Nana Meriwether

Nana Meriwether is an American former professional volleyball player, beauty pageant titleholder, and nonprofit cofounder. She is best known for holding the title of Miss USA 2012 and for her achievements as a collegiate and professional athlete. Alongside her athletic and pageantry endeavors, she cofounded the Meriwether Foundation.

Meriwether was born on May 24, 1985, at Tintswalo Hospital in Acornhoek, South Africa, while her parents were doing volunteer work in the country. Her father, Delano Meriwether, was the first African-American student at Duke University School of Medicine, and her mother, Nomvimbi Meriwether, is a South African lawyer. Meriwether was raised in Potomac, Maryland, and graduated from Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C.

Beginning her college athletics career, Meriwether played volleyball at Duke University for one semester before transferring to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). At UCLA, she became a two-time NCAA All-American volleyball player and earned a degree in political science. Following her college career, she played professional volleyball for Las Indias de Mayagüez in Puerto Rico and trained with the United States women's national volleyball team for the 2008 Summer Olympics. She later completed a degree in premedical sciences at the University of Southern California.

Meriwether entered beauty pageants starting with the Miss California USA contest in 2008, representing Malibu, though she did not reach the semifinals. She competed again in 2009 representing Beverly Hills, finishing as third runner-up to Carrie Prejean. She continued competing in Miss California USA, placing as first runner-up in 2010 and fourth runner-up in 2011.

After competing in California for four years, Meriwether returned to her home state of Maryland and entered the Miss Maryland USA 2012 pageant, where she won the title. She advanced to represent Maryland at Miss USA 2012, where she initially finished as the first runner-up to Olivia Culpo of Rhode Island. After Culpo won Miss Universe 2012 on December 19, 2012, Meriwether assumed the title of Miss USA three weeks later in accordance with pageant protocol.

In addition to her athletic and pageantry career, Meriwether cofounded the Meriwether Foundation, which she operates alongside members of her family. The organization focuses on health, education, nutrition, and development programs in rural and impoverished communities across Southern Africa.

Meriwether has also worked in media and publishing. She served as an executive assistant to Glenda Bailey, the editor-in-chief of Harper's Bazaar. In addition, she has worked for and contributed to publications including Carine Roitfeld's CR Fashion Book, Vanity Fair, and Vogue Australia.