BlackFacts.com presents the black fact of the day for May 8.

Carole Gist was born.

She is an American TV host, model and first African American woman to win the Miss USA title.

Throughout her reign as Miss USA, Gist captivated audiences with her stories of being from a single-parent home where she had a number of siblings and having to overcome numerous financial and social obstacles.

Despite the financial obstacles she faced growing up, the intelligent young woman still graduated, with honors, from The Cass Technical High School in 1987. She went on to earn a bachelor's degree in Marketing Management from Northwood University in Midland, Michigan.

She has spoken of not grasping the enormity of her status of being the first black woman to win the title of Miss USA during the time of her reign. However, she recognizes the importance of her status and she is humbled by the achievement.

After working in hotel management, she married Doreonne Stramler and she became the mother of 2 children.

Learn black history, teach black history at blackfacts.com