Lee Meriwether, Miss America 1955 is still one hot momma.  She has been appearing in Mame as Mame, that larger than life on-stage figure, at the Reagle Players in Waltham, Massachusetts during July. 
 
With an outsize cast behind her and her warm-hearted characterization of Mame, Lee proved once again the stuff that so many Miss Americas are made of – resilience, perseverance, focus and discipline.  Lee is well into her 70s, but her energy is that of a much younger woman.  She looked stunning in the many costume changes she had to make and gave me goosebumps when she sang her solo of “When He Walked Into My Life.”
 
Hoping that I would be able to get backstage after the show and say hi to her, I slipped a note to one of the musicians who said that he would deliver it to Lee during intermission.  I first met Lee when I interviewed her for my book, Pretty Smart: Lessons from our Miss Americas.  Not knowing whether my note had gotten to her, I hung around the backstage door with my husband and the friends that had accompanied us.  Before I knew it, I was pulled through the door and there was Lee, signing autographs for the cast since that was the final night. 
 
When she turned to me, I got the hug I was hoping for. Big! Here’s Lee still in costume and me.

Lee Meriwether as Mame and me

Lee Meriwether as Mame and me