The five judges crowned her over the nine other contestants - all of whom were black. She was the first white woman to win the title at the university.

But the backlash began almost immediately, with some of the audience walking out of the auditorium as the announcement was made. In a traditional winners' photograph, two of the black runners-up are seen scowling into the camera.

The next day Ms Churchill was heckled at a university football game. Previous winner Patrece Parson said she was 'very shocked' at the judge's choice of a white woman, adding: 'We've never had one before'.

Miss Churchill said: "Many of my friends are nigras...my maid is a big black mammy and you know...some of them can even read and write...amazing!