THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 14, 1994 TAG: 9409140530
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. LENGTH: Short : 38 lines
Miss Virginia Cullen Johnson, of Virginia Beach, won in swimsuit and Miss Montana Yvonne Dehner in talent Tuesday on the first of three nights of preliminary competition in the Miss America Pageant.
Johnson, 23, a 1992 graduate of Longwood College, bested 17 other contestants. Swimsuit competitions for the other 32 women will be held Wednesday and Thursday.
She had a good luck charm: A banner that hung from the rafter in the Atlantic City Convention Center said ``VA Loves Cullen.''
Dehner, 24, a 1993 graduate of the University of Montana, performed a classical vocal, ``One Kiss.''
Tuesday's program included swimsuit competition, evening gown appearances and talent routines by separate groups of contestants. Eighteen competed in swimsuits, 16 in talent and 16 in evening gowns.
The night also gave the first taste of the revamped swimsuit competition. For the first time ever, contestants didn't wear high heels and did not have to walk a runway.
Instead, the competition took place on a set of a beach complete with surfboards, sailboats and a lifeguard stand. Beach Boys songs played in the background.
Each contestant walked barefoot from the side of the stage to the center with a towel draped over her shoulder as a male lifeguard danced by her side.
Once there, she twirled around in place and walked off to the other side of the stage. by CNB