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BeBe Shopp

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
BeBe Shopp
Born
Beatrice Bella Shopp

(1930-08-17) August 17, 1930 (age 94)
Alma materManhattan School of Music
TitleMiss Minnesota 1948
Miss America 1948
PredecessorBarbara Jo Walker
SuccessorJacque Mercer
Spouse
Bayard D. Waring
(m. 1954; died 2022)
[1]
Children4

Beatrice Bella "BeBe" Shopp (born August 17, 1930), from Hopkins, Minnesota, was Miss America in 1948.[2]

Post-Pageant Career

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After winning Miss America 1948, Shopp used her pageant scholarship to attend the Manhattan School of Music. She specialized in the vibraharp, and graduated with a degree in percussion in 1952. She sang with Share the Music and the Cape Ann Symphony Chorus. She was active in community affairs, and headed the board of directors for Gloucester Stage Company.[3]

Near the end of her Miss America reign while traveling in France, Shopp was asked about women wearing two-piece bathing suits to which she replied, 'I don't approve of Bikini suits for American girls...The French girls can wear them if they want to, but I still don't approve of them on American girls.'"[4][5]

Personal life

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Shopp married Korean War navigator Lt. Bayard D. Waring in 1954 and later had four daughters.[6][7] As of 2000, she lives in Rockport, Massachusetts and is known by her married name Beatrice "Bea" Waring. She was a lay minister in the Episcopal Church and a TV spokeswoman for an electric scooter company.[4] As of October 2022, Shopp is the earliest living former Miss America.

References

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  1. ^ "Bayard David Waring". Gloucester Times. April 4, 2022.
  2. ^ "Bebe Back from Europe, Saw Beauties-All Over". The Miami News. 1949-09-01.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ Hendrickson, Dyke. "Bruins Prove to Quick for Thatcher Island Fans." June 18, 2011. Gloucester Times. Retrieved July 5, 2011: http://www.gloucestertimes.com/local/x1625120545/Bruins-prove-too-quick--Thacher-Island-fans
  4. ^ a b Tauber, Michelle; Neill, Mike; Russell, Lisa; Fowler, Joanne; Dam, Julie; Tresniowski, Alex; Miller, Samantha; Dougherty, Steve; Yu, Ting (October 16, 2000). "American Beauties: 80 Years". People.
  5. ^ Retrieved July 5, 2011: http://www.bikiniview.com/history.html Archived 2011-07-09 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "First Miss America from Minnesota, now 87, looks back on the trials of instant celebrity". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2018-09-22.
  7. ^ "First Miss America from Minnesota, now 87, looks back on the trials of instant celebrity". Star Tribune.
[edit]
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Miss America
1948
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Elaine Campbell
Miss Minnesota
1948
Succeeded by
Jean Sheils