User:Erikawright/Erika Schwarz

ERIKA SCHWARZ WRIGHT is a former Miss Louisiana and 1st runner up to Miss America 1997. Erika attended Loyola University graduating Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Mass Communications. She then obtained her law degree from the Loyola School of Law graduating Magna Cum Laude. During her tenure at Loyola, she was president of the student government association, president of Delta Gamma, served on the Law Review, Moot Court Board, was Vice-President of the Student Bar Association and was published in the Loyola Law Review. She also became a teacher for the Street Law Program during her second year in law school and developed lesson plans to teach inner-city school children about their rights and responsibilities in an interactive learning environment. In addition, she studied piano for 14 years and began writing music at the age of 5. At Miss America, she was recognized for her work with Street Law as 2nd runner-up to the Quality of Life Award. She has appeared on national television programs including “Regis and Kathie Lee”, “CNN Crossfire”, “The Today Show”, and “Good Morning America” as a national legal advocate for the “Shoot the Carjacker” law. She also traveled to over 400 schools speaking to children about avoiding the pressures of drugs and alcohol. She appeared in several television commercials and hosted “Backstage” a music magazine show in New Orleans interviewing musical artists and actors including Will Smith, Tim McGraw, Phil Collins, Britney Spears, Cyndi Lauper, and John Goodman.

As Miss Louisiana, 1996, Erika Schwarz was "The Official Hostess for the State of Louisiana," a title bestowed upon her by the Louisiana Legislature. She has served on a state senate committee to aid the legislature in its efforts to restructure government to provide a better educational system. Erika traveled throughout the nation as a motivational speaker.

Erika grew up in Folsom, Louisiana, and represented St. Tammany Parish in the Miss Louisiana Pageant, which was held in Monroe, June 15, 1996. A double talent presenter, she composed and performed an original piano composition, "New Orleans Rhapsody." Erika's platform interest was promoting law-related education within the school systems. She assumed a leadership role by working with the National Street Law Program. Street Law teaches students problem-solving skills through the law and makes them aware of both their rights and responsibilities. Consequently, students develop the knowledge and attitudes necessary to function in our rule-based democracy and learn the positive skills to achieve conflict resolution within the law. The right choices become obvious to them.

A Statement of Platform Interest from Erika Schwarz, Miss Louisiana's platform from Miss America 1997:

At the blink of an eye, one wrong choice can lead a child down the path of delinquency.During this year as Miss Louisiana, my focus is to encourage young people to learn how to make the right choices.As a volunteer teacher in the News Orleans inner city schools, I used the law to teach young people about their rights and responsibilities as well as consequences to their actions.In this program, I plan to use those experiences to help young people throughout Louisiana understand the consequences of drug abuse while gaining a better understanding of the law. When students develop the knowledge and attitudes necessary to function in our rule-based society, the right choices will become inevitable to them.

As Miss Louisiana, Erika performed at Superbowl XXXI alongside Luther Vandross who sang the National Anthem. 

Erika judged the 2006 Miss America Pageant and served as television host for the 2007 Miss America Reality TV special "Becoming Miss America." She also judged the 2005 Miss America's Outstanding Teen Pageant. She appeared on CNN Crossfire to defend Miss America against critics of the pageant. She also appears in the opening clip of the movie "Little Miss Sunshine."

Following her year of service as Miss Louisiana, Erika practiced general litigation law with the law firm of Jones Walker in New Orleans, Louisiana. In 2001, she married Music Manager, Johnny Wright and moved to Orlando, Florida where she became general counsel for Wright Entertainment Group. She now has her independent law practice and represents clients in the music and entertainment industry. Erika also has a television production company called WES Productions which focuses on the production of sports and entertainment events.