Stephanie Murray Smith
Encyclopedia
Stephanie Murray Smith Waltrip (born August 1987) is a beauty pageant titleholder from the United States
who was crowned Miss South Carolina USA
and placed in the Top 10 at Miss USA
. In 2010, she competed on The Amazing Race 17
with husband Chad Waltrip and finished fifth.
to Randy Smith of Summerville
and Luanne Marie Bass-Smith of Goose Creek
, Smith is the oldest of four children, growing up in Goose Creek
with younger brothers Nicholas Andrew, Jackson Ryan; and little sister Maggie Louise.
A nationally ranked swimmer, Smith graduated from Stratford High School
in 2005 and studied cosmetology at Charleston Institute of Cosmetology. She would work with photographer Michael Petry, assisting him with make-up and hairstyling, and was pursuing a career in hospitality and tourism at Trident Technical College
prior to her winning Miss South Carolina USA
.
in high school, when a local pageant director asked her to participate in Miss Teen Charleston USA, a title she would win. At the next level, Smith realized she needed to learn more in order to win a state title and took this experience as a stepping stone to her future participation in pageants.
Two years later, in 2006, Smith participated as Miss Charleston USA in Miss South Carolina USA
and placed fourth runner-up. Feeling close to the crown, Smith competed in 2007, this time as Miss Summerville USA, and again finished fourth runner-up. A year later, in November 2008, Smith won the title of Miss South Carolina USA
, gaining the right to represent her state
in Miss USA 2009
.
As the official representative of South Carolina
, Smith participated in local events and competed in the 2009 Miss USA
pageant, broadcast live from Las Vegas, Nevada
on April 19, 2009, where she placed as one of the Top 10 finalists.
with then-boyfriend Chad Waltrip. The show premiered on September 26. Their worst placement was an eighth place finish in Leg 1 and their best was a first place finish in Leg 8.
While on the race, Waltrip surprised Smith when he proposed her to marry him and she accepted. In Leg 9, they finished in fifth place and were eliminated.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
who was crowned Miss South Carolina USA
Miss South Carolina USA
The Miss South Carolina USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state South Carolina in the Miss USA pageant. The pageant has been produced by RPM Productions since 1980....
and placed in the Top 10 at Miss USA
Miss USA 2009
Miss USA 2009, the 58th Miss USA pageant was held at the Theatre for the Performing Arts in Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 19, 2009...
. In 2010, she competed on The Amazing Race 17
The Amazing Race 17
The Amazing Race 17 is the seventeenth installment of the reality television show The Amazing Race. The Amazing Race 17 features 11 teams of two, each with a pre-existing relationship, in a race around the world....
with husband Chad Waltrip and finished fifth.
Early life
Born in CharlestonCharleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
to Randy Smith of Summerville
Summerville, South Carolina
Summerville is a town in the U.S. state of South Carolina situated mostly in Dorchester County with small portions in Berkeley, and Charleston counties. It is part of the Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville Metropolitan Statistical Area as designated for statistical purposes by the U.S. Office...
and Luanne Marie Bass-Smith of Goose Creek
Goose Creek, South Carolina
Goose Creek is a city in Berkeley county in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 35,938 at the 2010 census. Most of the Naval Weapons Station Charleston is in Goose Creek. As defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, and used by the U.S...
, Smith is the oldest of four children, growing up in Goose Creek
Goose Creek, South Carolina
Goose Creek is a city in Berkeley county in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 35,938 at the 2010 census. Most of the Naval Weapons Station Charleston is in Goose Creek. As defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, and used by the U.S...
with younger brothers Nicholas Andrew, Jackson Ryan; and little sister Maggie Louise.
A nationally ranked swimmer, Smith graduated from Stratford High School
Stratford High School (Goose Creek, South Carolina)
Stratford High School is a high school located in Goose Creek, South Carolina.Stratford serves grades 9 through 12, and is a part of the Berkeley County School District. Stratford High School was originally built in 1981 and opened in 1983 with approximately 1100 students. An addition was added in...
in 2005 and studied cosmetology at Charleston Institute of Cosmetology. She would work with photographer Michael Petry, assisting him with make-up and hairstyling, and was pursuing a career in hospitality and tourism at Trident Technical College
Trident Technical College
Trident Technical College is a two-year college based in the City of North Charleston, Charleston and Dorchester counties in South Carolina. It is part of the South Carolina Technical College System. Enrollment for each semester is approximately 12,000 students working their way toward college...
prior to her winning Miss South Carolina USA
Miss South Carolina USA
The Miss South Carolina USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state South Carolina in the Miss USA pageant. The pageant has been produced by RPM Productions since 1980....
.
Miss South Carolina USA
Smith's first foray into pageantry came in 2004 while she was a juniorJunior (education)
"Junior" is a term used in the United States to describe a student in their 3rd year of study . A Junior is considered an upperclassman...
in high school, when a local pageant director asked her to participate in Miss Teen Charleston USA, a title she would win. At the next level, Smith realized she needed to learn more in order to win a state title and took this experience as a stepping stone to her future participation in pageants.
Two years later, in 2006, Smith participated as Miss Charleston USA in Miss South Carolina USA
Miss South Carolina USA
The Miss South Carolina USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state South Carolina in the Miss USA pageant. The pageant has been produced by RPM Productions since 1980....
and placed fourth runner-up. Feeling close to the crown, Smith competed in 2007, this time as Miss Summerville USA, and again finished fourth runner-up. A year later, in November 2008, Smith won the title of Miss South Carolina USA
Miss South Carolina USA
The Miss South Carolina USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state South Carolina in the Miss USA pageant. The pageant has been produced by RPM Productions since 1980....
, gaining the right to represent her state
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
in Miss USA 2009
Miss USA 2009
Miss USA 2009, the 58th Miss USA pageant was held at the Theatre for the Performing Arts in Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 19, 2009...
.
As the official representative of South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, Smith participated in local events and competed in the 2009 Miss USA
Miss USA 2009
Miss USA 2009, the 58th Miss USA pageant was held at the Theatre for the Performing Arts in Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 19, 2009...
pageant, broadcast live from Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
on April 19, 2009, where she placed as one of the Top 10 finalists.
The Amazing Race
In 2010, Smith competed in The Amazing Race 17The Amazing Race 17
The Amazing Race 17 is the seventeenth installment of the reality television show The Amazing Race. The Amazing Race 17 features 11 teams of two, each with a pre-existing relationship, in a race around the world....
with then-boyfriend Chad Waltrip. The show premiered on September 26. Their worst placement was an eighth place finish in Leg 1 and their best was a first place finish in Leg 8.
While on the race, Waltrip surprised Smith when he proposed her to marry him and she accepted. In Leg 9, they finished in fifth place and were eliminated.