VCU student Caressa Cameron begins reign as Miss Virginia

On stage for her fourth try at becoming Miss Virginia on June 27, 21-year-old Caressa Cameron was hit with a heart-stopping interview question.

A judge asked her about California's controversial Proposition 8, an initiative against same-sex marriage.

In April's Miss USA pageant, Miss California Carrie Prejean faced a similar query on same-sex marriage. Prejean ignited a firestorm when she said marriage should be strictly between a man and a woman -- an answer that she claims cost her the Miss USA crown.

"I thought, 'Oh, my gosh,'" said Cameron, who won the Miss Virginia crown in Roanoke that night. "But God does little things to get you prepared for what comes up in life."

A few weeks earlier, the rising senior communications major at Virginia Commonwealth University found herself debating the topic at a cookout. "I ended up figuring out what my core values really were," she said.

She told the pageant audience that separation of church and state should take precedence over her personal beliefs. She said she believes marriage should be between a man and woman "because of my religious background, but I don't believe we should legislate against gay marriage. One doesn't de-solidify the other."

Reflecting on her answer last week, Cameron said, "It wasn't offensive to anyone, thank God, and it all worked out."

The Fredericksburg resident and graduate of Massaponax High School received a $16,500 scholarship for winning the title and another $1,000 talent award for singing "Listen" from the film "Dreamgirls."

She jokes about being the queen of the Interstate 95 corridor. She has represented Greater Springfield, Chesterfield County, Hanover County and Arlington County (this year) in the state pageant.

She never thought of giving up on the title that she had wanted since she was a little girl. "Even if I hadn't won, I would be able to make a difference in a lot of communities" through the local pageant wins, she said.

Cameron will take off a year from VCU and live in Roanoke while she serves as Miss Virginia. Her platform is AIDS education.

"I lost an uncle to AIDS, and my family also helped care for a foster child with juvenile AIDS," she said.

Cameron helped facilitate a Fredericksburg-based program aimed at AIDS education for middle and high school students.

"I really think our school systems do a wonderful job educating students about AIDS," she said. "But young people have developed an apathetic attitude toward this disease and feel this can't affect them."

Cameron's first official appearance took place Saturday at a Fourth of July parade in the Page County community of Stanley.

Contact Julie Young at (804) 649-6732 or .