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Heaston, was a resident of Chicago, Illinois when she won the Miss Illinois USA 2007 title in a state pageant held in Chicago on Sunday, November 19, 2006. She won the competition in her first attempt at the title and was crowned by outgoing titleholder Catherine Warren of Lake Forest. She is the first and only African-American to win the pageant, which has been held every year since 1952. Heaston represented Illinois in the Miss USA 2007 pageant that was held at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 23, 2007. Heaston is the daughter of Mark and Maxcine Heaston and has two biological brothers and three cousins whom she considers extended brothers. She grew up in Tennessee and is a 1999 graduate of Covington High School. Heaston previously competed in the Miss Tennessee 2001 pageant, after winning the Miss Tipton County local title. She was a student at the University of Memphis at the time, and graduated cum laude from the university in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcast journalism. While a student at the university, Heaston was initiated into the Epsilon Epsilon Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. In 2005 she graduated summa cum laude with an MBA from Dowling College. She currently works as a Medical Sales Specialist for Alcon Laboratories in Charlotte, NC. Heaston married attorney Dexter Benoit on June 13, 2009 in Memphis, TN. |
