Kylene Barker (born 11 November 1955) is an American pageant winner from

Galax, Virginia Galax is an independent city in the southwestern part of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,720. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Galax with neighboring Carroll County for statisti ...

who was

Miss Virginia The Miss Virginia competition is a scholarship pageant for women, with the titleholder representing Virginia in the Miss America pageant. The competition was founded in 1953 as a scholarship contest for young women, although women had represente ...

1978 and

Miss America 1979 Miss America 1979, the 52nd Miss America pageant, was held at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey on September 9, 1978 on NBC, NBC Network. Kylene Barker was the first Miss Virginia to win the crown. Results Placements Awards Prel ...

Early life

Barker was born in Galax, Virginia to father Kyle and mother Dolores (deceased 2006). She attended Oakland Elementary School, Woodlawn Intermediate School,Raider 1979 (Woodlawn school yearbook) p. 25. Carroll County High School and

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University The Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, commonly referred to as Virginia Tech (VT), is a Public university, public Land-grant college, land-grant research university with its main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia, United States ...

where she earned a degree in clothing and textiles in 1978.

Pageants

Barker won the Miss Pulaski County pageant, the

pageant in July 1978, and the

pageant on 9 September 1978. Her talent performance at the Miss America pageant was gymnastics. In 1986 the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported that Barker received pageant earnings of approximately $100,000. According to People.com she was also "Most Valuable Cheerleader 1974".

Career

During her year of service as Miss America, Barker signed a lease on a shop at 309 Worth Avenue in

Palm Beach, Florida Palm Beach is an incorporated town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. Located on a barrier island in east-central Palm Beach County, the town is separated from West Palm Beach, Florida, West Palm Beach and Lake Worth Beach, Florida, ...

, and opened a dress shop called "D. Kylene" (the "D" stood for Danice). The business (which she operated for thirteen years) closed in 1992. In 1983, Gemcon Inc. published an audio book produced by Barker called ''Stamina with Style''. On 1 October 1984, Simon & Schuster published a book (''Southern Beauty: A Total Fitness and Beauty Program for That Winning, All-American Look'') that Barker co-wrote with Sherry Suib Cohen. Barker has acted as spokesperson for several corporations including: "Clairol, the Manmade Fiber Producer's Association, The Palm Aire Spa, the Made in the USA Council", and the US

Sugar Association The Sugar Association is a trade association for the sugar industry of the United States. Its members include nearly 142,000 growers, processors and refiners of sugar beet and sugarcane plants. History The Sugar Association, founded by member ...

. She also produced fashion shows for "the American Yarn Spinners Association, the America Textile Manufacturers Association and companies associated with the Crafted with Pride Council". Barker's television appearances included reports for NBC's Today Show, CNN's Crossfire, and Live with Regis and Kathie Lee. In 1979, she appeared on the Donny and Marie television show (episode #4.3) as herself in the role of Miss America. Kylene was appointed to the Virginia Tech Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Personal life

In March 1979, Barker became engaged to James Brandon (a Roanoke businessman). They met in Nassau while he was working on a book titled "Simply Beautiful", and they later married. On 28 August 1986 James Brandon was arrested on charges of "conspiracy, mail and bankruptcy fraud and interstate transportation of stolen property". Barker and Brandon appeared together in court over the affair, and co-signed a $75,000 personal surety bond which ensured Brandon's release from custody. In the 1990s, Barker moved to Canada with her second husband Ralph Hibbard. He died of cancer in 2002. In 2007, Barker married Canadian businessman Ian McNeill. They reside in both

Muskoka, Ontario The District Municipality of Muskoka, more generally referred to as the District of Muskoka or Muskoka, is a List of regional municipalities in Ontario, Canada, regional municipality in Central Ontario, Canada. It extends from Georgian Bay in the ...

and

Naples, Florida Naples is a city in Collier County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 19,115, down from 19,539 at the 2010 census. Naples is a principal city of the Collier County, Florida, Naples–Marc ...

References

External links

* * * * (introduced by Barker). {{DEFAULTSORT:Barker, Kylene 1955 births 20th-century American beauty pageant contestants Living people Miss America 1979 delegates Miss America winners Miss Virginia winners People from Galax, Virginia Virginia Tech alumni