Stephanie Murray Smith Waltrip (born August 1987) is an American television personality, make-up artist, hairstylist, and beauty pageant titleholder from the United States who was crowned Miss South Carolina USA and placed in the Top 10 at Miss USA. In 2010, she competed on The Amazing Race 17 with then boyfriend Chad Waltrip and finished fifth. He proposed to her while on the Race. They were married later in 2010 after the Race.
Stephanie Smith | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Stephanie Murray Smith[1] August 1987 (age 37)[1] Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.[1] |
| Occupation(s) | Make-up artist[1] and hairstylist[2] |
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[3] |
| Spouse | Chad Waltrip (2010-present) |
| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
| Title | Miss South Carolina USA 2009 |
| Hair color | Blonde |
| Major competition(s) | Miss USA 2009 (Top 10) |
Early life
editBorn in Charleston to Randy Smith of Summerville and Luanne Marie Bass-Smith of Goose Creek,[4] Smith is the oldest of four children, growing up in Goose Creek with younger brothers Nicholas Andrew, Jackson Ryan; and little sister Maggie Louise.[1]
A nationally ranked swimmer, Smith graduated from Stratford High School in 2005 and studied cosmetology at Charleston Institute of Cosmetology.[3] She would work with photographer Michael Petry, assisting him with make-up and hairstyling, and was pursuing a career in hospitality and tourism at Trident Technical College prior to her winning Miss South Carolina USA.[1]
Miss South Carolina USA
editSmith's first foray into pageantry came in 2004 while she was a junior in high school, when a local pageant director asked her to participate in Miss Teen Charleston USA, a title she would win. At the next level, Smith realized she needed to learn more in order to win a state title and took this experience as a stepping stone to her future participation in pageants.[3]
Two years later, in 2006, Smith participated as Miss Charleston USA in Miss South Carolina USA and placed fourth runner-up. Feeling close to the crown, Smith competed in 2007, this time as Miss Summerville USA, and again finished fourth runner-up. A year later, in November 2008, Smith won the title of Miss South Carolina USA, gaining the right to represent her state in Miss USA 2009.[3]
As the official representative of South Carolina, Smith participated in local events[5] and competed in the 2009 Miss USA pageant, broadcast live from Las Vegas, Nevada on April 19, 2009, where she placed as one of the Top 10 finalists.[6]
The Amazing Race
editIn 2010, Smith competed in The Amazing Race 17 with then-boyfriend Chad Walthrip.[7] The show premiered on September 26.[8] Their worst placement was an eighth-place finish in Leg 1 and their best was a first-place finish in Leg 8.
While on the race, Waltrip surprised Smith when he proposed her to marry him and she accepted. In Leg 9, they finished in fifth place and were eliminated.
She later moved to Jacksonville, Florida and became a co-owner of a hair salon.[9]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f "Do you know? Stephanie Murray Smith". The Post and Courier. December 27, 2007. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
- ^ "Chad & Stephanie's Official Amazing Race Profile". CBS. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
- ^ a b c d "Smith sets sights on Miss USA". The Post and Courier. April 2, 2009. Archived from the original on 2015-10-22. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
- ^ "Meet our 2009 state titleholders" (PDF). RPM Productions. January 2009. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
- ^ "Meet Miss SC and Help a Young Girl Go to the Prom!". Charleston: Count on News 2. February 20, 2009. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
- ^ "North Carolina USA crowned Miss USA". PR Newswire. April 19, 2009. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
- ^ (26 September 2010). Getting to know the Fort Lauderdale couple on CBS' 'The Amazing Race', Sun Sentinel
- ^ ""The Amazing Race" Cast Announced". CBS News. September 2, 2010. Archived from the original on January 6, 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
- ^ Meet Visit Jax Ambassador: Stephanie Waltrip, visitjacksonville.com, Retrieved 27 September 2022