It has been 45 years since Valley View alumnus Kim Seelbrede of Germantown tearfully accepted the crown of Miss USA on national television.

After the win, “the whole town reverberated with the honking of horns and the popping of fire crackers. For over an hour, a cavalcade of cars criss-crossed the town with horns blowing and occupants cheering. It was a night to remember,” noted Germantown Press editor Dolores Grunwald in her weekly column.

Early Years

Kim Seelbrede grew up in Germantown and was raised by her parents, Herbert Bernard Seelbrede, a real estate broker, and June Seelbrede. The family included sister Melanie (Seelbrede) Bowen and brother Randall.

After graduating from Valley View in the class of 1979, Seelbrede attended Baldwin Wallace College in Berea, Ohio.

She was crowned Miss Ohio in late 1980, after serving as Miss Teen Ohio.

Seelbrede later pursued graduate education in social work, earning a Master of Social Work from New York University in 2002.

Miss USA

Seelbrede was crowned during the May 21, 1981 nationally televised Miss USA pageant in Biloxi, Mississippi. She was the second Miss Ohio to win Miss USA.

Seelbrede was one of twelve semi-finalists chosen through the preliminary competition, composed of the swimsuit and evening gown competitions and closed-door interviews. The twelve semi-finalists competed in the evening gown and swimsuit competitions and were narrowed down to five afterward. The five finalists competed in the question and answer round and the final look.

In the final question round, host Bob Barker asked her what advice she would give if her sister or best friend were competing in the next year's pageant; she responded, "Be yourself. I think that's the most important thing."

Seelbrede was crowned by long-time Miss USA emcee and the host of “The Price is Right,” Bob Barker.

Immediately following her win, Seelbrede received prizes valued at approximately $100,000, including $22,500 in cash, a new car, a boat, a mink coat, and a diamond pendant, along with obligations to make public appearances and prepare for international travel.

Her primary short-term duty was to represent the United States at the Miss Universe 1981 pageant in New York in July, where she advanced to the top 12 as a semi-finalist.

“There hasn’t been this much hoopla in Germantown since 1885 when the railroad came to town!” noted Germantown Press editor Dolores Grunwald.

The Germantown Press sent Chamber of Commerce president Jim Seitz to the pageant to cover it for the paper. According to The Press, “While the big daily papers were scurrying around trying to find someone close to Kim to talk to, Jim was having breakfast with Miss USA herself.”

Germantown Welcomes a Celebrity

An estimated crowd of more than 5,000 people attended a welcome home parade for Miss USA on June 14, 1981. Seelbrede who was accompanied by security and a chaperone from the Miss USA organization, was met at the airport by local officials. The parade included U.S. Air Force flag bearers and the Spartan marching band and color guard.

Current Life

Following the pageant, Seelbrede embarked on a career in television, commercials and print modeling. In 1982, she made a guest starring appearance on the CBS soap opera As the World Turns.

Seelbrede, who now goes by Kimberly Christopher is a licensed psychotherapist. She holds a graduate degree from New York University. She runs Integrative Psychotherapy NY, a boutique private psychotherapy and coaching practice for Manhattan and New York residents.

She has two children from her first husband.

Seelbrede was inducted in the Valley View Hall of Fame in 1993, the second class of honorees. She was unable to attend the event.

Use this big hint to ace the Germantown Quiz.

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