Leigh Sherer

Leigh Sherer Seirafi (born August 29, 1973) is an American beauty pageant titleholder from Jasper, Alabama, who was named Miss Alabama 1995. She was a top ten finalist for Miss America 1996.

Leigh Sherer
Born
Kristen Leigh Sherer

(1973-08-29) August 29, 1973
Jasper, Alabama
EducationSamford University
TitleMiss Samford 1992
Miss Cullman Area 1993
Miss Point Mallard 1994
Miss Walker County 1995
Miss Alabama 1995[1]
Beauty pageant titleholder
Major
competition(s)		Miss America 1996

Pageant career

While a freshman at Samford University, Sherer was crowned Miss Samford 1992 and competed for the 1992 Miss Alabama title.[2] Sherer earned the Miss Cullman Area 1993 title and competed in the 1993 Miss Alabama pageant. She was named second runner-up to winner Kalyn Chapman.[3] In July 1993, Sherer won the Miss Point Mallard title, earning her a spot in the 1994 Miss Alabama pageant held in June 1994.[4]

Sherer was crowned Miss Walker County 1995 which made her eligible to compete at the 1995 Miss Alabama pageant.[5] Entering the state pageant in June 1995 as one of finalists, Sherer's preliminary competition talent for Miss Alabama a combined piano and vocal performance. She won her group's preliminary talent competition.[6] Sherer won the competition on Saturday, June 17, 1995, when she received her crown from outgoing Miss Alabama titleholder Amie Beth Dickinson.[6][7] As Miss Alabama, her activities included public appearances across the state of Alabama, including hosting duties at regional pageants and convention appearances.[8][9]

Sherer was Alabama's representative at the Miss America 1996 pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in September 1995.[10][11] Her competition talent was a combination of a piano performance of a medley of songs from Carmen and a vocal solo performance of the "Habanera" aria from the same opera.[12][13] She was a top ten finalist for the national title.[1][10][14]

Her reign as Miss Alabama continued until Alison McCreary was crowned on June 15, 1996.[15][16]

Personal life and education

Sherer is a native of Jasper, Alabama, and graduated from Walker High School in 1991.[17] The Alabama Public Housing Authority honored Sherer as their 1995 Volunteer of the Year.[9]

Sherer earned a bachelor's degree with a double major in piano and vocal performance from Samford University in 1997.[17][18] She was the first student to earn a full piano scholarship from Samford and won the Concerto Aria piano competition in 1994 and 1995.[9] Sherer was inducted into the Kappa chapter of Alpha Delta Pi sorority while at Samford.[19]

She married Peter Seirafi. They have two sons, Peter and Nicholas, and reside in Columbus, Georgia.

References
  1. "Miss Alabama History". Miss Alabama. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  2. Oliphant, Lisa (1992). "Crowned in Her Glory". Entre Nous. Birmingham, AL: Samford University. pp. 14–15. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  3. "Miss Leeds wins crown". TimesDaily. Florence, AL. Associated Press. June 10, 1993. p. 1A. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  4. McDougal, Wendy N. (June 8, 2005). "Cookout fetes Miss Point Mallard Jamie Langley". The Decatur Daily. Decatur, AL. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  5. "Former winners of Miss Walker County Title". Jasper, AL: Miss Walker County. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  6. "Miss Alabama crowning tonight". TimesDaily. Florence, AL. June 17, 1995. p. 1B. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  7. "Jasper woman named Miss Alabama 1995". The Tuscaloosa News. Tuscaloosa, AL. June 18, 1995. p. 1A. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  8. "Newspaper executives meeting". The Tuscaloosa News. Tuscaloosa, AL. Associated Press. July 10, 1995. p. 4B. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  9. "Out and About". TimesDaily. Florence, AL. August 18, 1995. p. 1C. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  10. "Miss America Crown Is Icing on Her Cake". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, CA. Associated Press. September 17, 1995. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  11. "Practicing for pageant". The Tuscaloosa News. Tuscaloosa, AL. Associated Press. September 9, 1995. p. 2B. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  12. Florio, Gwen (September 13, 1996). "A Big Loser Hopes To Be A Big Winner In A.C." The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, PA. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  13. Watkins, Mia (May 28, 2014). "Miss Alabama fashion through the years". The Birmingham News. Birmingham, AL. Archived from the original on August 11, 2014. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  14. Curran, John (September 17, 1995). "Oklahoman wins Miss America". The Day. New London, CT. Associated Press. p. A3. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  15. "Alison McCreary is Miss Alabama". TimesDaily. Florence, AL. Associated Press. June 16, 1996. p. 1A. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  16. "Miss Alabama settles into her crown". The Gadsden Times. Gadsden, AL. Associated Press. June 17, 1996. p. A6. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  17. "Out and About". TimesDaily. Florence, AL. August 17, 1995. p. 5D. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  18. "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 8, 2014.
  19. "Accomplished Members - Pageant Winners". Alpha Delta Pi. Archived from the original on August 11, 2014. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Amie Beth Dickinson		 Miss Alabama
1995		 Succeeded by
Alison McCreary
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