Heather Whitestone was depressed and had no social life during her reign as Miss America. But she didn't want to go out at first when an aide to Newt Gingrich asked her for a date.

Then she told her chaperone about the offer from John McCallum."I told her I was too busy being Miss America, and I don't have time for dates," White-stone recalled. "But (she) said, `Heather, trust me. It took a lot of guts for any guy to ask Miss America out.' And I said, `OK.' "

It turned out more than OK. They're engaged.

Whitestone, in an interview in Wednesday's Birmingham (Ala.) Post-Herald, said she grew depressed around January, midway through her year as Miss America.

"I didn't really have a boyfriend," said Whitestone, 22. "I was on the road with my traveling companion every day, and the reason I was so depressed was because I had no social life."

She met McCallum, 25, in March and they didn't kiss for six months because "I wanted to get to know his heart first," she said.

The two haven't set a wedding date.

*****

View Comments

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Birthdays: For Thursday, Nov. 23

Broadway composer Jerry Bock 67

Former Labor Secretary William E. Brock 65

Join the Conversation
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.