Angela Perez Baraquio

Angela Perez Baraquio Grey
Born Angela Perez Baraquio
(1976-06-01) June 1, 1976
Honolulu, Hawaii
Residence California
Other names Angela Perez Baraquio Grey
Ethnicity Asian American (Filipino American)
Education B.A. (Elementary Education; Speech emphasis), M.A. (Educational Administration)
Alma mater University of Hawaii
Occupation Educator, media personality, dancer, musician, business owner
Known for First Asian American and Filipino American Miss America
Term October 14, 2000 – September 22, 2001
Predecessor Heather French
Successor Katie Harmon
Religion Roman Catholic
Spouse(s) Tinifuloa Grey (m. 2002)[1]
Children 4
Website angelaperezbaraquio.com

Angela Perez Baraquio Grey (born June 1, 1976),[2] known professionally by her birth name of Angela Perez Baraquio,[3] is an American educator. She was crowned Miss America 2001 on October 14, 2000 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, becoming the first Asian American, first Filipino American, and first teacher ever to win the pageant.

A politically conservative, pro-life Catholic, Baraquio has been publicly active in supporting various Republican politicians and in speaking out against abortion. She is also an educator whose platform as Miss America was character education. Since 2004, Baraquio has co-hosted the Hawaiian television show Living Local with the Baraquios.

Early life and education

She is the eighth of ten children (sixth of seven girls) born to an immigrant couple from the Pangasinan province of the Philippines. One of her sisters is Hawaiian media personality Bernadette Baraquio Hamada and one of her brothers-in-law (Bernadette's husband) is Hawaiian conservative talk radio show host and columnist, Rick Hamada.

Baraquio graduated from Moanalua High School in June 1994 magna cum laude. Upon graduation, she attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa where she graduated in May 1999 with a bachelor's degree in elementary education with an emphasis in speech.

Baraquio earned her master's degree in Educational Administration from the University of Hawaii in December 2004. During her year as Miss America in 2001, Baraquio's platform was character education.

Pageant participation

Baraquio was Miss Hawaii 2000. Subsequently she was crowned Miss America 2001 on October 14, 2000 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, becoming the first Asian American,[4] first Filipino American,[5] and first teacher ever to win the pageant.[6]

She helped host the Miss America 2002 pageant.

She has appeared as a panelist on MTV's Pageant School: Becoming Miss America and on the conservative talk show, Hannity, of the Fox News Channel.

Career

From August 1999 to June 2000, Baraquio was a faculty member at Holy Family Catholic Academy in the Salt Lake subdivision of Honolulu. She taught physical education, was athletic director and coached basketball, volleyball and track. Baraquio was also choir director of the historic St. Augustine Church in Waikiki.

Baraquio has worked as a celebrity spokesperson for First Hawaiian Bank, First Hawaiian Center, and the Four Seasons hotel in Hawaii.[7] Currently, Baraquio and her family live in Anaheim, California.[8]

Political views and activity

In 2001, Baraquio participated as Miss America in the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., and was acknowledged by President George W. Bush in his remarks. Bush said, "Angela, it's wonderful to see you again. Thank you for your testimony and your beauty and your grace."[9] In June 2006, President Bush appointed Baraquio to the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation, where she served until November 2008.[10][11]

In 2003, Baraquio hosted a series of television shows for Governor Linda Lingle (R-HI), called "Talk Story with Your Administration," showcasing activities and individuals of the Lingle Administration.[12]

She was one of Senator Sam Brownback's (R-KS) earliest and most prominent supporters in the 2008 Republican presidential primary season. She formally joined the Brownback campaign December 14, 2006,[13] and served on his presidential exploratory committee, where her main task was promoting the conservative Kansas senator in her native Hawaii.[14][15] She said she was drawn to the senator's strong opposition to abortion.[14] Baraquio said, "As a Catholic, I am proud to support this wonderful man who believes in the sanctity of every human life."[14] On January 20, 2007, Baraquio introduced Brownback at his presidential campaign kick-off event in Kansas.[16][17] In her remarks, Baraquio said Brownback "is a man we can trust to take our values to the White House."[16] Brownback withdrew from the presidential race on October 19, 2007, before any primary contests.[18]

In late October 2008, shortly before the 2008 presidential election, Baraquio released a video for the JustOneJudge campaign, calling on voters to "vote pro-life" in order to "end the reign of Roe v. Wade" when deciding between Barack Obama and John McCain.[19] She cited the effect "just one judge" appointed to the Supreme Court by either man as president could have in terms of retaining or rejecting Roe v. Wade. She said, "As a teacher and mother I see just how important it is to protect children. Did you know that in the United States, the most dangerous place for a child to be is in the mother's womb? If Roe is not overturned, the children I teach will likely grow up as part of a culture of death, learning that when we had our one real chance to end this atrocity, we didn't do enough."[20]

Baraquio remains active in speaking out against abortion. CMG Booking an agency which specializes in booking prominent conservative Catholics for public speaking engagements, books Baraquio for events. On her page on CMG's website, Baraquio lists "Pro-life 'Whole-life' issues" first among her speaking topics.[21]

Media appearances

References

  1. Former Miss America, Gardena educator Angela Perez Baraquio releases book
  2. "Angela Perez Baraquio". TV Buzer. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  3. "Official website". Archived from the original on 9 February 2011. Retrieved 2011-01-15.
  4. Alumit, Noel (November 19, 2013). "The First Asian American Miss America Responds to the Hate". Huffington Post. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  5. Castante, Agnes (December 6, 2014). "First Filipino-American Miss America releases memoir". Asian Journal. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
    Frank, Sarah (January 2005). Filipinos in America. Lerner Publications. p. 57. ISBN 978-0-8225-4873-7.
  6. "Angela Perez Baraquio Shares Her Story Of Becoming First Asian-American To Win Miss America In 2001". KCAL (Los Angeles). November 28, 2014. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  7. http://isleentertainment.com/legacy/
  8. Irving, Doug (2008-03-28). "Miss America dedicates music to her brother Big Al". Orange County Register. Archived from the original on 14 April 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-31.
  9. Bush, George W. (May 3, 2001). "Remarks at a National Day of Prayer Reception". The American Presidency Project. University of California Santa Barbara. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  10. Resume at her official website
  11. Scott, Sandy (June 16, 2006). "President Bush Taps Jean Case to Lead Civic Participation Council". NationalService.gov (Press release). Corporation for National & Community Service. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  12. "Governor's E-Newsletter" (PDF). Hawaii.gov. Governor's Office of Hawaii. April 12–18, 2003.
  13. "Key People-Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS)". Democracy in Action. George Washington University. October 23, 2007. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  14. 1 2 3 Mooney, Alexander (December 15, 2006). "A former Miss America among Brownback's newest supporters". CNN.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  15. "Potential '08 GOP Candidate Brownback Recruits Fmr. Miss America To Serve On Exploratory Committee". Huffington Post. December 14, 2006.
  16. 1 2 Rothschild, Scott (January 21, 2007). "The race for ‘08: Sam Brownback makes it official". Lawrence Journal-World. Topeka, Kansas. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  17. "Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) Announces His Presidential Campaign". Democracy in Action. George Washington University. January 20, 2007. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  18. "Election Center 2008: Candidates". CNN. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  19. "Former Miss America, Angela Perez Baraquio, supports JustONEJudge.com". YouTube. October 30, 2008. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  20. Ertelt, Steven (October 31, 2008). "Former Miss America Angela Perez Baraquio Urges Pro-Life Vote for President". Washington, DC. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  21. "Angela Perez Baraquio". CMGBooking.com. Retrieved 2016-04-12.

External links

Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Heather French
Miss America
2001
Succeeded by
Katie Harman
Preceded by
Candes Gentry
Miss Hawaii
2000
Succeeded by
Billie Takaki
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