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United States Ericka Dunlap is an American model and entrepreneur known for her pageant titles and media appearances.
Ericka Dunlap served as an ambassador, speaker, and inspiration, traveling extensively to represent the Miss America brand after winning the title in 2004.
Ericka Dunlap held the role of Grand Marshal for the Talladega 500 NASCAR race in 2003.
Ericka Dunlap is currently the President of Crown Communication Group, showcasing her expertise in public relations, diversity training, and cultivating strategic alliances and corporate partnerships.
Ericka Dunlap started Crown Jewel Consulting, a public relations (PR) firm, which enables her to assist business owners and professionals in gaining brand exposure.
A non-profit organization founded by Ericka Dunlap that services inner-city youth.
Ericka Dunlap is a Brand Ambassador for the Clearwater-based beauty academy.
Ericka Dunlap announced a brand partnership with SeeCoStyle, a woman-owned business focused on expanding diversity.
In 2024, Ericka Dunlap partnered with Advil for their Pain Equity Project.
Ericka Dunlap was born on December 29, 1981, in Orlando, Florida. She attended William R. Boone High School and later graduated from the University of Central Florida, where she became a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority. Her journey in beauty pageants began with local titles, including Miss Orlando 2001, Miss Heart of Florida 2002, and Miss City Beautiful 2003. She made history in 2003 by becoming the first African American woman to be crowned Miss Florida in the pageant’s 81-year history. This achievement set the stage for her national recognition the following year.
In 2004, Dunlap was crowned Miss America, becoming the seventh African American woman to hold this title. Her platform during her reign was “United We Stand, Divided We Fall Behind: Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion.” During her time as Miss America, she appeared on various television shows, including The Oprah Winfrey Show, Hollywood Squares, Live With Regis and Kelly, and Fox News’ The O’Reilly Factor. She also served as Grand Marshal for the Talladega 500 NASCAR race in 2003 and traveled to Kuwait in November 2003 to entertain and serve American troops for Thanksgiving.
Following her reign, Dunlap expanded her career into entrepreneurship and community advocacy. She established Crown Jewel Consulting, a public relations firm, and founded The Crown Jewel Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to promoting social development skills and image awareness among young girls. In 2009, she competed on “The Amazing Race 15” with her then-husband, Brian Kleinschmidt, finishing in third place. From 2013 onwards, she served as a judge at The American Idol Experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Dunlap has also engaged in local politics, running for Orlando City Council in 2017 and again in a special election in April 2024, advocating for issues like housing affordability, education, and employment.
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