Miss Oklahoma 1978 to Emcee Miss Southwestern Pageant

October 16, 2006

Kendi Brown Wampler, who won the title of Miss Oklahoma in 1978, will serve as emcee at this year’s Miss Southwestern Pageant coming up Saturday, November 4, on the Southwestern Oklahoma State University campus in Weatherford.

The pageant, which is a preliminary pageant for the Miss Oklahoma/Miss America pageants, will feature 12 SWOSU contestants. The pageant begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center. 

Wampler has operated her own dance studio for the past 30 years. Her studio is currently located in Weatherford.

Her students range in ages from 3 to 69, and Wampler considers herself lucky to have such a wonderful job. Along with teaching competitive dance teams, Wampler has coached high school and college pom squads, all receiving national awards. She won the Miss Oklahoma title with a lively tap routine.

She continues her support for the Miss America organization, judging preliminaries and serving as the choreographer for both the Miss Altus and the Miss Southwestern Oklahoma State University pageants. Twenty years after winning Miss Oklahoma, her former student, Julie Payne, became the second tap dancer to capture the Miss Oklahoma crown. Wampler was part of the Oklahoma delegation to Las Vegas, where Jennifer Berry became Miss America in January of this year. Wampler looks forward to returning again in January.

Wampler and her husband, District Attorney John Wampler, live on a small farm in Duke with their sons—Konnor and Cameron, ages 14 and 13. Her favorite job is being “Mom” and staying involved with her boys as a sports fan and scoutmaster for their Boy Scout troop.

Advance tickets are now on sale for the Miss Southwestern Pageant. Advance tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students and individuals with an SWOSU I.D. card. All tickets at the door are $10. Advance tickets are available at the Weatherford Area Chamber of Commerce; Room 205 of the SWOSU Administration Building; Room 348 of the Stafford Center; and from all contestants.

Contestants are: Shelby Adams, Fritch TX; Mercedez Bernard, Granite; Holly Bradford, Carnegie; Ashley Calhoun, Chickasha; Alison Creach, Hammon; Vickie Frantz, Elk City; Jennifer Owens, Meeker; Pinkey Patel, Weatherford; Bobbi Poff, Elk City; Heather Russell, Guthrie; Ashley Slemp, Gracemont; and Ranee Young, Sentinel.