| By Kevin Caufield countyreporter@newstrib.com | |
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| By Kevin Caufield countyreporter@newstrib.com | |
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Miss Iowa USA leaves for Los Angeles Thursday for two weeks of rehearsals prior to the nationally-televised competition for the crown later this month. Twenty-one-year-old Dani Reeves is a native of the southwest Iowa town of Hamburg and says she's going a little crazy trying to prepare for the biggest night of her life.
Reeves says "I'm constantly picking up things when I'm at the mall. It's a never-ending process of what you need. I think I'll be throwing things in my suitcase 'til the morning I leave on Thursday." The Miss USA Pageant will be carried on NBC on March 23rd and Reeves says she's ready for it all to get underway right now.
She says "I'm very nervous. I'm not sure really what to expect. It's going to be an experience. I'm really excited, especially to get out of all of this snow and get into sunny California." The six-foot-tall blonde has taken a year off from school at Western Iowa Tech in Sioux City, where she's studying pre-med. She knows her life could take a drastic change in a few weeks if she's crowned Miss USA.
...
Shandi Finnessey
Miss USA 2004, co-hosts "Lingo" with Chuck Woolery on the Game Show Network.
Hot: Very pretty. And if she's anything like Season 3 competitor/Miss USA 1995 Shanna Moakler, she's a fighter. (Paris Hilton accused Moakler of punching her in a nightclub.)
Not: What if she's like Chuck Woolery instead?
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| Chris Miller - staff reporter | |||
"This is my first one and I applied on a whim, actually," said Rassem. “It was really surprising because I had no expertise.” Upon learning she had been selected, she made up for her inexperience by researching the past contestants of Miss World Canada. "It’s been a lot of preperation but I’m fortunate it’s during co-op rather than school. Work is only nine-to-five." Much of the preparation has involved seeking out sponsorship and services for the pageant. She has also looked at how pageants have changed over the years. “I think people’s perceptions are that they’re superficial events for people to show off, but [Miss World Canada’s] motto is ‘Beauty With A Purpose’ so they really try to focus on volunteer work.” When asked what other assets besides beauty she hopes the judges will consider, she replied, "My brain — because of course I’m a Waterloo student." Noting that math departments are generally low on females, let alone female beauty queens, she hopes her academic side will set her apart from the other contestants: “I hope they can see that aspect of me.” | |||
This just might be the best bad idea I've heard in a while. The CW is casting for a new show called "Crowned" that will pit mother-daughter pairs of beauty contestants against each other. Sort of "America's Next Top Model" meets "The Amazing Race," but almost guaranteed to be more screwed up than either of those.
They're looking for both pageant veterans and first-timers, and the prize is $100,000 — plus, no kidding, a pair of tiaras. The CW promises that while physical beauty counts in the selection process, so does inner beauty. Well, I feel all warm and fuzzy now, so
I'm not going to lie: While I wouldn't in a million years enter a mother-daughter beauty pageant (sorry, mom), I think the people who do will be some of the best reality contestants we've seen in years. And I'm talking about an industry that produced Constantine Maroulis.
Also, almost all of the casting calls are at malls in the South. Stereotyping, much? Check here to see if there's a casting event in your area; it might be fun to just hang out and eavesdrop for a day, dontcha think?
The warring couple were photographed together on Valentine's Day, fueling speculation they were giving their marriage another try. Some internet sites even speculated that Moakler was pregnant.
However, she says, "I am single. Travis and I are not together. I am not pregnant either."
South School had its first Celebrity Reading Day on Wednesday. Miss Wisconsin and potential Miss USA Caitlin Morrall read Dr. Seuss books to the children, as did Ronald McDonald, WISC-TV Channel 3 news reporter Jessica Arp and sports anchor Alanna Rizzo, Wisconsin Educators Association Council President Stan Johnson and local celebrities like Mayor John Deitrich, among others.
Then The Cat in the Hat appeared with Thing 1 and Thing 2, and oh what wonderful things they could do!
The event was part of the National Education Association's 10th Annual Read Across America Week, which promotes reading and community service.
Katie Fuhrman wants to someday become an event planner or a journalist. She fulfilled the event planning part of her passion Sunday when she produced a beauty pageant as her senior project.
The Tokay High School student put out all the stops as 20 girls from Galt to Modesto showed themselves off in their evening gowns, swim suits and other outfits in the Miss High School Teen pageant at Hutchins Street Square.
By Devon Lee, TFTJ Staff (Click here for photogallery)
Posted: March 3, 2007
What has people calling "Majestic: A Pageant Girl's Guide To Winning" by Jessica Nicely the best book on the market?
Majestic has 225 sample interview questions, exercises to help you answer your interview questions more effectively, photos to show you how to model properly, a sample sponsor letter to help you with the costs of competing, and that is just the beginning! This book is equivalent to hundreds of dollars worth of personal coaching and is the next best thing!
SAN FRANCISCO — "Miss Chinatown USA" permeated Chinese American society in the early part of its 50 years, according to a Chinese Historical Society of America exhibition that debuted last week.
The pageant organized by merchants and the Chamber of Commerce is a cornerstone of the community, according to curator Marisa Louie. "It’s interesting to see how everyone in the community had a Miss Chinatown story or knows a contestant," Louie said. "You can see how the contest used to be and still has become part of people’s lives."
Sue Lee, executive director of the CHSA, remembers "sitting with my grandparents, looking over the Chinese Times Newspapers insert. They would argue over who was going to win. It was a big thing for them. They would wait for the Miss Chinatown and they would watch the Miss America pageant. For us, we could see somebody who would look like us and be a beauty queen, who wasn’t white, blonde and long-legged. We were just legitimate like Miss America. So that really strikes a chord with Chinese Americans."
"The pageant used to be the social event in Chinatown," Louie said. "They had it at a larger venue that would sell out. They would have it simulcast over Chinese radio here in Chinatown and to people across the country. Nowadays, even though the Miss Chinatown is still an exciting thing that happens during Chinese New Year. It doesn’t meet with the same anticipation that it used to."
Thornton, 23, also competed in the contest in 2005. Another two-time competitor, Toronto's Natalie Glebova, won the Canadian title two years ago and went on to capture the Miss Universe crown as well.
A graduate of St. Francis Xavier Secondary School, Thornton said she hopes to win so she can use the title to help the community. She holds a soft spot for the Humane Society and the Hospital For Sick Children, organizations she plans to promote if she wins. She also wants to speak out against bullying in schools.
"I wasn't the (coolest) kid growing up; I've been bullied, and I'd like to help out my community," said Thornton. "The community could use help. This is where I live and the people I care about and love live here as well. So, I want to make a difference here."
In addition to discussing the pitfalls of drugs, alcohol, sex and violence, they'll also talk about the importance of a father's role in helping daughters make healthy choices. The event begins at 7 p.m. at the Morocco Shrine auditorium, 3800 St. Johns Bluff Road S.
Their message will challenge those attending to stay focused on their goals and to set high expectations for themselves.
Supermodel Kim Alexis will emcee, and Dan Hicken of First Coast News is Honorary Chair Dad for the event.
Tickets are $25 per person, or $200 for a reserved table of eight. Reservations can be made by calling 354-6883 or visiting www.projectsos.com.
By Patricia Wolff
of The Northwestern
Desiree Geffers, 20, of Oshkosh is the new Miss Oshkosh.
But 20-year-old student Holly Ikin is hoping that it will be a combination of beauty and brains that will give her a licence to thrill when she appears in the regional final of Miss Student UK.
Holly, who is studying for an honours degree in English at Manchester University, is hoping she can go on to win the national competition and scoop a grand prize of £10,000.
| By Ynetnews March 1, 2007 |
An apparent honor killing attempt on the life of Israel's first Druze beauty queen contestant was foiled this week by the Carmiel police. Two men were arrested for conspiring to murder 18-year-old Angelina Fares from the northern village of Sajur, in order to prevent her participation in the pageant that "would defile the honor of the Druze community." On Sunday, 30-year-old Jalal Hammoud, a resident of Sajur, was arrested for stealing the weapon of a solider from the village and giving it to his cousin Zayed Hammoud, who was arrested two days later for conspiracy to commit a crime and planning murder. The police are looking into who was responsible for recruiting the two to commit the murder. For fear of disruption of the investigation's proceedings, and since the suspect Zayed Hammoud was considered "dangerous," Akko magistrate court's judge William Hamed decided to extend his arrest by five days. Hammoud's attorney denied the allegations and said the suspect had no motive to commit such a crime. The Carmiel police commander refused to say whether the police were taking measures to ensure Angelina's protection. |
December 1985: Born in Dallas, Texas. Moves to Russell Springs, Ky., at age 6 weeks.
1989: At age 4, is named third runner-up in the Casey County Apple Festival pageant.
1998: At age 13, wins the title of Young Miss Russell County at the county fair.
2002: Wins Miss Kentucky Teen USA, named second runner-up at the Miss Teen USA pageant and winner of the swimsuit competition.
December 2005: Crowned Miss Kentucky USA.
April 2006: Crowned Miss USA, pictured at right.
June 2006: Russell Springs declares Tara Conner Day and holds a homecoming parade.
July 2006: Project Runway reality show contestants design Conner's Miss Universe dress.
July 2006: Competes in Miss Universe, named fourth runner-up.
December 2006: Rumors begin that Conner would be stripped of her crown.
Dec. 19, 2006: Pageant owner Donald Trump announces Conner would not lose her crown if she agrees to go into rehab.
January 2007: Conner completes rehab, checking out of a treatment center in Berks County, Pa.
January 2007: Conducts interview with Matt Lauer on NBC's Today show and with People magazine. Says "no" to offer to pose for Playboy magazine.
Tom Smith glanced at the door.
``This is Miss Ohio,'' he told a woman who walked into his Pilates studio in Akron.
Chances are, she might have wondered why a gal with a sash and crown was sitting on one of the machines while a cameraman was going nuts snapping photos.
Fact is, Tom is teaching Anna Melomud how to strengthen and stretch her body. She doesn't want to look ``bulky'' when competing in the Miss USA pageant in Los Angeles later this month.
At 5 feet 8 inches tall and 115 pounds -- fat chance.
Still, as Tom explained, Pilates lengthens the muscles and gives the appendages greater stability and flexibility. It will also help Anna walk erect, keep a good posture and maintain durability during the stressful competition.
Tom, who is also a professor of modern dance at the University of Akron, first learned about Pilates in the '70s, when he was dancing with the Martha Graham Dance Company in New York. A few weeks before he was to perform solo at Carnegie Hall, Tom sprained his ankle. Graham told him Pilates would help strengthen the weakened area.
When it worked, he was sold.
Thursday, March 1, 2007
By SHAWN HOPKINS - Bulletin Staff Writer
Even Miss Virginia was bullied in grade school.
Even before she became Miss Virginia, the 23-year-old Fairfax native became involved with antibullying causes. At 21, she became director of the Virginia Chapter of Bully Police USA, and when she ran for Miss Virginia and participated in the Miss America Pageant, fighting bullying was her platform. She also lobbied for two anti-bullying bills that were passed by the state General Assembly in 2005. “This was something that happened to me starting in fifth grade,” said Adrianna Sgarlata, the reigning Miss Virginia, who spoke to all Fieldale-Collinsville Middle School grades about bullying Wednesday. She said the incidents might have started as playful flirting, but eventually the boys in her school were breaking her things. One day, she said, they spit chewed-up chocolate chip cookie in her hair. “It was very devastating to me as a 9-year-old,” she said. Wednesday, Sgarlata talked about the different types of bullying — physical, verbal and emotional. When she first starts her talk, she said, middle-school age children generally think things such as someone being stuffed in a locker are funny. “I talked to them about while we see this stuff and we think it’s funny, it’s really not,” she said. For her presentations, Sgarlata brings along a quilt embroidered with pictures of children who have killed themselves after being bullied.
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| Miss Oshkosh contestants rehearse a dance routine at Albee Hall Sunday in preparation for Saturday's competition. Larry Crane/of The Northwestern |
Stylin' in poodle skirts and saddle shoes, 15 women will welcome Oshkosh to "A Night at the Hop." The 2007 Miss Oshkosh Scholarship Pageant kicks off at 8 p.m. Saturday in the Alberta Kimball Auditorium, where 15 Oshkosh-area contestants will vie for title of Miss Oshkosh and more than $10,000 in scholarship funds.
"They start with an afternoon interview with five judges, not from Oshkosh, and from there go into the evening competition," said Gert Schultz, pageant director.
Co-emceeing the event is the reigning Miss Oshkosh Janelle Larie and Miss Wisconsin Meghan Coffey. Now that it's her turn to pass down the crown, Larie feels mixed emotions.
"Of course it's sad; I just had such an enjoyable year … It was everything I thought it would be, and more," she said.
This year the pageant features newcomers as well as Miss Oshkosh veterans, such as 21-year-old Jennifer Schad, a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh who is competing for the third consecutive year.
"The big reason is the scholarship money; it helps pay for books, part of tuition," she said. "Also, every year I come back I learn something new."
It's a night of entertainment and lending support to a good cause, Schultz said.
"This is a community event … Each and every girl that participates in the pageant does need support."
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