Susan Akin

Susan Akin, (born August 12, 1965) is an American beauty pageant titleholder from Meridian, Mississippi who was Miss America 1986. Akin was a member of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women at the University of Mississippi.

In the past, Susan traveled extensively with Bob Hope, performing at conventions both in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Susan has been politically active since her win and was formerly the spokesperson for the National Down's Syndrome Association, during which she spoke before many state legislatures and advocacy groups. She now lives in Meridian, Mississippi. She is also the granddaughter of Bernard L. Akin, a conspirator of the Mississippi civil rights workers' murders of 1964. The Meridian Star reported Akin's response to her grandfather's involvement:

When asked about some of the negative publicity she had received about her grandfather, Miss Akin commented, "That's something that doesn't involve me. I wasn't even born and can't be involved in this. And the people who have taken it out of context thinking they can drag me down, cannot and they're not.

When the press asked about Akin's opinions of mixed marriages the New York Press reported:

"The new Miss America says she opposes mixed marriages ... I feel in mixed marriages it could be mainly up to the individual, but to me I feel at this time intermixing could lead to more problems ..."