Black woman reached Miss America finals

By WITH ANALYSIS FROM MONITOR CORRESPONDENTS AROUND THE WORLD; EDITED BY RANDY SHIPP

September 8, 1980

Atlantic city, N.J.

Miss Oklahoma, Susan Powell, won the 1981 Miss America pageant Saturday night , but shared the spotlight with the first black woman in pageant history to reach the finals, Miss Arkansas, Lencola Sullivan. Another black contestant, Miss Washington, Doris Janell Hayes, made it to the semifinals. As Miss America 1981, Miss Powell will earn more over $100,000 for appearances, advertisements, and promotions.