D. Kylene Barker | |
---|---|
Born | |
Nationality | American |
Alma mater | Virginia Tech |
Occupation(s) | Clothing and Textiles |
Title | Miss Pulaski County 1978 Miss Virginia 1978 Miss America 1979 |
Predecessor | Susan Perkins |
Successor | Cheryl Prewitt |
Spouses | James Brandon
(
m. 1979, divorced)Ralph Hibbard
(
m. 1992; died 2002)Ian McNeill
(
m. 2007) |
Kylene Barker (born 11 November 1955 [1]) is an American pageant winner from Galax, Virginia who was Miss Virginia 1978 and Miss America 1979. [2] [3]
Barker was born in Galax, Virginia to father Kyle and mother Dolores (deceased 2006). [2] She attended Oakland Elementary School, Woodlawn Intermediate School, [4] Carroll County High School [2] and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University [2] where she earned a degree in clothing and textiles in 1978. [2]
Barker won the Miss Pulaski County pageant, the Miss Virginia pageant in July 1978, and the Miss America 1979 pageant on 9 September 1978. [2] [5] Her talent performance at the Miss America pageant was gymnastics. [6] In 1986 the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported that Barker received pageant earnings of approximately $100,000. [7]
According to People.com she was also "Most Valuable Cheerleader 1974". [8]
During her year of service as Miss America, Barker signed a lease on a shop at 309 Worth Avenue in Palm Beach, Florida, and opened a dress shop called "D. Kylene" (the "D" stood for Danice). [7] [8] The business (which she operated for thirteen years [3]) closed in 1992. [5]
In 1983, Gemcon Inc. published an audio book produced by Barker called Stamina with Style. [3] 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. [3]
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", [3] and the US Sugar Association. [7] 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". [3]
Barker's television appearances included reports for NBC's Today Show, CNN's Crossfire, and Live with Regis and Kathie Lee. [3] 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. [3]
In March 1979, Barker became engaged to James Brandon (a Roanoke businessman). [9] They met in Nassau while he was working on a book titled "Simply Beautiful", and they later married. [9] On 28 August 1986 James Brandon was arrested on charges of "conspiracy, mail and bankruptcy fraud and interstate transportation of stolen property". [7] 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. [7]
In the 1990s, Barker moved to Canada with her second husband Ralph Hibbard. He died of cancer in 2002. [2]
In 2007, Barker married Canadian businessman Ian McNeill. [3] They reside in both Muskoka, Ontario [2] and Naples, Florida. [3]
D. Kylene Barker | |
---|---|
Born | |
Nationality | American |
Alma mater | Virginia Tech |
Occupation(s) | Clothing and Textiles |
Title | Miss Pulaski County 1978 Miss Virginia 1978 Miss America 1979 |
Predecessor | Susan Perkins |
Successor | Cheryl Prewitt |
Spouses | James Brandon
(
m. 1979, divorced)Ralph Hibbard
(
m. 1992; died 2002)Ian McNeill
(
m. 2007) |
Kylene Barker (born 11 November 1955 [1]) is an American pageant winner from Galax, Virginia who was Miss Virginia 1978 and Miss America 1979. [2] [3]
Barker was born in Galax, Virginia to father Kyle and mother Dolores (deceased 2006). [2] She attended Oakland Elementary School, Woodlawn Intermediate School, [4] Carroll County High School [2] and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University [2] where she earned a degree in clothing and textiles in 1978. [2]
Barker won the Miss Pulaski County pageant, the Miss Virginia pageant in July 1978, and the Miss America 1979 pageant on 9 September 1978. [2] [5] Her talent performance at the Miss America pageant was gymnastics. [6] In 1986 the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported that Barker received pageant earnings of approximately $100,000. [7]
According to People.com she was also "Most Valuable Cheerleader 1974". [8]
During her year of service as Miss America, Barker signed a lease on a shop at 309 Worth Avenue in Palm Beach, Florida, and opened a dress shop called "D. Kylene" (the "D" stood for Danice). [7] [8] The business (which she operated for thirteen years [3]) closed in 1992. [5]
In 1983, Gemcon Inc. published an audio book produced by Barker called Stamina with Style. [3] 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. [3]
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", [3] and the US Sugar Association. [7] 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". [3]
Barker's television appearances included reports for NBC's Today Show, CNN's Crossfire, and Live with Regis and Kathie Lee. [3] 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. [3]
In March 1979, Barker became engaged to James Brandon (a Roanoke businessman). [9] They met in Nassau while he was working on a book titled "Simply Beautiful", and they later married. [9] On 28 August 1986 James Brandon was arrested on charges of "conspiracy, mail and bankruptcy fraud and interstate transportation of stolen property". [7] 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. [7]
In the 1990s, Barker moved to Canada with her second husband Ralph Hibbard. He died of cancer in 2002. [2]
In 2007, Barker married Canadian businessman Ian McNeill. [3] They reside in both Muskoka, Ontario [2] and Naples, Florida. [3]