DuArt
. Both shows air on ABC Family
.
On September 12, 1995, Meeuwsen released the inspirational pop recording, Eyes of My Heart. She has also authored four books, including Christmas Memories (1996), Near To The Heart Of God (1998), Just Between Friends (1999), and The God Adventure (2005).
She serves as director of Orphan's Promise, a part of CBN aimed at helping orphans and vulnerable children around the world through academic programs; life skills training; mentoring and career placement; food and clothing assistance; health care programs; housing; and orphan and adoption advocacy.
, and most of their children are adopted from difficult backgrounds. Their youngest three girls were adopted from Ukraine
.
De Pere, Wisconsin
De Pere is a city located in Brown County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 20,559 at the 2000 census. De Pere is a suburb of Green Bay and is part of the Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Registered historic places:...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television personality, co-host of the Christian Broadcasting Network
Christian Broadcasting Network
The Christian Broadcasting Network, or CBN, is a fundamentalist Christian television broadcasting network in the United States. Its headquarters and main studios are in Virginia Beach, Virginia.-Background:...
(CBN)'s 700 Club, author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and singer.
Meeuwsen was the 1972 Miss Green Bay, 1972 Miss Wisconsin
Miss Wisconsin
The Miss Wisconsin competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Wisconsin in the Miss America pageant. Wisconsin has once won the Miss America crown.- Winners :* Succeeded to the crown after Miss Wisconsin won Miss America...
and the winner of the Miss America
Miss America
The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
pageant in 1973, taking both the talent and swimsuit competitions. She remains the only Miss Wisconsin delegate to hold the Miss America title.
Life and career
In high school, Meeuwsen was selected to be homecoming queen, and was also a cheerleader for three years. After graduation, between 1969–1971, Meeuwsen performed and traveled with the singing group The New Christy Minstrels, but left the show to enter the Miss American pageant preliminary competitions..Following her reign as Miss America, Meeuwsen began television work at WTMJ-TV
WTMJ-TV
WTMJ-TV, digital channel 28 ; branded as "Today's TMJ4", is the NBC-affiliated television station located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the flagship station of the Journal Broadcast Group. Its signal covers most of southeastern Wisconsin and parts of northeastern Illinois, including Racine, Kenosha,...
in Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
in 1978, leaving the station in 1986 to raise her family.
Meeuwsen appeared numerous times during the 1980s as a guest co-host of The 700 Club
The 700 Club
The 700 Club is the flagship news talk show of the Christian Broadcasting Network, airing in syndication throughout the United States and Canada. In production since 1966, it is currently hosted by Pat Robertson, Terry Meeuwsen, Kristi Watts, and Gordon P. Robertson, two of whom will host on any...
, the flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
show of the Christian Broadcasting Network
Christian Broadcasting Network
The Christian Broadcasting Network, or CBN, is a fundamentalist Christian television broadcasting network in the United States. Its headquarters and main studios are in Virginia Beach, Virginia.-Background:...
(CBN). In 1993, she became a permanent co-host on the show, sitting daily beside CBN founder Pat Robertson
Pat Robertson
Marion Gordon "Pat" Robertson is a media mogul, television evangelist, ex-Baptist minister and businessman who is politically aligned with the Christian Right in the United States....
. Since 2000, she has also co-hosted the CBN show, Living the Life with comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
Louise DuArt
Louise DuArt
Louise DuArt , is an American comedian and impersonator.She began her career on the children's show, The Krofft Supershow, playing Nashville, a member of the fictional band, Kaptain Kool and the Kongs; she later worked on Krofft's last kid's show, The Krofft Superstar Hour, in which Kaptain Kool...
. Both shows air on ABC Family
ABC Family
ABC Family, stylized as abc family, is an American television network, owned by ABC Family Worldwide Inc., a subsidiary of the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company...
.
On September 12, 1995, Meeuwsen released the inspirational pop recording, Eyes of My Heart. She has also authored four books, including Christmas Memories (1996), Near To The Heart Of God (1998), Just Between Friends (1999), and The God Adventure (2005).
She serves as director of Orphan's Promise, a part of CBN aimed at helping orphans and vulnerable children around the world through academic programs; life skills training; mentoring and career placement; food and clothing assistance; health care programs; housing; and orphan and adoption advocacy.
Personal life
Meeuwsen and her husband, Andy Friedrich, have seven children. The marriage is the second for each. The couple has strongly advocated adoptionAdoption
Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting for another and, in so doing, permanently transfers all rights and responsibilities from the original parent or parents...
, and most of their children are adopted from difficult backgrounds. Their youngest three girls were adopted from Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
.