Amie Beth Dickinson

Amie Beth Dickinson Shaver is an American conservative political activist and beauty pageant titleholder from Shelby County, Alabama, who was named Miss Alabama 1994. She succeeded to the title after Heather Whitestone, the original titleholder, was named Miss America 1995.

Amie Beth Dickinson
Born1971/1972 (age 48–49)
Shelby County, Alabama
EducationSamford University
TitleMiss Shelby County 1992
Miss East Alabama 1993
Miss Samford University 1994
Miss Alabama 1994[1]

Pageant career

Dickinson was crowned Miss Shelby County 1992 and competed in the 1992 Miss Alabama pageant.[2] Dickinson earned the Miss East Alabama 1993 title and competed in the 1993 Miss Alabama pageant. In a field of 45 contestants, she was named fourth runner-up to winner Kalyn Chapman.[3][4]

Dickinson was named Miss Samford University 1994 which made her eligible to compete at the 1994 Miss Alabama pageant.[5] Entering the state pageant in June 1994 as one of 45 finalists, Dickinson's platform was promoting abstinence before marriage.[6] Dickinson was named first runner-up at the competition to Heather Whitestone on Saturday, June 18, 1994. After Whitestone was crowned Miss America 1995 on September 17, 1994, Dickinson was elevated to the Miss Alabama title.[6][7]

As Miss Alabama, her activities included public appearances across the state of Alabama, including hosting scholarship pageants and speaking to youth groups.[7][8][9] Her reign as Miss Alabama continued until Leigh Sherer was crowned on June 17, 1995.[10][11][12]

Personal life and education

Amie Beth Dickinson is a native of Shelby County, Alabama, and graduated from Briarwood Christian School in Birmingham in 1990. She is the adopted daughter of Dr. Douglas Dickinson, a gastroenterologist at Brookwood Medical Center, and Barbara Dickinson.[13][14] She earned a bachelor's degree in public relations and communications from Samford University in 1994.[8][15]

Dickinson married Dr. Chris Shaver on May 10, 1997.[16] They have four children (Emmy, Wesley Kate, Will, and Molly) and reside in Inverness, an unincorporated community in Shelby County, Alabama, and suburb of Birmingham.[13][14]

Political activism

In January 1996, Dickinson co-authored Who Moved the Line?: America's Character Crisis about faith, politics, motherhood, and other topics.[13] This led to a national speaking tour where she expressed her views on abstinence, teen sexuality, and a variety of conservative political topics.[14]

Dickinson became a consultant with the Austin, Texas-based Medical Institute of Sexual Health and a volunteer with Sex and Family Education (SAFE).[17] Over the next several years, she became the spokesperson for several conservative groups in Alabama and a fixture on talk radio programs.[18] On November 6, 2012, she was mistress of ceremonies for the Alabama Republican Party's election night celebration at a shooting range in Hoover, Alabama.[19][20]

In November 2013, using her married name, Amie Beth Shaver declared her candidacy as a Republican for Alabama House District 43.[13][14] One of 7 candidates vying for the Republican slot on the ballot, she won 22.5% of the vote in the June 2014 primary and qualified for the July 15, 2014 runoff.[21] She was defeated in the runoff by Arnold Mooney.[22]

Abortion

On September 22, 2020, Dickinson appeared in Birmingham alongside political activists including Alveda King to present the Equality Proclamation. The document, signed on the 158th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation's signing, argued that the tactics and locations of abortion providers like Planned Parenthood were racially discriminatory. Dickinson spoke at the event, referencing Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger.[23]

According to a document distributed by the group, Dickinson and the other signees believed that “the targeted practices of Alabama abortion providers are both discriminatory and disproportionately harmful to black mothers and their babies” and that a legal case could be made against abortion using the Tenth Amendment.[23]

Bibliography
  • Dickinson, Amie Beth; George, Denise (January 1, 1996). Who Moved the Line?: America's Character Crisis. Buck Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0-934-53010-1.

References
  1. "Miss Alabama History". Miss Alabama. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  2. "Past Winners". Miss Shelby County Pageant. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  3. "Miss Leeds wins crown". TimesDaily. Florence, AL. Associated Press. June 10, 1993. p. 1A. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  4. "Third time works for Miss Alabama". The Tuscaloosa News. Tuscaloosa, AL. Associated Press. June 20, 1993. pp. 5A, 7A. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  5. Prince, Lucille (April 23, 1994). "Rally highlight of 'True Love Weekend'". TimesDaily. Florence, AL. p. 4B. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  6. "Dickinson takes over duties". The Gadsden Times. Gadsden, AL. Associated Press. September 19, 1994. p. A8. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  7. Smith, Tom (December 17, 1994). "Whirlwind surrounds new Miss Alabama". TimesDaily. Florence, AL. p. 1B. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  8. "Miss Alabama '94 to head Cherokee Scholarship night". Cherokee County Herald. Centre, AL. February 1, 1995. p. 5B. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  9. "Amie Beth Dickinson". TimesDaily. Florence, AL. March 4, 1995. p. 7A. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  10. Pritchett, Leigh Bailey (June 11, 1995). "Area women compete for title of Miss Alabama 1995". The Gadsden Times. Gadsden, AL. p. D1. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  11. "Miss Alabama crowning tonight". TimesDaily. Florence, AL. June 17, 1995. p. 1B. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  12. "Jasper woman named Miss Alabama 1995". The Tuscaloosa News. Tuscaloosa, AL. June 18, 1995. p. 1A. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  13. Reed, Martin J. (November 5, 2013). "'Conservative activist' who is a former Miss Alabama announces candidacy for Alabama House District 43". The Huntsville Times. Huntsville, AL. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  14. Mickens, Cassandra (November 8, 2013). "Former Miss Alabama seeks House District 43 seat". Shelby County Reporter. Columbiana, AL. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  15. "Samford's Jana Anderson Takes Arts to Students as Miss Alabama 2000". Seasons. 17 (2). Birmingham, AL: Samford University. Summer 2000. Archived from the original on August 19, 2010. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  16. Burgess, Taylor (November 12, 2013). "Former Miss Alabama Is State House Candidate". Over the Mountain Journal. Vestavia Hills, AL. Archived from the original on August 20, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  17. West, Cindy (March 17, 1996). "Marshall plans conference on family life". The Gadsden Times. Gadsden, AL. pp. A5–A6. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  18. Moseley, Brandon (November 11, 2013). "Shaver Joins Crowded District 43 Republican Field". Alabama Political Reporter. Archived from the original on November 16, 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  19. Doris, Margaret (November 5, 2012). "Alabama and the Rolling Tide of a Down Ballot". Esquire. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  20. "Alabama Republicans Celebrate Second Amendment". The New York Times. New York, NY. November 6, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  21. Granthum, Drew (June 3, 2014). "House District 43 race headed for runoff". Shelby County Reporter. Columbiana, AL. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  22. Granthum, Drew (July 15, 2014). "Mooney wins District 43 runoff". Shelby County Reporter. Columbiana, AL. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  23. Thornton, Henry (September 23, 2020). "Black pro-life leaders gather in Montgomery, argue the next step for civil rights is ending abortion". Yellowhammer News. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Heather Whitestone		 Miss Alabama
1994*		 Succeeded by
Leigh Sherer
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