Carole Anne-Marie Gist made history in 1990 when she was named as the first Black Miss USA beauty pageant winner. Today is Gist’s birthday and we look back at her life and career.
Gist was born on this day in 1969 and raised primarily in Detroit. The Cass Technical High School honor student and Northwood University graduate made her first big splash in pageantry by winning the Miss Michigan title in 1989, leading to her entry to the Miss USA competition. In March of 1990, she captured the title and the hearts of America with her charm, dazzling looks and 5-foot-11-inch frame, making her the tallest Miss USA winner at the time as well.
The win moved Gist to the Miss Universe pageant, which she came in as a runner-up to the eventual winner Miss Norway. Her time as the reigning Miss USA was not without issues, and she launched a $20,000,000 lawsuit in 1991 that was later tossed out. In her later life, Gist settled down and had two children, worked in and around Detroit and became a fitness trainer at Wayne State University.
Today, Gist is active on social media, showing off her fitness journey and her youthful look. She has kept a relatively low profile since her historic win.
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