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Contending with gowns and grades
© St. Petersburg Times ST. PETERSBURG -- Carrie Ann Mewha, the city's homegrown Miss Florida USA 2003, made a whirlwind visit here for the holidays. Since she won her title in July, the second-year medical student has flown to New York to pick out the fur coat and one of two gowns that were part of her prize. She has been on the cover of two Florida magazines and on television shows. She has said the invocation for a Winston Cup stock car race. She also was invited to the governor's Christmas party and has been named spokeswoman for the state's early childhood initiative. Ms. Mewha's special interests are women's health and prenatal care. Last week, she visited her family, her parents, Pam and Jim Mewha (pronounced MEE-wa), and sisters Andrea Evans and Kelly Mewha. "It's been really exciting," Ms. Mewha said of her busy schedule. "I'm just really getting geared up for Miss USA," a competition that will be held early next year. The winner goes on to the Miss Universe Pageant in Panama. Ms. Mewha, 24, said her mother has been helping her shop for the next round of competition. "She has been on eBay, just nonstop. She has been finding all of these great designer gowns with great deals. She's having a lot of fun with this. "My dad is funny. When he talks to me, he is very much a dad. 'Are you still studying? Are your grades still good?' " The answer to both questions is yes. "Knock on wood. I've been able to keep up with everything," she said. Born in Dunedin, Ms. Mewha grew up in St. Petersburg. At the University of Miami, she is studying for a career in maternal-fetal medicine. She was valedictorian of her class at St. Petersburg High School and a National Merit Scholar. The University of Florida graduate holds degrees in microbiology and cell science. In 1999, she was the university's homecoming queen.
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From the Times South Pinellas desks 2002: The Year in Review |
