Ms. Dunlap first rose to national acclaim when she was crowned Miss America 2004 on the iconic runway in Atlantic City. However, that was not the first time she excited headlines. Mere months before, Ericka captured a significant part of history by breaking the color barrier as the first Black woman titled Miss Florida in the 68-year history of the program. Throughout her year of service, Ericka promoted a platform of Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, with which she impacted corporations, universities and communities at large with her message encouraging best practices and the elimination of damaging stereotypical behaviors.
Ericka recently joined the phenomena of reality-television as a cast member of the CBS Emmy Award-winning series The Amazing Race 15, on which she continued her fight for cultural acceptance with her teammate (husband Brian), exposing the world to the balance of their interracial relationship. They persevered all the way to the very end and placed among the Final Three teams. Participating in this high-energy and impromptu experience challenged Ericka's structured image as a Miss America even to the point of her rappelling face-first down the 62 floors of Mandalay Bay! Likewise, she traveled to eight countries in 25 days spanning over 27,000 miles worldwide and has become an international television personality.
In addition to her many adventures on television, Ericka continues to deliver keynote addresses and make special guest appearances. Especially for Black History Month, she has composed a poignant lecture entitled "The Unique Juxtaposition of Black History: a focus on the Civil Rights Movement". This presentation was specifically designed for diverse audiences and offers insight and inspiration toward the ideals of celebrating Black History Month with an inclusive twist.
Ericka is a dynamic and engaging speaker having delivered over 120 keynote addresses. She uses her humor, candor and charm to captivate audiences.