From Beauties of America Blog: FARGO'S NEXT TOP MODEL SEARCH

Saturday, April 28, 2007.

Jo-Anna was one of the Judges for the 2007 Fargo's Next Top Model Search, held at the Fargo Civic Center, located in downtown Fargo, North Dakota.

This event was organized by Natalie Sparrow of Ultimate Model and Talent Management. Under Natalie's direction, this was a professional, well organized and fun event! Many thanks to Natalie Sparrow for all of her hard work.

Jennifer Toso-Kenna, Mrs. North Dakota America 2007, was also one of the Judges. Here Jenni and Jo-Anna are pictured, taking a well deserved break and visiting the exhibitions at the event.

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Sweden Exits Miss Universe Pageant

By Staff
Apr 25, 2007

This year's Miss Universe pageant won't have a contestant from Sweden because the event is behind the times, organizers in the Scandinavian nation say.

"The modernization of the international competition has been significantly slower than the Swedish contest, although we see signs of change on horizon," Swedish organizer Panos Papadopoulos said in a statement Wednesday. "Until the parent organization catches up, we have chosen not to participate this year."

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Gun-toting Miss America on Leno

BY JENNIFER BAKER

The former Miss America from Cincinnati who now lives in Kentucky and recently shot out a tire on an intruder's truck is scheduled to appear on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," according to the show's website.

Venus Ramey, 82, will appear on tonight's episode along with fellow guest talk-show host Conan O'Brien, the show's schedule states.

Ramey, the 1944 Miss America, has been in the news recently after she confronted a man she said was stealing from her Waynesburg farm in Kentucky.

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Miss America Plays "Innocent" to Catch Sexual Predators

by Matt Webb Mitovich

Lauren Nelson with America's Most Wanted host John Walsh

This Saturday on America's Most Wanted (9 pm/ET on Fox), viewers will see Lauren Nelson use her Miss America powers for good, as a "special investigator" enlisted to snare online predators in a very different Web. Nelson, who has dedicated her reign to promoting Internet safety for kids, posed in chat rooms as a 14-year-old girl, and found herself on the receiving end of overtures at first plain and genteel, but for the most part ultimately graphic and sexually perverse in nature. The end game? To give a would-be predator enough rope with which to hang himself, by arranging for an in-person "meeting" with Nelson's underage alter ego. The perv would instead, however, be greeted by AMW host John Walsh and the Suffolk County (New York) Computer Crimes Unit.

Detailing for TVGuide.com the fine line she had to brave within the instant-messaging arena, Nelson, 21, says her teen persona never made the first move — nor needed to. "[The men] would send the first message, saying, 'ASL,' or 'age/sex/location,' so immediately they know that I am a 14-year-old girl from Long Island," she shares. "From there, they started a conversation and escalated it to a sexual level. And they came, on their own time and very willingly, to this [decoy] house to have sex with a 14-year-old."

But as these cyberchats grew dicey in nature, did Nelson have to pruriently play along to sustain the sting operation? "No, we played innocent," she says. AMW's John Walsh reiterates, "Lauren is a 21-year-old lady, and nobody asked her nor did she try to take [the conversation] to another level, to entrap them by saying anything salacious or off-color to lure them [to the house]. These guys, it's almost like they're talking to and titillating themselves, so our job was not to provoke them or be provocative, but to say, 'Yeah, I'm dumb enough or naive enough or curious enough for you to come here."

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Stop the Press! :)

Joy Pfister's (BOA 30's), new Swim line makes its first debut in Richmond Magazine!!

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Tune In Alert - Media Coverage to Promote AMW Episode

PRESS CONTACTS:
Sharon Pearce
Miss America Organization
609-345-7571, ext. 17
sharon@missamerica.org

TUNE IN ALERT for Miss America 2007 Lauren Nelson to Promote the America's Most Wanted Sting Operation to Catch On-Line Child Predators

Miss America 2007 Lauren Nelson will be on several national media outlets to promote her upcoming appearance on AMERICA’S MOST WANTED, which is scheduled to air on Saturday, April 28 (9:00-10:00 ET/PT) on FOX. More information on this special episode of AMW will be sent later this week.

Scheduled TV Interviews Include:

THURSDAY, APRIL 26 - all times are Eastern

9:00AM - TODAY Show on NBC

10:00AM - America's Newsroom on FOX News Channel

10:00PM - On the Record with Greta Van Susteren - FOX News Channel

FRIDAY, APRIL 27

The Morning Show w/ Mike and Juliet - check local listings for station and time.

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Pageant Company Selects Bentonville For Events

This article was published on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 9:05 PM CDT in News

By Richard Dean Prudenti
The Morning News

BENTONVILLE -- Bentonville is now the host city of the Miss Arkansas USA and Miss Arkansas Teen USA pageants.

"We are looking for a community that will get behind us -- a home that we can come back to year after year," said Karen Elliott, executive coordinator with Vanbros & Associates of Overland Park, Kan.

The company organizing the event operates under the Miss Universe Pageant umbrella. John Vannatta Jr., director of the Miss Arkansas USA and Miss Arkansas Teen USA pageants, chose Bentonville over Fort Smith and Eureka Springs in part because of the Arend Arts Center at Bentonville High School.

"It looks phenomenal. I feel assured," Elliott said.

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Miss Barbados Universe aids differently abled children

Web Posted - Wed Apr 25 2007
MISS Barbados Universe, Jewel Garner, continues her training for the Miss Universe show in May. However, recently the six-foot-tall lawyer took a break for a far more important cause.

The Barbados Advocate caught Garner at the Children's Development Centre, where she met with some of the children who receive physiotherapy at that facility.

Having signed up as a Variety Club of Barbados member, Garner was becoming familiar with some of the work done at the centre by that charity.

Executive Director of the Variety Club, Sharron Chandra Cumberbatch, told the Barbados Advocate that the charity joins with several others to support the work done at the centre.

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ND WWll VETERANS FUNDRAISER

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Local businesses and members of the community in the Fargo-Moorhead area have been deligently working to raise money to send ND World War II Veterans to Washington, DC to view the World War II Veterans Memorial. The goal is to raise enough money to send all 650 plus Veterans to Washington, DC to view this impressive tribute. So far, nearly $200,000.00 has been pledged or raised for this very worthwhile cause.

On Sunday, April 22, Jo-Anna participated in one of the many fundraisers geared to purchasing flights for the ND Veterans from Fargo's Hector International Airport to Washington, DC. Today's event was held at The Venue, a beautiful two storey nightclub in Fargo, and entertainment was generously provided by the Shriners big band called "The Imperials".

Participants danced the afternoon away to songs of the World War II era. It was an enchanting experience.




Jo-Anna is pictured dancing with fundraiser organizer, Victor Gelking.

Jo-Anna was joined by other royalty at this wonderful fundraiser. Here Jo-Anna is pictured with Brandi Schoenberg, Miss. North Dakota International, 2007; Karine Pogosyan, ND BOA 30's; Kerri Albrecht, Mrs. North Dakota International 2007 . A wonderful time was had by all in attendance.

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DawnRochelle.com is updated!

Voted one of Maxim Magazine's Hottest 101 Women Hi Everyone! My website has been redesigned with new updates and pics! Check it out at www.DawnRochelle.com Be sure to send me an email and let me know what you think of the new look! Also, watch for me on the America's Hottest Mom TV series hosted by supermodel Niki Taylor. I'm one of the top 20 "Hot Mom's" in Dallas. Dawn Rochelle Productions is getting ready for the 2007 Miss Latina World Pageant. Join us for the fun July 5-8 in Las Vegas! Tickets go on sale May 1 at www.misslatina.com Best Wishes! ~Dawn~

via e-mail

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Charissa Payer

Charissa Payer
Originally uploaded by pageantcast.

Charissa Payer, Beauties of America 40's 2006, is our guest on Tuesday's PageantCast. I'll actually get to meet her, face-to-face, this coming weekend at the Ohio/Indiana/Kentucky state Beauties of America competition in Cincinnati, Ohio. What better way to get ready for a fun pageant weekend than a fresh new PageantCast with one of the pageant participants, right (Charissa's crown will be passed on for Ohio)?

All that, a Jessica Nicely Pageant Parlor about how to promote your platform and a tune from Lato that I'm certain will have your toe tapping.

Be sure to tune in!

BOA: North Dakota SPECIAL OLYMPICS Fundraiser

Saturday, April 21, 2007



Jo-Anna participated in the Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser for the North Dakota Special Olympics. This well attended fundraiser was organized by Laura Lake, Area 6 Director, Special Olympics. For more information about Special Olympics or to make a donation to this wonderful organization, please email Laura at
sondarea6director@yahoo.com




The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year round sports training and athleticcompetition in a variety of Olympic type sports for children and adults with mental retardation, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendships with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

The Special Olympics Oath is"Let me win. But if I cannot win, Let me be brave in the attempt."

What a phenomenal group of individuals!

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Britani Madala update

I Need You to Be a Hero!

My mother called me today and gave me an update on Brittany. Brittany needed a blood transfusion; her blood is A- and the hospital didn't have any for her. They had to give her a B- blood transfusion.
We have a problem here that needs to be solved. I need YOU to make a difference and donate blood as there is a shortage. The following chart can provide you with information about blood types and what percent of the population has that type.

What are the most common types of blood?

Blood Type % of Population with this Type Who Can Receive this Type
0+ 37.4 ;0+, A+, B+, AB+
0- 6.6; All Blood Types
A+ 35.8; A+, AB+
A- 6.3; A+, A-, AB+, AB-
B+ 8.5; B+, AB+
B- 1.5; B+, B-, AB+, AB-
AB+ 3.4; AB+
AB- .6 ;AB+, AB-

I have emailed Brittany's family to give them a message. I told them to let Brittany know that I promise her I will make her need, as well as more individuals needs, for more blood a reality. Please help me to make a difference, and become a hero.

*Please contact the Blood Center of Wisconsin at:
638 N. 18th Street
Milwaukee, WI 53233
Telephone: (414) 933-5000

Also feel free to contact me at missracine2007@yahoo.com

OR contact the blood center nearest you.

We can make a difference for this little girl. The time is now!

Posted by Britani at 11:20 PM

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1944 Miss America Defends Farm With Gun

Reporter: Phil Pendleton

Email Address: phil.pendleton@wkyt.com

1944 Miss America Defends Farm With Gun - Phil Pendleton Reports

She's 82 years old and today says she's not afraid to use a gun to protect her community. This comes after she did just that shooting at a man's car she says was trying to steal metal near her home in Pulaski County. WYMT's Phil Pendleton spoke to the woman and found out something else about our gun totin' grandma.

Venus Ramey knows it would be easy for someone to take advantage of her. She's 82 and needs a walker to get around.

"I'm an old woman. They figure they can get away with a lot," Ramey said.

Last Friday, she says some people tried to get away with some of her scrap metal. They were caught in the act and police say Curtis Parish was the ringleader.

"And he said if you get out of my way, we'll leave. And I said oh no you won't and I shot 2 shots in one of their tires," Ramey said.

Only that wasn't enough for this former Miss America who fired again.

"I shot one and it wouldn't go down. I thought it would go woosh and flatten, but it didn't. They're not made that way, so I shot it again," Ramey said.

Police say stealing scrap metal is an epidemic and they arrested Curtis Parish and charged him with trespassing. Police say he took the rap for the others involved.

Ramey won the Miss America crown in 1944. Now spends her time selling trees on her farm and trying to protect her property from thieves.

"The first time I was robbed on the other side road about 6 or 7 years ago, I caught one man," Ramey said.

But now both police and Ramey say they don't think this man will try to steal from her again.

Police say Ramey had every right to fire the gun since they say she witnessed the men committing a crime on her property.

More at the Source (including a video--link above)

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In the Hot Seat: She sings, dances, studies, teaches and volunteers

By Leigh Grogan - Bee Staff Writer

Published 12:00 am PDT Friday, April 20, 2007
Story appeared in SCENE section, Page J3

Danielle Feil with her littlest fan, Brianna Curtin, 4, after her crowning as Miss Sacramento County in February. /April Smith

The local pageant circuit is buzzing these days, with at least two area women headed to major competitions. One of them is Danielle Feil, 21, who is the reigning Miss Sacramento County.

(Tracie Stafford of Sacramento is the newly crowned Mrs. California and will represent California in the Mrs. United States pageant in Las Vegas in July.)

Feil, a student at California State University, Sacramento, is working on her master of fine arts in theater, with a minor in dance. She will graduate in May 2008.

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World's Most Beautiful Woman Gets Married

MUMBAI, India (AP) - April 20, 2007 - Film-crazy India held its breath Friday as two of its biggest stars, the emerald-eyed former Miss World Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan, a romantic hero and son of an Indian cinema legend, celebrated their wedding.

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Miss Universe hopefuls come out to play

19th April 2007, 14:15 WST

Fuelled by Red Bull and fine weather, WA's nine Miss Universe Australia finalists joined their interstate counterparts to soak up the sun on the Swan River this afternoon in preparation for tomorrow's national title.

Event coordinator Grant Good said the 28 national finalists vying for the sash and crown have spent a hectic 24 hours in Perth, and most had known for less than a week that they would be competing.

VIDEO: Miss Universe hopefuls come out to play. Click here

PICTURE GALLERY: Miss Universe Australia Finals. Click here

"Usually we have a week of preparation time but it has been much more intense this year."

It showed. During interviews, all nine of the WA contestants expressed their disbelief the end for most of them was so near.

Perth contestant Jilian Hawley, 19, said her entry into the competition had been last minute - and she had just four days to prepare.

"It's been such a whirlwind, trying to think of what they will be asking, and what I'll need to wear," she said.

Many of the nine WA girls will be wearing local designers in the evening gown section, with Ruth Tarvydas, Celestial Tenielle and Pierucci among the names of designers whose clothes will grace the catwalk at tomorrow's showdown at Burswood Entertainment Complex.

Only one of the 28 competitors will be whisked away to Mexico City to vie for the crown that made Jennifer Hawkins a household name.

The Miss Universe competition flailed in the late 90s until Miss Hawkins took the crown and was catapulted into the Australian A-list.

Interior decoration student Tahlia Goodrick, 18, said entering the Miss Universe competition had never been something she considered as a career opportunity until she was nominated.

"It sounded like a good challenge so I thought I'd just give it a shot. It's also been quite nerve-wracking and I've been studying up on current affairs," she said.

The youngest woman in the competition is Georgia Kay, who at just 18 barely qualifies for the 18-27 age limit.

"I just found out I'm also the only one with no modelling experience, but I just keep telling myself it's just about fun," she said.

Miss Kay, who will begin a double degree in visual arts at Monash University in Melbourne, is likely to win fans with a down-to-earth-attitude that could rival the likes of Hawkins herself.

PETA RULE

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Pageant winners to perform to support music in schools

By TERRY RINDFLEISCH | La Crosse Tribune

.

Sarah Brown and Katherine Weber always have had music in common.

Brown and Weber, who won several vocal solo contests in high school, also share the same platform for the Miss Wisconsin Pageant — music and arts education.

Weber, Miss Holmen, and Brown, Miss Midwest Wisconsin, will compete against each other June 30 at the Miss Wisconsin Pageant, but Saturday they will share the stage to raise money for music programs at their schools.

“We thought we could do this together and bring our communities together,” Brown said. “We wanted something that could involve the community and showcase the arts, especially music.”

Weber, a 2006 Holmen High School graduate now majoring in vocal performance at Viterbo University, will sing “Art is Calling for Me” from the operetta, “The Enchantress,” which won her solo competitions in high school. She also will sing the song at the Miss Wisconsin Pageant.

Brown, a 2004 Onalaska High School graduate, will sing the Linda Eder song “Gold” at the concert and state pageant. She attended Berklee College of Music in Boston for two years and now takes general credits at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. She plans to return to Berklee for vocal performance and professional music business/songwriting.

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Perth beauty out of contest

Jennie Fitzhardinge

April 17, 2007 10:00pm

Article from:

TOPLESS photos and a liking for "kissing girls, and men who can kiss well" has ruled Perth beauty Carly Hanson out of Miss Universe.

Hanson, a former favourite to win, has withdrawn from the contest after it was revealed she had posed topless for men's magazine Ralph.

Ralph magazine has two pictures of Hanson in their "Babes" section, one with the caption: "Perth Hottie Carly Hanson, 20, likes bikinis that show off her breasts, kissing girls, men who can kiss well and sunbathing topless. And that's why we like her."

National event coordinator Grant Good said to be eligible to enter the event, contestants must not have posed nude in photographs or films.

"We've only just found out that she had topless shots in Ralph," Good said. "It's just not suitable. We had that problem with Erin McNaught last year and we can't go through that again."

Last year's Miss Universe Australia winner Erin McNaught was embroiled in controversy after it was revealed she had posed for Zoo magazine. Until then, she had been a favourite to win the title.

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Judges look for more than a smile

19th April 2007, 7:00 WST


With their tousled hair, dramatic eyes and brilliant white smiles, the nine WA beauties vying for the title of Miss Universe showed the perfect combination of glamour and laidback attitude that won Jennifer Hawkins the crown in 2004.

But, it would take more than fluttering eyelids and good looks to make it to the top, said Perth judge Michelle Guy.

Ms Guy, who won the title of Miss Universe Australia in 2005, said values, education and skills are considered a key asset. “It’s 30 per cent on personality,” she said. “That’s a huge portion of your marks.”

But do the math, and certainly good looks are the main ticket to success.

Ms Guy, one of seven judges, has been busy dishing out advice on what is expected of Miss Universe Australia.

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Miss Texas to serve as Mistress of Ceremonies at Miss Jasper Pageant

Shilah Phillips

Shilah Phillips, Miss Texas 2006, of Plano, will serve as the Mistress of Ceremonies and headline performer at the 2007 Miss Jasper Scholarship Pageant on June 9. This event, sponsored by the Jasper Kiwanis Club, serves as an opportunity for young women in the community to earn college scholarships and educational awards through competition.

Phillips, 23, daughter of Janie and Jonathan Nicol, is the first African American woman to wear the crown of Miss Texas and represent the state at the Miss America pageant. Phillips wore the title of First Runner-Up at Miss America and received the CMT network People's Choice Award for her vocal talent performance.

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