Cheryl Prewitt

Cheryl Salem (née Prewitt) (born February 15, 1957) is an American Christian evangelist, author, musician, and former beauty pageant titleholder, who was Miss Mississippi 1979 and Miss America 1980.

Cheryl Prewitt
Born (1957-02-15) February 15, 1957
Ackerman, Mississippi
Other namesCheryl Salem
Alma materMississippi State University
OccupationSinger, author, musician
TitleMiss Starkville 1979
Miss Mississippi 1979
Miss America 1980
PredecessorKylene Barker
SuccessorSusan Powell
Spouse(s)
Harry Salem II
​
(m. 1985)​
Children3 (1 deceased)

Early life

At age 11, a horrifying automobile accident left Prewitt with a scarred face, a body cast and was in a wheelchair.[1]

Pageantry

Ms. Prewitt entered, and lost, pageants for five years before winning the crown that would take her to Atlantic City for the Miss America pageant. She won the Miss Starkville and Miss Mississippi titles in 1979.

Prewitt became Miss America 1980, despite a history of poverty, sexual abuse, a physical handicap, and a total of 200 facial stitches.

Personal life

She married Harry Salem II, (the brother-in-law of televangelist, Richard Roberts) in 1985. Along with her husband, she ministers through Salem Family Ministries.[2]

The couple have two sons, Harry III and Roman, and had a daughter, Gabrielle, who died at age 6 in 1999 after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.[3][4]

Bibliography

Items with * were written with Dr. Harry Salem II

Discography

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-03-10. Retrieved 2010-06-12.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. Salem Family Ministries
  3. Tauber, Michelle; Neill, Mike; Russell, Lisa; Fowler, Joanne; Dam, Julie; Tresniowski, Alex; Miller, Samantha; Dougherty, Steve; Yu, Ting (October 16, 2000). "American Beauties: 80 Years". People.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-05-24. Retrieved 2010-06-12.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Kylene Barker		 Miss America
1980		 Succeeded by
Susan Powell
Preceded by
Cheri Brown		 Miss Mississippi
1979		 Succeeded by
Sherye Simmons
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