Nicole Johnson was crowned Miss America 1999 in September of 1998 and spent her 12-month term educating the public about diabetes, "the hidden killer." As Miss America, Johnson, who has type 1 diabetes, traveled approximately 250,000 miles promoting diabetes awareness, prevention, and early detection. She lobbied the U.S. Congress on numerous occasions, helping to secure an increase in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget in fiscal years 1999 and 2000. She also worked with state legislatures to improve insurance coverage for the thousands of individuals with diabetes.
Johnson has proven to be an effective fundraiser, helping to generate more than $13 million for diabetes research. She has also played a very visible role in education and advocacy efforts in support of diabetes causes worldwide.
While amazing strides have been accomplished in the medical field, there is still much to be done. Johnson continues to travel on behalf of the medical community, advocating for the rights of those with diabetes and other chronic illnesses. In addition, she is pursuing her goals in the media. She has a BA from the University of South Florida and an MA in journalism from Regent University.