Cheryl Adrienne Browne Hollingsworth, Miss Iowa 1970,[1][2] is an American former ballet dancer and beauty pageant titleholder.
[3] "Iowans were very accepting of me, but I think it took the country by surprise to realize that it was a young woman from Iowa who became the first African-American contestant.
Browne's father, Carl, was born in the West Indies and worked as a narcotics policeman for Kennedy Airport's Port Authority.
[7] Browne left New York to attend the Lutheran - based Luther College in Decorah, Iowa at the advice of her minister.
[5][8] This win generated a strong response (some in support and some critical) to newspapers, the Miss Iowa pageant board, and to Browne herself.
[7] Browne drew attention from reporters and from security personnel in Atlantic City who maintained a visible presence during pageant rehearsals.