Dr. Sherry Traylor, a 1989 graduate of Logan College of Chiropractic, has won the title of "Miss Missouri, 1990" and will represent that state in the Miss America Scholarship Pageant in Atlantic City.
Dr. Traylor, a beautiful brunette, had been named Third Runner Up in the 1989 Miss Missouri Pageant. The winner of that title, Debbye Turner, went on to the Miss America title in the Atlantic City competition. State pageant officials encouraged Dr. Traylor to enter the competition again in 1990, saying that they felt she had a good chance to win. Their encouragement obviously was well-founded.
The Miss Missouri Scholarship Pageant was held in Mexico, Missouri from June 6-9. Dr. Traylor won the title after a series of intensive interviews with judges and preliminary and final competition in talent, evening gown, and swim suit categories. Dr. Traylor, a vocalist, sang a medley from "My Fair Lady" for the talent competition.
The new Miss Missouri is a native of Otwell, Indiana, and earned a degree in chemistry at Indiana University prior to beginning her chiropractic studies at Logan College. After graduating from Logan in December 1989, the 25-year-old chiropractor joined the staff of the Logan College Health Centers as director of chirotherapy. She since has relinquished that position in order to spend more time preparing for the Miss America pageant.
With Mexico, Missouri as her base of operations, Dr. Traylor is practicing handling questions and studying current events to prepare for the important interview component of the Miss America competition. She also is rehearsing intensively for the talent competition and studying videotapes of her past performances in order to improve. Meanwhile, there is work with a fitness trainer and consultation with experts on wardrobe, makeup, etc.
Along with all this, there are visits to other state pageants, numerous public appearances, and speaking engagements. Whenever possible, Dr. Traylor serves as a goodwill ambassador for chiropractic, a role she intends to keep filling no matter what the results in Atlantic City.
"I find that there is such a widespread lack of knowledge about chiropractic among the general public," Dr. Traylor said, "At almost every public appearance, I'm asked questions about chiropractic and what a chiropractor does. This gives me a great opportunity to explain the conservative, natural approach of chiropractic and to emphasize the holistic aspects of our profession. It's a wonderful chance to do some good public relations work for chiropractic and I'm trying to make the most of it."
On July 4, Dr. Traylor served as co-host for KTVI-TV, Channel 2, in St. Louis, during an hour-long, prime-time telecast from the huge VP Fair on the St. Louis riverfront.
"I didn't get a chance to plug chiropractic on the telecast," she laughingly said, "but I did wear my Logan College shirt for all to see."
In addition to many talks before service organizations, schools, and other groups, Dr. Traylor will be appearing frequently on local radio and TV shows in Missouri and other states.
She also hopes to visit a number of chiropractic colleges in the months ahead and to meet with various chiropractic organizations.
Eventually, Dr. Traylor plans to resume her studies. She hopes to seek diplomate status in chiropractic sports medicine, when such certification is approved, and possibly also diplomate status in orthopedics. While pursuing such graduate study, she hopes to associate with a private practice in Missouri to gain additional experience. Her eventual goal is a private practice of her own, concentrating on the treatment of sport injuries.
As usual, the eyes of the nation will be focused on Atlantic City on the night of September 8. It won't be surprising if chiropractors everywhere and their families put aside state pride for one night and join in rooting for Sherry Traylor, a beautiful, intelligent, dynamic representative of their profession, to win the big one -- Miss America 1991.