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Cheryl Salem (née Prewitt) (born February 15, 1957) is an American Christian evangelist, author, musician, and former beauty pageant titleholder, who was Miss Mississippi 1979 and Miss America 1980. She was married to gospel singer Terry Blackwood in the late 1970s-early 1980s.

This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (October 2007)

Cheryl Prewitt
Born	(1957-02-15) February 15, 1957 (age 65) Ackerman, Mississippi
Other names	Cheryl Salem
Alma mater	Mississippi State University
Occupation	Singer, author, musician
Title	Miss Starkville 1979 Miss Mississippi 1979 Miss America 1980
Predecessor	Kylene Barker
Successor	Susan Powell
Spouse	Harry Salem II ​ (m. 1985)​
Children	3 (1 deceased)

Early life

At age 11, a horrifying automobile accident left Prewitt with a scarred face, a body cast and was in a wheelchair.[1]

Pageantry

Ms. Prewitt entered, and lost, pageants for five years before winning the crown that would take her to Atlantic City for the Miss America pageant. She won the Miss Starkville and Miss Mississippi titles in 1979.[2]^{[circular reference]}

Prewitt became Miss America 1980, despite a history of poverty, sexual abuse, a physical handicap, and a total of 200 facial stitches.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life

She married Harry Salem II, (the brother-in-law of televangelist, Richard Roberts) in 1985. Along with her husband, she ministers through Salem Family Ministries.[3]

The couple have two sons, Harry III and Roman, and had a daughter, Gabrielle, who died at age 6 in 1999 after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.[4][5]

Bibliography

Items with * were written with Dr. Harry Salem II

Discography

References

External links

• Salem Family Ministries official web site

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Kylene Barker	Miss America 1980	Succeeded by Susan Powell
Preceded by Cheri Brown	Miss Mississippi 1979	Succeeded by Sherye Simmons

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