Miss America 2006 Undergoes Surgery

Nov 30, 2006
By Stephen M. Silverman, People
Photo by: Todd Williamson / FilmMagicMiss

Current Miss America Jennifer Berry underwent surgery for undisclosed reasons and spent the night in a Raleigh, North Carolina, hospital, a pageant official has confirmed to the Associated Press.

Berry, 22, a Tulsa native, was visiting family and friends on Saturday when she was admitted for surgery at Rex Hospital and released the next day, said Sharon Pearce, a spokeswoman for the Miss America Organization in Atlantic City, N.J.

"I spoke to her today, and she's in wonderful spirits," Pearce said Tuesday. "Although it was necessary to cancel some of her appearances this week, we are hopeful that she will return to work to fulfill her responsibilities as Miss America 2006 and continue the wonderful work that has marked her year of service."

Berry, a University of Oklahoma student, won over the Miss America judges at January's pageant with a ballet routine and her pledge to devote her year-long reign to fight drunken driving, after having lost a friend to an alcohol-related crash at age 16.

"I realized she did not have to die," Berry said. "She died from a decision, not a disease."