Tamiko Pleshette Nash is an American actress, television host, model and beauty queen who has competed in the
Miss USA 2006
Miss USA 2006 was the 55th Miss USA pageant, held at the Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, Maryland on April 21, 2006. Fifty-one state titleholders competed for the title, which was won by Tara Conner of Kentucky. Conner was crowned by outgoing t ...
.
Nash won the
Miss California USA
Miss California USA is the beauty pageant that selects the representative for the state of California in the Miss USA pageant, and the name of the title held by that winner. The pageant is directed by Crown Diva Productions.
California's most ...
pageant in 2005, becoming only the third African American to hold the title. She went on to place first runner-up in the
Miss USA 2006
Miss USA 2006 was the 55th Miss USA pageant, held at the Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, Maryland on April 21, 2006. Fifty-one state titleholders competed for the title, which was won by Tara Conner of Kentucky. Conner was crowned by outgoing t ...
pageant.
Nash has previously been employed by The Recording Academy, known for the
Grammy Awards and is currently working as an actress in the Los Angeles area. Nash was a model on the television series ''
The Price Is Right
''The Price Is Right'' is a television game show franchise created by Bob Stewart, originally produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman; currently it is produced and owned by Fremantle. The franchise centers on television game shows, but also inc ...
'' from 2007 to 2008.
Nash passed on her crown to
Meagan Tandy
Meagan Yvonne Tandy (born May 3, 1985) is an American actress and model. She is a former Miss California USA who placed as third runner-up at Miss USA 2007. As an actress, she had long running roles in ''Jane by Design'', ''Teen Wolf'', ''Sur ...
in October 2006. In December it was reported that
Tara Conner
Tara Elizabeth Conner (born December 18, 1985) is an American model, television personality, and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss USA 2006 and has also competed in the Miss Teen USA and Miss Universe pageants. Apart from her r ...
, who won the Miss USA pageant, might be dethroned due to inappropriate behavior. This never did occur. Conner was famously forgiven by
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of P ...
and remained Miss USA 2006.
Pageantry
Nash won the
Miss California USA
Miss California USA is the beauty pageant that selects the representative for the state of California in the Miss USA pageant, and the name of the title held by that winner. The pageant is directed by Crown Diva Productions.
California's most ...
2006 title in the state pageant held in
Palm Springs, California, in September 2005. She won the crown on her first attempt and was only the third African American to hold the title.
Nash represented California in the
Miss USA 2006
Miss USA 2006 was the 55th Miss USA pageant, held at the Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, Maryland on April 21, 2006. Fifty-one state titleholders competed for the title, which was won by Tara Conner of Kentucky. Conner was crowned by outgoing t ...
pageant broadcast live from
Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...
, in April 2006. She placed first-runner up to
Tara Conner
Tara Elizabeth Conner (born December 18, 1985) is an American model, television personality, and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss USA 2006 and has also competed in the Miss Teen USA and Miss Universe pageants. Apart from her r ...
of
Kentucky
Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia ...
, the second consecutive delegate from California to reach this position.
Brittany Hogan, Miss California USA 2005, was first runner-up to
Chelsea Cooley of
North Carolina
North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and ...
in 2005.
Prior to the announcement of the winner, eventual winner Tara Conner and Nash shared a long embrace, whilst Conner whispered to Nash. It was later revealed on an E! special that Conner, believing Nash had won, was wishing her luck for her reign as Miss USA and her participation at Miss Universe. The traditional statement declaring that if, for any reason the new titleholder cannot fulfill her reign, the first runner-up will take over was then read. Following this, a shocked Conner was announced as the winner.
Nash was also one of twenty six
Miss USA
Miss USA is an American beauty pageant that has been held annually since 1952 to select the entrant from United States in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization operated both pageants, as well as Miss Teen USA, until 2020, ...
delegates who appeared on ''
Deal or No Deal
''Deal or No Deal'' is the name of several closely related television game shows, the first of which (launching the format) was the Dutch '' Miljoenenjacht'' (''Hunt/Chase for Millions''). The centerpiece of this format is the final round (a. ...
'' in April 2006. After the Miss USA pageant, she appeared as one of the feature delegates in an
E! special: ''Hidden Lives of Miss USA''.
Controversy surrounding Tara Conner
On December 14, 2006, controversy erupted when TMZ.com published an article stating that Tara Conner, Miss USA 2006, might be dethroned for unacceptable behavior in several New York City bars. According to a report, sources told TMZ.com that Conner is "out of control" and needs to go. If Conner was to be dethroned, Nash, as her first runner-up, would inherit the rest of her reign as Miss USA 2006.
Executives from both the pageant, including
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of P ...
, and its broadcaster, NBC, met Tuesday to discuss whether to release Conner from her duties. The Miss Universe Organization released a statement saying that Conner had not been dethroned and that they and Trump would be "evaluating her behavioral and personal issues" and would make an announcement within the week.
On December 15, TMZ reported that Conner would be stripped of her crown, and that Nash would become Miss USA. However this was not the case. Trump forgave Conner and allowed her to retain the crown.
Personal life
Nash currently works as an actress and host in the Los Angeles area. She is president of The Shine Foundation, which is dedicated to empowering young women. She appeared wearing her "Miss California USA" sash on the Green Carpet at the Grammys, and has since made appearances at the Camden House of Beverly Hills Grand Opening, the
NAACP Image Awards
The NAACP Image Awards is an annual awards ceremony presented by the U.S.-based National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to honor outstanding performances in film, television, theatre, music, and literature. Similar to ...
, and other red carpet events.
Nash graduated from Notre Dame Academy in Los Angeles, CA in 1997. She earned her B.S. in Child and Family Development from
San Diego State University
San Diego State University (SDSU) is a public research university in San Diego, California. Founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, it is the third-oldest university and southernmost in the 23-member California State University (CSU) system ...
in 2002 and has since served as an elementary school teacher at Birdrock Elementary in
La Jolla, CA
La Jolla ( , ) is a hilly, seaside neighborhood within the city of San Diego, California, United States, occupying of curving coastline along the Pacific Ocean. The population reported in the 2010 census was 46,781.
La Jolla is surrounded on ...
.
Nash volunteers her time with a number of non-profit organizations, including Domestic Violence Family Crisis Centers. She enjoys cooking, spending time with her family, reading and fitness/working out.
Nash married former NFL Hall of Fame player
Terrell Davis
Terrell Lamar Davis (born October 28, 1972) is an American former professional football player who was a running back for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL) from 1995 to 2001. He is the Broncos all-time leading rusher and ...
in September 2009 and they have two sons, Jackson and Myles, and one daughter, Dylan.
Notes
References
Miss North Los Angeles USA, Tamiko Nash Crowned Miss California USA(R) 2006 During Live Event on September 11, 2005 Market Wire, 5 October 2005
* NY Daily News
''Tara Conner'' (accessed 17-12-2006)
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nash, Tamiko
Living people
Game show models
Miss USA 2006 delegates
People from Los Angeles
Year of birth missing (living people)