Tina Louise Thomas

Tina Louise Thomas, baptized Christina Hatzithomas, is an American musician, writer, and former beauty pageant titleholder. She is best known for winning the Miss Pennsylvania title in 1973 and subsequently competing in the 1974 Miss America scholarship pageant, where she won the national talent competition and placed as fourth runner-up.

During her pageant career, Thomas focused her primary platform on combating substance abuse. Competing at age 18 as the youngest contestant in the Miss America pageant, her talent entry was a rendition of "Take My Hand, Precious Lord," accompanied by the Glenn Osser Orchestra. Following her state title win, she was invited to speak to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and was honored with citations from both the House and the Pennsylvania State Senate. On June 30, 1973, she served as the official ribbon-cutter for the opening of Hershey's Chocolate World. Her public service included work with organizations such as Easter Seals, the Salvation Army, Teen Challenge, and the American Heart Association. She received the Red Rose City Outstanding Citizen Award in 1973 and became an International Honorary Member of Beta Sigma Phi.

Between 1972 and 1979, Thomas shared concert stages with numerous musical acts and award winners, including the Oak Ridge Boys, Roy Rogers, the Bill Gaither Trio, Dottie Rambo, the Blackwood Brothers, and the Cathedrals. She frequently performed alongside author and singer Dale Evans Rogers and was accompanied by musicians such as jazz pianist George Shearing and pianist William D. Crabtree. She sang at the State Museum of Pennsylvania, receiving a Gubernatorial Commendation from Governor Milton J. Shapp, and later appeared with Shapp and Secretary of State C. Delores Tucker at a Philadelphia civil rights event.

Thomas made additional public and broadcast appearances, performing for the 1975 Greater Mississippi Billy Graham Crusade and making two musical appearances on The 700 Club in 1977 and 1978. In December 1978, she starred as the leading lady alongside Metropolitan Opera star John Darrenkamp in "The Rodgers and Hart Production" at the Fulton Opera House. As a recording artist, Thomas released a sacred music album titled Servant in 1976, recorded at Superior Sound Studios with producer Wayne Hilton.

Although Thomas declined further commercial recording offers to focus on raising her family, she continued to teach vocal lessons and coach performers. In 1992, she performed in and helped choreograph a televised presentation of The Easter Story with the Main Street Acting Company. Her work also expanded into community service and education, including serving as a certified domestic violence counselor and working as a certified classroom tutor and supervisor for remedial reading programs. Since 1994, she has served as a judge for the annual Miss Optimist competition. She worked as a contributing writer and co-editor for Wing Beat magazine from 1994 to 1996 and has maintained a lifelong interest in writing jazz and blues music, sailing, and scuba diving.