The Miss Florida USA & Miss Florida Teen USA

Magazine of August 11th, 2005

Dear Miss Florida USA Family:

Welcome to another edition of YOUR Miss Florida USA & Miss Florida Teen USA Magazine YOUR information source for everything pageantry in the Sunshine State. What a great time it was being in Baton Rough at our national championship of teenage pageantry, Miss Teen USA. Our Miss Florida Teen USA Victoria Ratliff represented our state so well as she impressed all of the fans, directors and pageant people in Louisiana. Alas it wasn’t her set of judges but this is one amazing titleholder who say’s she will be back to nationals one day! Way to go Victoria we are all proud of you.

This weeks World Pageant News features reports on Miss Teen USA and a very special pageant for those with special needs. Miss Florida Teen USA news features information on this years last prelim pageant for Miss Florida Teen USA. Then Friday on Faces & Places get to meet our new Miss Teen USA and see the final pictures from Miss Teen USA in Baton Rouge. All the pageant news that fits to print updated on Thursdays and Fridays only at YOUR Miss Florida USA Ezine, the only Ezine in the pageant world!

Grant H. Gravitt, Jr.

Executive Producer

Miss Florida USA & Miss Florida Teen USA

49 Days until Miss FL Teen USA!

10 Days until Miss Weston Teen USA!

PAGEANT NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

» Allie LaForce Crowned MISS TEEN USA(R) 2005 During Live NBC Telecast
Tuesday August 9, 12:05 am ET

BATON ROUGE, La., Aug. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- This evening, during one of the year's most exciting live television events, a star-studded panel of judges chose Ohio's Allie LaForce as MISS TEEN USA® 2005. Ms. LaForce is a 16 year-old from Vermilion, Ohio who plans on studying broadcast journalism and participating in NCAA athletics so she can live out her dream of interviewing professional athletes. MTV VJ and Miss USA 2003, Susie Castillo, co-hosted with 'Passions' Heartthrob Galen Gering live from the Baton Rouge River Center Arena. Teen sensation Aaron Carter performed "Saturday Night" and "American Idol's" Kimberley Locke sang her top 20 hit "I Could."

16 year old Allie LaForce, from Vermilion,

Ohio reacts after being crowned

Miss Teen USA 2005 by Shelley Hennig,

Miss Teen USA 2004

The celebrity judging panel for Miss Teen USA 2005 included: Kathy Hilton, NBC's "I Want to be a Hilton," Naima Mora, CoverGirl spokesmodel and winner of "America's Next Top Model," John Ferriter, Senior Vice President Television- Cable Syndication Network Reality Department and head of Network Alternative at William Morris Agency; Shane McRae, Bobby on NBC's "Four Kings;" Danica Stewart, Jessica Bennett on NBC's "Passions;" Matt Ellis, Tommy's roommate on NBC's "Tommy Lee Goes to College;" and Lou Pearlman, world famous music producer. Throughout the two-hour event, the contestants competed in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown and interview. During these competitions the "Top Five" finalists were selected before the crowning. Shelley Hennig, Miss Teen USA 2004, crowned her successor at the conclusion of the two-hour primetime telecast, before an estimated worldwide viewing audience of more than 250 million.

First Runner Up:  Catherine Laurion, Miss Michigan Teen USA

Second Runner Up: Andrea Turner, Miss West Virginia Teen USA

Third Runner Up: Stephanie Brink, Miss California Teen USA

Fourth Runner Up: Kelly Cruse, Miss Illinois Teen USA

Rest of Top Ten:

Tori Hall, Miss Virginia Teen USA

Brittany Toll, Miss New Mexico Teen USA

LaTasha Laine Lawrie, Miss Kansas Teen USA

Crystal Glidden, Miss Oklahoma Teen USA

Katie Conkle, Miss Georgia Teen USA

Miss Photogenic Award: LaTasha Laine Lawrie, Miss Kansas Teen USA. The general public voted on http://www.nbc.com for the delegate who exemplifies beauty through the lens of a camera.

Congeniality Award: Rachel Joy Woolard, Miss Missouri Teen USA. The award reflects the respect and admiration of the delegate's peers, who voted for her as the most congenial, charismatic and inspirational participant.

Sponsors of MISS TEEN USA ® 2005 include: CoverGirl Cosmetics, "Official Cosmetics" sponsor; The School for Film and Television; Preciosa Crystal, "Official Crystal Award;" Tadashi Fashions, "Official Fashion" sponsor; Mikimoto, "Official Jewelry" sponsor; American Airlines; Steve Madden, "Official Fashion Footwear;" Suzuki, "Official Automobile" sponsor; and Farouk Systems, "Official Haircare" sponsor and Mystic Tan.

» Special needs pageant opens door to dreams
By KATHY JEFCOATS / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Since she was a little girl, Brandy Walker has been captivated by beauty pageants — the dreamy dresses, shiny sashes, fragrant flowers and, of course, the tiara. But that world was not open to her. Walker, now 26, lives with developmental disabilities and said she didn't have what it took to participate in mainstream pageants. "I didn't have any talent," Walker said. None of that matters now that Walker won her own crown recently — no talent was required. She, along with three other winners of the third annual 2005 Special Needs Henry County Pageant, will spend the next year touring the state. "I wanted to be in pageants since I was a little girl," Walker said, holding roses, crying and trying to keep her tiara from falling off her head. Walker, the daughter of Bill and Debby Walker of Jackson, entered the pageant every year before winning. "I guess the third time's the charm," her dad said. Walker had no outlet for her desire until the dreams of another little girl made Walker's possible. Kristi Mills watched for years as her older sister, Lyndsey Mills, prepped and pampered herself for pageants.

Miss Special Henry County contestant Kristi Mills, escorted by Tony Angelini,

blows a kiss to the crowd. Kristi's sister established the pageant for

Henry County residents with disabilities

But Kristi, born with Down syndrome, found herself in the same position as Walker. However, her sister, who went on to win Miss Henry County on a platform of fairness and equality for people with disabilities, decided to do something about giving Kristi a chance at experiencing a pageant. "Why shouldn't she have the same fun I have had?" Lyndsey said of her sister. "I looked around and discovered there were no pageants for the special needs population and decided to form one here."

Kristi Mills, daughter of Dennis and Tina Mills of Stockbridge, won the teen title the pageant's first year and is now eligible to run in the adult category. Melissa Dodgen, daughter of Connie and Marshall Dodgen of Hampton, was the pageant's first adult queen. Lyndsey, 23, now lives in Athens, so her mother and Connie Dodgen have taken over the pageant, incorporating as People First of Henry County so they can pursue grants. However, Lyndsey emcees the pageant, which is the only one of its kind in the country and provides the winners with a whirlwind of activities not typically associated with people with disabilities. Winners will ride in parades, attend festivals and cruise the Atlanta Motor Speedway circuit in October.

Mary Yoder, executive director of the Atlanta Alliance on Developmental Disabilities, a United Way agency, applauds the event. "The spirit and goals of the event are wonderful," Yoder said. "The event shows that disability is not something to be hidden. It takes action to celebrate the lives and contributions of people with disabilities." Unlike mainstream pageants that focus on physical beauty, a parade of gorgeous gowns and revealing bathing suits, special needs contestants talk about their lives, jobs, volunteer efforts and interests. For example, Mr. Special Henry County, Frank Parker Jr., 25, loves to fish, play softball and bowl. The son of Bonnie Parker of Griffin, he is active with the Henry County Parks and Recreation's Special Olympics Program. Taking the stage Saturday night and grinning from ear to ear, Parker said, "This hasn't set in yet."

Walker loves bowling, swimming, reading and watching movies and is involved in pet therapy at a local nursing home. Community involvement has changed his daughter, Bill Walker said.

"She's come a long way," he said. "Really coming out of her shell. I am really proud of her."

Miss Teen Special Henry County is Rebecca Heaton, 12, the daughter of Terry and Sandra Heaton of Hampton. Rebecca takes horseback riding lessons and collects Yu-Gi-Oh trading cards.

"I wanted to win," she said. "I wanted to ride in a limo." Mr. Teen Special Henry County is Bart Crosby, son of Bart and Brenda Crosby of McDonough. He is the pageant's first wheelchair-confined winner. Bart swims, participates in wheelchair races, watches movies and, like most teenage boys, "really" likes girls.

Miss Special Henry County Brandy Walker (above, from left) hugs Kristi Mills as Holly-Marie Calhoun, Jennifer Maddox and Erin Hoffman look on. At right,

Rhea-Ann Smith crowns Bart Crosby as the new Mr. Teen Special Henry County.

MISS FL USA NEWS!

» MISS WESTON TEEN USA August 21^st

The final pageant in The Miss Teen USA Special Season is the inaugural Miss Weston Teen USA Pageant on August 21^st. For more information email director Katy Palido at info@misswestonusa.com or call her directly at 954-217-4949 or visit their website at http://www.kattypulido.com/weston/#.

» 2007 Miss Florida USA Preliminary Season Schedule

Oct. 8/9

Miss West Coast USA

& Miss West Coast Teen USA Pageants

Dec 3

North Florida Super Pageant

(Tallahassee/Emerald Coast/Panhandle)

Dec 4

Miss Sunset Place USA &

Miss Sunset Place Teen USA Pageants

Jan 29

Miss Hollywood USA &

Miss Hollywood Teen USA Pageants

April 8

Miss Palm Beach County/Miss Gold Coast USA Pageants

» PRELIMINARY PAGEANT NEWS:

2007 Miss Florida USA Preliminary Season Schedule

Oct. 16

Miss West Coast USA & Miss West

Coast Teen USA Pageants

Dec 3

North Florida Super Pageant

(Tallahassee/Emerald Coast/Panhandle)

Dec 3

Miss Sunset Place USA &

Miss Sunset Place Teen USA Pageants

Jan 29

Miss Hollywood USA & Miss Hollywood Teen USA Pageants

April 8

Miss Palm Beach County/

Miss Gold Coast USA Pageants

» STATE PAGEANT CORNER

NEW MISS FLORIDA USA IMPORTANT DATES CALENDAR:

Finally we have put together a calendar with all of the important dates for this year’s Miss Florida USA Pageant. Look for it’s permanent home every week at YOUR Miss Florida USA Ezine.

August 20

Pageant University 9:00am

August 20

Miss Florida USA Preliminary Directors Meeting 1:30pm

August 25 – 28

Miss Florida Teen USA Pretape Weekend

August 27

Miss Florida Teen USA Seminar Day

September 30

Miss Florida Teen USA Registration and Interview Competition

October 1

Miss Florida Teen USA Preliminary Competition

October 2

Miss Florida Teen USA Finals

» ELEGIBILITY STATUS

Miss Florida Teen USA

Delegates Entered: 38

Delegates Eligible: 64

Eligibility for Miss Florida Teen USA Pageant:

The season started with qualifiers from the past year. All of each pageants top15 qualify along with Miss Amity & Miss Photogenic. Each preliminary pageant qualifies delegates as “at large” status with their finalist, amity, photogenic and peoples choice awards.

MISS FLORIDA USA AIRINGS THIS WEEKEND

PENSACOLA/MOBILE

WFGX-WB Channel35

TBD