Claire Buffie

{{Infobox pageant titleholder

| image = MNY2010-CB.jpg

| alt = Headshot of Claire Buffie

| caption = Photograph by Claire Buffie herself

| title = Miss Duneland 2007 (IN)
Miss Central Indiana 2008 (IN)
Miss Jubilee 2009
Miss Southeast New York 2010
Miss New York 2010

| nationalcompetition=Miss America 2011 (top 12)

| occupation = Photographer

| name = Claire Buffie

| birth_name = Claire Buffie

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1986|05|15}}

| birth_place = Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.

| eye_color = Blue

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=9}}

| hair_color = Brunette

| homepage = {{url|https://www.clairebuffiephotography.com/}}

}}

Claire Buffie (born May 15, 1986) is an American photographer. As Miss New York 2010, she was the first Miss America contestant to advocate a gay-rights platform at the Miss America 2011 pageant (where she placed in the top 12).{{cite news |last=Waxman |first=Olivia B. |date=14 September 2013 |title=Miss Kansas Bares Tattoos and 6 Other Memorable Miss America Moments |magazine=Time |url=https://newsfeed.time.com/2013/09/14/miss-kansas-bares-tattoos-and-6-other-memorable-miss-america-moments/#ixzz2f40gcyqt |url-status=live |access-date=22 September 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130916135625/http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/09/14/miss-kansas-bares-tattoos-and-6-other-memorable-miss-america-moments/%23ixzz2f40gcyqt |archive-date=16 September 2013}}{{cite web |last=Leach |first=Robin |url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/vegasdeluxe/2011/jan/14/2011-miss-america-photos-four-contestants-stand-ou/ |title=2011 Miss America photos: Four contestants stand out among field |work=Las Vegas Sun |date=January 14, 2011 |accessdate=September 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927110019/http://www.lasvegassun.com/vegasdeluxe/2011/jan/14/2011-miss-america-photos-four-contestants-stand-ou/ |archive-date=September 27, 2013 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |date=28 June 2010 |title=Miss New York supports same-sex marriage and can fix iPods |url=http://alloveralbany.com/archive/2010/06/28/miss-new-york-supports-same-sex-marriage-and-can-f |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221026103758/http://alloveralbany.com/archive/2010/06/28/miss-new-york-supports-same-sex-marriage-and-can-f |archive-date=26 October 2022 |access-date=9 April 2023 |website=All Over Albany}}

Background

A BSU Presidential Scholar and Emens scholar,[http://cms.bsu.edu/AdmissionsLanding/ScholarshipsandFinancialAid/TypesofAid/Scholarships/BallStateScholarships/JohnREmensandAlineBEmensScholarships.aspx John R. Emens and Aline B. Emens Scholarships], Ball State University Buffie earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in visual communications from Ball State University in 2008, with a concentration in photography and a minor in dance performance. During her academic career she received numerous awards and honors. After interning with Lois Greenfield and Macfadden Publications (publisher of Dance Magazine and Pointe), she began designing professionally for movmnt magazine. She has owned and operated her own photography and design business since 2005.[http://www.clairebuffie.com/about/index.htm About Me] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100806071045/http://www.clairebuffie.com/about/index.htm |date=August 6, 2010 }}, ClaireBuffie.com. She began working for Apple Inc. in 2010.

Buffie competed in the Miss Indiana 2008 contest, earning second runner-up to Miss Indiana 2008 winner, Katie Stam (Miss America 2009), and was a preliminary swimsuit and interview winner. After moving to New York, she competed in Miss New York 2009 pageant, winning preliminary swimsuit, evening gown and overall interview. The next year, she was crowned Miss Southeast New York,{{cite web |url=http://misssoutheastny2010.blogspot.com/ |title = Miss Southeast New York 2010}} and won the Miss New York 2010 title with the platform "Straight for Equality: Let's Talk".Michael McGuire, "Claire Buffie crowned Miss New York 2010", Pageant Examiner, June 27, 2010

Buffie is the writer of a children's poem book called Babies, Biscuits, Bears, and Seashore Fun, and an active volunteer in New York's Safe Schools Program, which helps schools reduce bullying and harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity.{{Cite web |date=2009 |title=PFLAG NYC Addresses Ninth Grade Classes at UN International School |url=http://www.pflagnyc.org/content/pflag-nyc-addresses-ninth-grade-classes-un-international-school |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402155044/http://www.pflagnyc.org/content/pflag-nyc-addresses-ninth-grade-classes-un-international-school |archive-date=2 April 2019 |website=PFLAG New York City}}