Marilyn Van Derbur Atler

Marilyn Van Derbur Atler
Motivational Speaker, Author
1937 -
INDUCTED 1996

Crowned Miss America in 1958, Marilyn Van Derbur Atler became one of the most popular women to hold the title. After serving in that capacity for a year, she returned to the University of Colorado and graduated with Phi Beta Kappa honors.

She has since soared in her career as a motivational speaker, and has been named “Outstanding Woman Speaker in America.” When Marilyn was 53, she shocked the world by publicly revealing that she had suffered unspeakable sexual abuse during her childhood and teen years. When she appeared on the cover of People Magazine, a national outpouring of incest survivors turned to her for help and support. Miss America by Day, her inspirational memoir, has won numerous awards and remains a best-seller.

“You can survive. You can come through it, serene, calm, and peaceful–my message is HOPE!” — Marilyn Van Derbur Atler