The Falls hosts Ms Wheelchair USA Pageant

A local resident of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio is vying for the title of Ms. Wheelchair USA in the competition that will take place in her hometown.
(If you ask me she has an unfair hometown advantage and if she wins.... It was rigged! Rollin right along....)

Seriously, Mona Johansson, won the title of Ms. Wheelchair Ohio in May and now will compete for the first-ever national title in events held in Cuyahoga Falls Aug. 7-9.

(Anyone find it ironic that they have a wheelchair pageant in a town called Falls??)

Johansson, 49, was born with cerebral palsy and has used a wheelchair since undergoing 18 back surgeries. When the state competition started up again three years ago after a seven-year hiatus, she decided to become involved.
(Nothing funny here, keep reading.)

“I wanted to show people that not only ‘normal’ ladies can be in a pageant,” she said. “When I was younger, I would watch the pageants on TV and think to myself, ‘If they had a pageant for women in wheelchairs, I’d be there.’ And now I am.”

(Hey look, people in wheelchairs think pageant girls are normal!!!)

The North High School graduate said she hopes her participation in the event highlights what people in wheelchairs are able to do. “I want people to not feel sorry for me and to look at me as a person, not look at my wheelchair,” Johansson said.

Should be a great pageant. I think its gonna be fun to watch them come down the stairs in evening gown. Which gives me another great idea! Why don't we add a hurdle in the center of the stage for Miss America evening gown competition? Oh and instead of a track-n-field hurdle we can just get WeeMan from Jackass to lay in the middle of the stage and they can all hurdle a little person. Now thats entertaining TV!

Wait, another serious question has come to mind... When you are backstage at a wheelchair pageant is it really appropriate to say "Break a leg" when offering thoughts of good luck?

Oh well, Mona you just go out there and get ya roll on and do your best!

Miss Massatu, Massetuc, Massitus.... Forget it, Miss Mass OT

Taylor Kinzler, Miss Massachusetts Outstanding Teen and a 16-year-old junior at Apponequet Regional High School, will compete in the fourth annual Miss America's Outstanding Teen Pageant in Orlando, Florida. The pageant will take place at the Orlando Convention Center from Aug. 12-16.

Fifty-two outstanding high school students from across the nation will compete for the title of Miss America's Outstanding Teen, as well as $150,000 in scholarship assistance, with the winner receiving a $30,000 college scholarship.

A sister company to the Miss America Organization, Miss America's Outstanding Teen promotes scholastic achievement, creative accomplishment, healthy living and community involvement for America's teens.

The contestants will participate in many charitable and community appearances as well as rehearsing and preparing for the pageant competition while in Orlando. Recently, the Miss America's Outstanding Teen announced that Children's Miracle Network has been selected as their official national platform. Miss America's Outstanding Teen, the sister program to the Miss America Organization, have chosen Children's Miracle Network as their platform to further reinforce the efforts that have been so successful on the national level for the Miss America Organization who adopted this program last year.

Taylor won the state title in April at the state competition held at Bristol Community College. An honor student at Apponequet, she has been a member of the National Junior Honor Society, the recipient of the Presidential Educational Award and the Presidential Fitness Award, and has received an Academic Award for Excellence in English.

Taylor has been a medal winner for six consecutive years at the USA Gymnastics Massachusetts State Championships and was the first freshman to receive the honor of winning both the Coaches Award and a Varsity Letter in Cheerleading. A competitive gymnast for the past 12 years, Taylor will perform an acrobatic gymnastics dance as her talent at the pageant. Her platform issue is "Lead by Example — Encouraging Youth to Volunteer," and she has volunteered numerous hours for many organizations such as the New Bedford Youth Court, the YWCA, the American Cancer Society and the United Way of Greater New Bedford while promoting her platform issue.

Long time coming for Miss Legislative Reform Pageant

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Political reform activist Gene Stilp brought his trademark pink pig and 11 contestants to the State Capitol rotunda on Monday for a beauty contest of sorts.

The point of the “Miss Legislative Reform” pageant was to push for proposals that are currently stalled in the Legislature, such as mandatory term limits, tighter campaign finance rules and improved public access to government meetings.

The nine female and two male contestants wore formal dresses and tiaras, their sashes marked with titles such as “Miss True Redistricting” and “Miss No Lobbyists’ Gifts.”

Others advocated a constitutional convention, “real” legislative auditing, an end to lame-duck sessions and bans on perks and bonuses.

Stilp was dressed like a circus ringleader. The inflatable pig is his symbol of opposition to legislative pork. (Not to mention its filled with hot air like alot of politions we all know.)

The farce was a reference to a charge in the recently announced legislative bonus investigation. Authorities say the then-top aide to House Democratic Leader Bill DeWeese hired the aide’s beauty queen girlfriend for a job that entailed very little work.

“We mean no harm to that person who was involved,” Stilp said, adding that he believed she had been taken advantage of.

Twelve people connected to the state House’s Democratic caucus, including a sitting representative and the former caucus whip, were charged earlier this month with theft, conflict of interest and conspiracy. State prosecutors said Monday the defendants’ preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Oct. 7 before Dauphin County President Judge Richard A. Lewis.

A grand jury report said the 12 had been involved in the illegal diversion of public money and resources to operate partisan political campaigns. The attorney general has said the investigation is not confined to the House Democratic caucus and that he expects additional arrests.

Stilp said he plans to bring the pageant back to the Capitol for a swimsuit competition once the legislative session resumes in September.

Anybody wanna roadtrip to Harrisburg PA?? I would love to shoot that swimsuit competition! LOL I love a pageant with alot of symbolism.

That new band Rascal Flatts is pretty good.

In the summer of 2002 Rascal Flatts performed at the White Water Carnival & Pageant in Batesville, TN. They had a crowd of about 3000 - 4000 festival spectators. Later that year they released their multi-platinum album "Melt". Needless to say they perform to much bigger crowds now.

The wife of one of this hot new band... Rascal Flatts will make her appearance in Batesville at the White River Water Carnival this year.

Allison Alderson DeMarcus is the wife of Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts. The two met on the set of the video for “These Days” (she was the hot blonde at the airport) and the two were married in May of 2004.

Next week, she will be in Batesville sitting on the panel of judges for the White River Water Carnival beauty pageant. Pageants are something DeMarcus is quite familiar with. DeMarcus is the only woman in Tennessee pageant history to represent the state at Miss Teen USA, Miss America and the Miss USA Pageant.

It was during her reign as Miss Tennessee USA that she landed the starring role in the Rascal Flatts video, “These Days,” which won a Country Music Television "Flameworthy Award" for Group Video of the Year, and she was also selected as a CMT Video Babe.

Named one of Nashville’s 25 Most Beautiful People and placed on the top of Nashville’s “Hot List” by Nashville Lifestyles Magazine, DeMarcus is currently working as a correspondent for “CMT Insider,” is the host of “People Magazine’s Special “on CMT and has been the emcee of the Miss Tennessee Scholarship Pageant for the past eight years.

DeMarcus works as the Nashville correspondent for the TVGuide Channel, the DeMarcus home has been featured on “Good Morning America’s Country Cribs”, and she co-hosted the 2007 Miss America Pageant with Mario Lopez in Las Vegas.

Off camera, DeMarcus serves on the board of trustees for the Miss Tennessee Scholarship Pageant, Make A Wish Foundation and Chi Omega National Recruitment Advisory Board. Her mother, Jane Alderson, is currently serving as the Executive Director of the Miss Tennessee Scholarship Pageant.

Miss NC USA's new sexy cut!

Andrea Duke, Miss NC USA, revealed a new sexy and sporty cut for the summer on her Facebook page. This short cut is sure to be fun, easy to maintain, and in my opinion makes her fresh and approachable. Notice how it focuses more attention on her great facial features. Short cuts are all the rage these days and are featured on celebrities including Victoria Beckham, Katie Holmes, Kiera Knightley, Sharon Stone, and others.

Andrea's cut was done right here in North Carolina by stylist Kelly Maxwell at Salon 104 in Hendersonville.

So what do you think of the short cut trend? Comments below!

Being part of the LMNC court has A Perk!!!!

One of which may be lots of free Chick-Fil-a food!!!!

The finals for Little Miss North Carolina were held in Lenoir, NC yesterday. Here are your results and your new LMNC Court, including the new Majestic winner, Ashlee Perkinson!

Baby Doll Miss - Mayden Pearson
1st RU- Inex Akins
2nd RU- Mollie Gilmore
3rd RU- Zoe McPherson

Miniature Miss - Elizabeth Pelotti
1st RU- Alyssa Clarke
2nd RU- Megan Duplisea
3rd RU- Madisyn Ballard
4th RU- Chloe Conley

Tiny Miss - Lauren Potter
1st RU- Trinity Thompson
2nd RU- Brianna Gusa
3rd RU- Macaila LaBonte
4th RU- Allison Brooke Smith

Little Miss- Allison Rae Smith
1st RU- Moriah Butner
2nd RU- Alaina Malcolm
3rd RU- Caroline Nunley
4th RU- Katelyn Heaton

Junior Miss- Bailee Eury
1st RU- Tara Schiphof
2nd RU- Sinclair Molnar
3rd RU- Danielle Goltemann
4th RU- Katelyn Butner

Young Miss- Victoria Baskett
1st RU- Hunter Norris
2nd RU- Amery Capps
3rd RU- Jasmine Garland
4th RU- Morgan Ammons

Teen Miss- Chelsea Guild
1st RU- Sarah Ashley
2nd RU- Carissa Lewis
3rd RU- Mallory Splawn
4th RU- Gayla Carr

Overall Majestic Winner- Ashlee Perkinson
Ashlee was overall interview award winner
Teen swimsuit award and Teen talent award winner

Mom, those crazy Malaysian trannies are having a pageant again!!!

BACHOK, July 26 (Bernama) -- Sixteen transsexuals were busted by the Kelantan Islamic Religious Affair Department Friday for participating in a transsexual beauty pageant at a resort near Bachok.

Its chief assistant director, Abdul Aziz Mohd Nor, said Saturday the group, in their 20s and 30s, was detained at about 10 last night while posing in woman's dresses.

"Three of them managed to get away by diving into a nearby river while the rest were arrested and taken to department's office in Kota Baharu for further action," he told Bernama today.

Abdul Aziz said the immoral activities of the transsexuals, including dressing up like women, were contradictory to Islamic practices.

They could be fined up to RM3,000 ($922.50 USD) or jail if convicted, he added.

Contestant opts out of swimsuit but still wins.

Well thats not entirely true. 19 year old Dacia Ramirez won Miss Congeniality at this years Miss Tri-Cities Pageant in Kennewick, WA. As for the crown, I am sure that went to a girl in a hot two piece bikini.

Dacia Ramirez instead used the pageant to make a statement. She knew before she ever took the stage that winning was not going to be an option. Her choice to opt-out of swimsuit competition automatically disqualified her from the contest.

I'm a modest person, so I knew this would be an issue for me," Ramirez said earlier this week.

Ramirez, who is active in the Lighthouse Church in Pasco, says she wasn't trying to make a public statement, only to stay true to her personal beliefs.

Pageant coordinators, including director Dot Stewart, were unable to reach an acceptable solution to her concerns, so Ramirez quietly accepted the consequences and signed a waiver that she would not be a finalist.

"I'm OK with that. I was excited just to be in the program," she said.

In addition to the Miss Congeniality title, she received $850 in gifts as a contestant and the admiration of many contestants in the Miss Tri-Cities and Miss Outstanding Teen of Tri-Cities competitions. Not a bad haul for a couple hours work on the weekend.

Ramirez said she feels like she did the right thing, but she also believes in the Miss Tri-Cities scholarship program.

"It's an amazing program. The people work so hard, and I have gained so much confidence," she said.

But she also believes her example should be a signal to others that skimpy and revealing swimwear need not be required to win a scholarship pageant.

Changing the swimwear to more modest apparel, such as the active-wear required in the Miss Outstanding Teen competition, would "open the door to a lot more ladies," she said. She went on to say that she is considering participating again in 2009.

Hmmm, I guess so. Personally can think of about 850 reasons why she would....

Miss America Fired from Miss Universe!

Yep, that was the headline from back in 1952.

Did you even know Miss America used to compete at Miss Universe?

The Miss Universe Pageant was founded in 1952 by California clothing company Pacific Mills. The pageant became part of Kayser-Roth and then Gulf and Western Industries, before being acquired by Donald Trump back in 1996.

The winner of the "Miss America 1951" pageant, Yolande Betbeze, refused to pose in a swimsuit from major sponsor, Catalina swimwear a division of Pacific Mills. As a result, the brand's manufacturer Pacific Mills withdrew Miss America and its support of the Miss America system and instead set up the rival Miss USA system.

Yes, you can thank the Miss America system and its decision makers for being the ones responsible for creating its biggest competitor!

The Miss Universe crown used from 2002-2007 was designed by Mikimoto, the official jewelery sponsor of the Miss Universe Organization, and depicted the phoenix rising, signifying status, power and beauty. The crown has 500 diamonds of almost 30 carats, 120 South Sea and Akoya pearls, ranging in size from 3 to 18mm diameter and is valued at $250,000. The Crown was designed specifically for the pageant on Mikimoto Pearl Island in Japan with the Mikimoto crown and tiara being first used for Miss Universe 2002.

For Miss Universe 2008 a new crown was unveiled. Valued at $120 thousand dollars, it is made of 18K white and yellow gold. It is comprised of over 1,000 precious stones; including 555 white diamonds (30 carats), 375 cognac diamonds (14 carats), 10 smoky quartz crystals (20 carats) and 19 morganite gemstones (60 carats). The colors of the jewels chosen for the crown have great significance. The yellow luster of the gold represents the prosperous thriving economy in Vietnam. White, light pink and cognac are the main hues in the crown which represent inspiration and feeling. Each piece of the crown was designed to represent an important attribute of the Miss Universe Pageant. The curves of inlaid precious stones represent the strong development and potential of each country. The image of the crane (Lac Bird) symbolizes Vietnamese spirit and culture. The image of the heart represents unified breath, rhythm and vision, which are powerful internal forces that stress faith, hope and unity. But this Vietnamese crown will use in the 57th edition only and the Mikimoto crown will return in 2009.

Good news from South Carolina

Well I thought I would balance the Yin and Yang in South Carolina by posting a story that South Carolinians could be proud of. And since she didnt win the OT crown in 2005 at Miss South Carolina Outstanding Teen, its probably safe to assume she wasn't assaulted as others have alleged to have been....(oh no he didn't)

Anywho, tonight is Bailey Hanks, former Miss Liberty's Outstanding Teen 2005's, opening night on Broadway!
Can everyone do "JAZZ HANDS!"? I knew you could!

Bailey Hanks beat out thousands of applicants and nine other contestants in a show produced for MTV titled "Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods" and will succeed Tony nominee Laura Bell Bundy as Elle Woods in the New York production of Legally Blonde.

Ghostlight records will also release Bailey's version of "So Much Better" as a single and will be available on iTunes today.

Bailey is from Anderson, SC and was a musical theater major at Coastal Carolina, although her time at school has been placed on hold for this once in a lifetime opportunity.

On the show she was selected by a team of judges including Legally Blonde director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell, casting director Bernard Telsey, Legally Blonde book writer Heather Hach, associate director Marc Bruni and associate choreographer Denis Jones. Seth Rudetsky served as musical director and vocal coach for the series, which included special appearances from Legally Blonde cast members Paul Canaan (one of the three judges), Nikki Snelson (Brooke Wyndham), Orfeh (Paulette), Richard H. Blake (Warner) and the musical's Tony-nominated star, Laura Bell Bundy (Elle Woods).

Here is a little sneek peek into the life of Bailey Hanks.
Bailey... Break a leg!

BREAKING NEWS!!!! Miss SC Executive Director Charged With Sexual Assault

If you live in the upstate and you have an odd smell in your house you may want to look up. Because ladies and gentlemen "The proverbial #%&* has just hit the ceiling fan in South Carolina."

According to Upstate.com, the executive director of the Miss South Carolina Organization has been arrested on accusations he sexually assaulted a 9-year-old girl.

Joseph “Joey” Pettigrew Sanders IV, 44, was arrested Friday morning by Easley police and charged with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, a police spokesman said. According to arrest warrants, Sanders sexually assaulted the girl in 2005 at a Comfort Inn in Easley.

The Liberty-based Miss South Carolina Organization just completed its annual pageant in Spartanburg. Sanders father, Joe Sanders, is president and CEO, and his mother, Gail, serves as pageant comptroller. Gail Sanders said Friday that Joey Sanders has taken leave from the organization for the time being.

“He’s taken a leave of absence,” she said.

A message to Joey Sanders’ cell phone seeking comment was not immediately returned.

Joey Sanders' attorney, Bill Coates of Greenville, issued a statement on his behalf.

“Mr. Sanders absolutely denies the charges and he expects to be exonerated,” Coates said.

Arrest warrants list Joey Sanders address as 237 Sanders Road in Liberty. A woman living at the same address, Anita Jordan Gearhart, has been charged with two counts of unlawful conduct toward a child. Gearhart placed the child at “unreasonable risk of harm,” arrest warrants state.

Easley Municipal Clerk of Court records show Joey Sanders was released from custody under a $50,000 personal recognizance bond. Gearhart was released under a $20,000 personal recognizance bond.

According to an incident report from the Easley Police Department, officers received reports of the allegations against Sanders and Gearhart in June from the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office. According to the report, Pickens County officers were also investigating complaints against Sanders and had information that one incident occurred within Easley city limits.

The child has been removed from her home and is in the custody of the S.C. Department of Social Services, according to the police report.

No one was available at the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office Friday afternoon to confirm whether that department’s investigation is ongoing.

In other child abuse news....
Today, Pope Benedict XVI said he was "deeply sorry' for the sexual abuse of children by Australia's Catholic clergy, delivering a strongly-worded apology Saturday that described their acts as evil and a grave betrayal of trust.

"I would like to pause to acknowledge the shame which we have all felt as a result of the sexual abuse of minors by some clergy and religious in this country," Benedict said during an address at a Mass in Sydney.

"I am deeply sorry for the pain and suffering the victims have endured. I assure them as their pastor that I too share in their suffering," he said.

"Those responsible for these evils must be brought to justice."

Benedict has expressed regret before about the clergy abuse scandal that has rocked the church in recent years — notably during a visit to the United States in April when he also met privately with a small number of victims. But the language of Saturday's apology was stronger than the pope's comments in the United States.

There was no immediate word whether Benedict would meet with victims of clergy abuse during his Australia trip, which ends Monday.

To find out more about Sex Offenders that live in your neighborhood, visit the National Sex Offender Registry website here.

Miss America on TV!

FOX NEWS BUSINESS HOUR Friday, July 18, 2008
Between 5:00pm to 6:00pm LIVE Interview

Miss America 2008 Kirsten Haglund will be on FOX live with film producer Darryl Roberts to look at our image-obsessed society and discuss Roberts new documentary, "America the Beautiful."

The documentary, which features interviews with Jessica Simpson, Anthony Kiedis, Eve Ensler and other celebrities, will also be supported by a YWCA-sponsored marketing campaign. Kirsten is working with ANAD, the first national organization dedicated to the alleviation and prevention of eating disorders, in an effort to support her personal platform of bringing awareness to eating disorders.

Kirsten will be in New York making promotional appearances for the film shortly before the national rollout, which has already been given two thumbs up from Roger Ebert.

Darryl Roberts, narrates and produces this documentary. He follows teenage model Gerren Taylor, while examining the beauty industry and entertainment media's impact on our views about body image and plastic surgery. "Beautiful" won best documentary at the Chicago International Film Festival.

Planet Hollywood to host Miss America again!

PLANET HOLLYWOOD RESORT & CASINO TO HOST
2009 MISS AMERICA LIVE! on TLC Saturday, January 24, 2009

Two-Hour Pageant Event Returns to Las Vegas and Will Air Live on TLC. The 2009 Miss America Live! event returns to Planet Hollywood
Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for a week of preliminary competitions,
culminating in a totally new live telecast on TLC, Saturday, January 24 at 8 p.m. ET.

“We are delighted to have 52 of the most beautiful girls on the planet returning here to their home at Planet Hollywood,” said Michael Mecca, president and CEO of Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. "This is a wonderful event for not only Planet Hollywood, but for the city of Las Vegas, and the Miss America Live! event returning to our property gives us the opportunity to showcase our magnificent resort.”

The Miss America Organization is equally pleased with naming Planet
Hollywood as our Pageant home for the next two years. “We are
thrilled to be returning to Planet Hollywood again for this year’s
telecast,” said Art McMaster, president and CEO of the Miss America
Organization. “We are continuing to build on new traditions here in
Las Vegas and we are so pleased that Planet Hollywood Resort &
Casino has chosen to be a part of Miss America’s continuing history in
the entertainment capital of the world.”

"Planet Hollywood was a great partner in making last year's Miss America Live! such a success, and we look forward to working with them again to make the 2009 event even better," said Brent Zacky, vice president of programming for TLC.

The 52 Miss America contestants will sweep into town in January to
begin preliminary competitions in Swimsuit, Talent and Evening Wear. The three nights of preliminaries will take place on January 20, 21, and 22 at Planet Hollywood’s Theatre for the Performing Arts. Tickets for the preliminaries, as well as the Miss America Live! finals will be available to the public at www.ticketmaster.com starting in December.

Miss America has called Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino
home since moving to Las Vegas from Atlantic City in 2006. Kirsten
Haglund, of Farmington Hills, Michigan, is the current Miss
America.

Caitlyn and the Iraqis still ain't got no maps

Our little darlin' Caitlyn Upton has extended her 15 minutes of fame by showing up in a new music video from the band Weezer. The video mocks and features many of the "Stars" that the website YouTube has create.


Oh and Little Kitten, Nice Hits!

Creepy On-stage Questions.....

This year at Miss Universe, we had possibly the creepiest on-stage question ever asked. Four minutes into this video you will get to hear designer Roberto Cavalli ask the final question to Miss Mexico...."When is a woman truly satisfied?"
Now I know alot of the guys out there reading this can sympathize with the question, but you have to admit, Mr. Cavalli's delivery is right up there with Freddy Krueger.....


What are some of your most memorable interview questions been? I know there are some crazy ones out there... Comment below!

Miss Universe in Espanol

It seemed only fitting that I put the crowning ceremony up in Spanish given that four of the top five were from Latin speaking countries.

Miss Universe will be Venezuela.... Wanna Bet!

Well apparently alot of you did. So much so that Miss Venezuela was a favorite. The 2008 Miss Universe betting odds fluctuated quite a bit as show time got closer to the live event Sunday evening.

Miss Venezuela remained the favorite - mostly 5 to 1.

Miss Puerto Rico would have paid 8/1 at Bookmaker.com
Miss Mexico also had 8/1 odds at Bookmaker.com
Miss Panama and Miss USA tied with 9/1 at Bookmaker.com
Many of the other online gambling sites featured Miss USA at 8/1 odds.
Miss Columbia averaged 10/1.
Miss Belgium suddenly catapulted into 10/1 odds at Bookmaker.com
Miss Czech Republic had odds of 11/1 at SBG Global
Miss India at 15/1 odds. These were made longer after Miss India had gotten some action and the odds were initially shortened at Bookmaker.com
Miss Ireland would have paid 20/1 odds at Sportsbook.com
Miss Dominican Republic was selected the most beautiful by Gambling911.com and she came in with odds of 18/1 at Sportsbook.com
Miss Greece had odds of 20/1 at BetOnline.com.

The following odds were available courtesy of Bookmaker.com
MISS KOSOVO 20/1
MISS NORWAY 20/1
MISS SOUTH AFRICA 18/1
MISS AUSTRALIA 22/1

Miss USA falls Version 2.0

NOT AGAIN!!!! Yes it happened again. Miss USA Crystal Stewart falls at Miss Universe. This is the second year in a row that Miss USA has fallen on the Miss Universe stage.
Can someone get in-touch with Miss J over at America's Next Top Model and teach these girls to walk!!!



And its YouTube, so you knew there would be an 2007/2008 Remix!

MIss Universe 2008!!!

Photo credit AP NEWS

Miss USA falls Version 1.0

Miss USA Rachel Smith fell during the Miss Universe 2007 Pageant.
Thankfully lightning never strikes twice.... Or could it?

Dónde está la playa?

What is it about all those girls from Latin America having hot swimsuit bodies? While these girls will surely score well in swimsuit, my pick for Miss Universe is gonna be Miss Australia. Gotta love those kangaroos and koala bears!

Miss Universe is on NBC tonight!!!

Photo credit : Reuters News

UPDATE - Well unfortunately my precious little Koala Bear didnt do so well. She sneaked through swimsuit with a terrible 7.8 score and a 9th place finish. Then in Evening Gown she only got a 7.5 so Top 5 was well out of the picture. But was I right about these hot latinas or what? Four of the Top Five were all sexy girls from down south. Hola! Miss Venezuela, Miss Colombia, Miss Dominican Republic, y Miss Mexico... Como estas?

Two Carolina girls going to Miss America again!!

Once again North Carolina will be sending two girls to Miss America.
No it's not another Revels/Clymer scandal. These two girls will be wearing separate state sashes. This year Miss NC, Amanda Watson will have a familiar face on-stage. Kendria Perry, a former Miss North Carolina contestant, will also make the trip representing the northern state of Pennsylvania at this years Miss America Pageant.

Way to go Kendria!

Photo credit:
Competition - AP/Rick Smith
Headshot - Carter Studios

Talent down to 90 seconds.....

Rapper Eminem has a song that starts out,
"Look, if you had one shot or one opportunity
To seize everything you ever wanted in one moment,
Would you capture it or just let it slip?"

For Miss America this year, contestants have been asked to widdle their talent opportunity down to 90 seconds. Considering most full length songs run about 3-4 minutes, it means that some major cuts will have to occur in contestants performance arrangements. Its apparent that Miss America's goal is to feature more talent performances within the time constraints of a 2 hour television show, yet the question becomes, Is a minute and a half really long enough to showcase your talent?? Comment below...

Miss Washington.... "How you like them apples?"

TMZ.com has revealed some very condemning photos of Elyse Umemoto, Miss Washington 2007. Many of you will remember Elyse from the Miss America Pageant where she was a odds on favorite and ended up placing 2nd Runner-up. Well it appears that in her spare time Elyse has been sharpening her talents in Beer Pong and working on a her new platform dedicated to helping Deaf Lesbians, no not Def Leppard, I said Deaf Lesbians.

As you can imagine, Elyse has came out swinging and has already called a press conference to let the public know that these photos were stolen from her and that she did not intend for them to be seen by the public. Naaah, you don't say....

Perhaps Elyse should have called Miss NJ Amy Palumbo or Miss NV USA's Katie Rees to get some tips on how bad images of you, the internet, and nuclear image proliferation works.

No comment from "The Donald" so far.... He's probably on his jet headed for Miss Universe over in Vietnam this weekend. Oh, wait! Its not a USA girl this time!
Well I am sure Donnie will have something to say after he picks up the Vietnamese Enquirer tomorrow morning after landing in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa. (Bless you)









I was kinda disappointed when I checked out the link on the Miss Washington website that's titled "Elyse in the news". It didnt forward you to any recent articles. So for all you who care to read the latest on Elyse check out TMZ.com

Miss Universe commercial

Her name is Riyo and she dances on the sand

Miss Universe is this weekend in Vietnam.
Riyo Mori, Miss Universe 2007 is from Japan which means that if an import car show breaks out she won't be caught dead in the Daewoo booth, you will find her over at the Honda display....

Hoots wins Hooters!

Sara Hoots, a Hooters Girl in Selma, TX a city right outside of San Antonio, will return to her hometown $50,000 richer after being crowned Miss Hooters International 2008 tonight at the 12th Annual Hooters International Swimsuit Pageant. She was selected from 128 Hooters Girl contestants that traveled from as far as Shanghai to represent the 446 Hooters restaurants around the world.

Here's a vid of Sara.... I can see why!


From evening gowns to swimsuits, the contestants was judged by a distinguished celebrity panel including Actor, D.B. Sweeney; Miami Heat Point Guard, Gary Payton; IndyCar racer, Helio Castroneves; E! Entertainment Host, Michael Yo; ESPN's "Stump the Schwab", Howie Schwab; Professional Golfer, John Daly; NBA Player and Best Damn Sports Show Period co-host, John Salley and Top Fuel Dragster, Brandon Bernstein. For the second year in a row Sports Announcer and host of Fox Sports Net Best Damn Sports Show Period, Chris Rose, hosted the pageant.

Along with the cash and crown Sara Hoots also brings home the responsibility to represent the concept as the quintessential Hooters Girl -- the cheerleader, girl next door. "The judges had a tough job this year, every contestant was gorgeous," stated Beth Taylor, Pageant Director for Hooters. "But we couldn't have picked a better winner. Given her name and genuine personality, Sara was destined to take home the crown," stated Beth Taylor, Pageant Director.

In addition to the winner, there were 4 top finalists, all of whom will take home prizes. Heather Brady, representing Killeen, TX was first runner up and received $15,000 in cash plus prizes; Nesie Daglis who represented Downtown Atlanta took home $10,000 was second runner up and in third place was Vanessa Ferbeyre, Miss Miami took home $8,000. Serina Snelling, representing Hampton, VA was the 4th place runner up and receives $7,000. Ms. Congeniality was voted for by the contestants themselves and was won by Emma Cam of Australia, and a Ms. Photogenic award which includes a professional photo shoot valued at $5,000 went to Sarah Barret of Lafayette, IN. In recognition of the chain's international expansion, a Miss Hooters World was given to Suzie Fu representing Beijing, China.

The pageant was held at the Broward Theatre for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, FL and was broadcast live to all Hooters restaurants across the country. During the show, Hooters Girl, Stormie Hawkins from Peoria, IL was awarded the Viewer's Choice Award by receiving the majority of over 130,000 text votes that were cast during the contest.

10 years has past and still no news on JonBenet.

AP Reports from Boulder, Colorado
Citing new DNA tests, prosecutors on Wednesday cleared JonBenet Ramsey's parents and brother in the 1996 killing of the 6-year-old beauty queen and apologized to the family for casting the cloud of suspicion that hung over them for more than a decade.

Boulder County District Attorney Mary Lacy said the tests point to an "unexplained third party." She released a copy of a letter she sent to John Ramsey that said: "To the extent that we may have contributed in any way to the public perception that you might have been involved in this crime, I am deeply sorry."

For years after the slaying, tabloids and crime shows went after the couple. News reports also cast suspicion on JonBenet's older brother, Burke, who was 9 when his sister was killed. Lacy's predecessor as district attorney, Alex Hunter, said in 1997 that the parents were under an "umbrella of suspicion."

"No innocent person should have to endure such an extensive trial in the court of public opinion, especially when public officials have not had sufficient evidence to initiate a trial in a court of law," Lacy wrote.

Early in the investigation police found male DNA in a drop of blood on JonBenet's underwear and determined it was not from anyone in her family, but Lacy said they were unable to say who it came from and whether that person was "innocent or otherwise."

Then late last year, prosecutors turned over long underwear JonBenet was wearing to the Bode Technology Group near Washington, which used a new technique called "touch DNA" to find previously undetected DNA evidence.

Touch DNA involves scraping genetic material that could not otherwise be seen. Two samples were found on the sides of her long underwear, in an area where an attacker would have pulled them down.

The results, reported to prosecutors in March, indicated the newly discovered DNA matched the DNA found earlier, and was not from the Ramsey family. Lacy said the presence of the same male DNA in three places on the girl's clothing convinced investigators it belonged to JonBenet's killer, and had not been left accidentally by an innocent party.

"It is therefore the position of the Boulder District Attorney's Office that this profile belongs to the perpetrator of the homicide," she wrote.

Lacy declined to comment through a spokeswoman.

Lacy has previously expressed doubts that the parents were involved. In 2003, a federal judge handling a defamation lawsuit in Atlanta involving the Ramseys said evidence in the case was more consistent with the theory that an intruder killed JonBenet, not her parents, and Lacy said she agreed.

John Ramsey found his daughter's strangled and bludgeoned body in the basement of the family's home in Boulder on Dec. 26, 1996. Patsy Ramsey said she found a ransom note demanding $118,000 for her daughter.

John Ramsey, a software entrepreneur, has said in interviews he believes the case will be solved.

Patsy Ramsey died June 24, 2006, of ovarian cancer at the age of 49 in Atlanta, where the family moved after JonBenet's death.

"My first thought was obviously I wish Patsy Ramsey was here with us to be able to at least share vindication of her family," said L. Lin Wood, an attorney for the Ramsey family.

"There are many people in this country, if not around the world, that also owe John and Patsy Ramsey and Burke Ramsey (their son) an apology," he said.

Jamee is a Sweetheart.... and Grace is too

Miss UNC-P Jamee Hunt finished first runner-up at Miss NC this year. That placement will allow her to go on and compete with other MAO State first runner-ups at the National Sweetheart Pageant in Hoopeston, Il in late August if she so chooses.

Grace Wepner, who is also from here in Lincolnton, NC may also be going to try some sweet corn. Grace attends college at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC and she took home first runner-up honors at Miss SC this year.

If so, the festival attendees will surely get to see these girls lovely talents. Here is a video of Jamee performing at this year's Miss Lumbee Pageant which was held last week.
Sorry, there arent any videos of Grace playing the harp on YouTube.... so I guess you will have to settle for this one of some chick jammin' out on her harp in public.

New pageant talent??

You know you're in trouble when the contestants name is Busty Heart. And when she comes out wearing clear stripper shoes it becomes a given. Lets just hope this talent doesn't catch on and show up at a Miss Local stage any time soon, but if it does hopefully I or some other photographer, will be there with a camera to show it to you.

Chelsea's engaged!

Chelsea Cooley, Miss USA 2005 emailed me to let me know that she's off the market and getting married! Very sad day for all us single guys out there that had her on our short list of potential girlfriends. Well best wishes to Chelsea her lucky beau.

If your interested, Chelsea's company StandOut Productions is still doing lots of pageant seminars and you can find out more by checking out her site at StandOutProductions.net Who knows, if you can generate enough interest you may be able to get her to come to your town!

In other USA news she also let me know that Miss Teen USA is actually going to be held in the Bahamas at Paradise Island! Leave it up to the Trumpster to take a USA title competition off the USA mainland. Sadly this year the pageant will not be on TV, so if you want to support your girl you'll have to buy a ticket.... Can anyone say ROAD TRIP!!!!

Pageants are BIG in Texas

So big that three women will represent Oklahoma July 5 in Dallas as part of the National Miss Plus America Pageant.

Giselle Alexander, Alysse DeSelle and Joyce Lewis were crowned Mrs. Oklahoma Plus America, Miss Oklahoma Plus America and Ms. Oklahoma Plus America, respectively, at the 2008 Miss Oklahoma Plus America Pageant, the first exclusive full-figured pageant in Oklahoma. The women will now travel to Texas to compete in the national competition.

Ms. Oklahoma Plus America Joyce Lewis said this was her first big national pageant but was ready for the experience.

“First of all, you don’t have to be a size three to compete, to go out and promote community service, and that’s why I chose to do it,” she said.

This pageant was also the first big national pageant for Miss Oklahoma Plus America Alysse DeSelle.

“I just wanted to be a part of celebrating full-figured women,” she said.

While DeSelle and Mrs. Oklahoma Plus America Giselle Alexander each spent two months preparing for the Oklahoma pageant (Lewis said she had about five months to prepare), the women have now received coaching and training from executive state producer Virginia Thomas, executive state director Franchesca Thomas, publicist and former make-up artist Evonne Winkenwerder, state co-director La Tisha Thomas, assistant producer and choreographer Michael Bailey and interview and modeling coordinator Carrie Ford-Burks.

“The program actually assists you in your endeavor,” Franchesca Thomas said.

Winkenwerder said the support the women receive from the Miss Oklahoma Plus America staff helps the contestants prepare for the pageant.

“[The women] don’t just have to walk into the program cold turkey,” she said.

However, the women said they would not have been able to compete in the Oklahoma pageant or the national competition without sponsorships and support from friends, family and their employers.

“It’s just overwhelming how people step up to the plate,” said Franchesca Thomas. “Sometimes it’s not always just money but motivation and family support.” Lewis agreed.

“A lot of help comes from our employers,” she said.

While the women admit it took a lot of thought before signing on to compete in the pageant, each said the pageant has given them more confidence and self love. Mrs. Oklahoma Plus America Giselle Alexander said many people go through life trying to please others instead of pleasing themselves.

“When a person accepts themselves, they become so much better,” she said. “Going in front of [the crowd at the pageant] — it’s life-changing,” she said.

Alexander, DeSelle and Lewis will walk the stage July 5 at the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas. DeSelle and Lewis could each eventually have a second opportunity to enter the pageant in the Mrs. division. However, this will be the last time Alexander will be allowed to compete in the plus pageant.

“Yeah, because I am not getting divorced,” Alexander said while laughing.

Early registrants for the 2009 pageant will pay a $250 registration fee and a $100 application fee. After Aug. 1, the price will increase to a $450 registration fee. The application fee will remain $100.

For more information and to see what all the BIG DEAL is about visit Miss Plus America.