Smyrna woman in '84 beauty contest with Palin

Metro Atlanta

Photos: Smyrna’s Maryline Blackburn won the 1984 Miss Alaska beauty pageant. The first runner-up? Sarah Palin, nee Heath – the GOP’s vice-presidential nominee.

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Maryline Blackburn, a recording artist from Smyrna, beat GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin in the 1984 Miss Alaska contest. Blackburn grew up in Fairbanks, Alaska, and became Alaska's first African American representative to the Miss America pageant.

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Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

PHOTOS: Falcons fall again Sunday, this time to Seahawks

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Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

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The Georgia Bulldogs dominated the Alabama Crimson Tide in Saturday's SEC Championship Game, coming away with a convincing 28-7 victory at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

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Credit: Oscar Guevara Saenz

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Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

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Credit: AP

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Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

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Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

PHOTOS: AJC Photos of the Month -- November

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