$2,500 - $5,000
Keynote fee falls within this range. For exact fee, please contact us.
Michigan
Request More Info
● Biography
After winning the Miss Michigan pageant of 1987, Kaye Lani Rae Rafko-Wilson was crowned the 61st Miss America in 1988. She holds the distinction of being the very first Registered Nurse to become Miss America.
The American Nursing Association has said Kaye Lani single-handedly alleviated the national nursing shortage during her reign by speaking out on the need for more nurses. That willingness to speak out lead to individual platforms becoming part of the pageant all the way down to the local level. Since being crowned, she has used her celebrity to focus attention on the profession of nursing, hospice programs and critical health care issues including cancer and AIDS.
Kaye Lani has traveled to 49 states and 6 countries sharing her message to groups of all types as well as addressing a U.S. Congressional subcommittee on nursing issues. She has addressed medical professional organizations around the world on nursing, including groups in Malaysia, Paris, Rome and Singapore.
In addition, she has prepared numerous national and state public service announcements for nurses, volunteers and hospice programs and participated in fundraising activities for nursing scholarships sponsored by organizations such as the American Cancer Society and American Heart Association as well as hospice groups.
Not only does Kaye Lani hold the distinction of being the first Registered Nurse crowned Miss America, some of her other achievements include being named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Americans by the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce, receiving the Monroe County Hall of Fame Award, State of Michigan Arvon Woman of Achievement Award, Mom’s House “Mother of the Year” and the 2007 Liberty Bell Award.
Using her visibility as a former Miss America, Kaye Lani is a very motivational and charismatic speaker who focuses national attention on critical health care issues. Her message to nurses and allied health personnel renews their sense of pride in their professions and their mission in caring for patients and each other. Her words reach out to people due to her strong commitment to use her celebrity in making a difference in the lives of others.
Kaye Lani is married to Charles (Chuck) Wilson, with whom she has three children. She is the co-director of Gabby’s Ladder, a bereavement program for children and their families.