MISS FL USA NEWS!

» MISS TALLAHASSEE USA UPDATE & SEMINAR DAY:

The latest Miss Tallahassee USA news is that the Web site has been launched! You may visit it at www.misstallahasseeusa.org. The pageant directors this Sundaywill host Introductory Interest Meetings for potential contestants and parents during the month of December. You don't want to miss it!

Who: Miss Tallahassee USA^® and Miss Tallahassee Teen USA^® Contestants
When: Sunday, December 4, 2005 from 3:00-5:00pm
Where: Parkway Branch of the YMCA in Tallahassee,
2001 Apalachee Parkway
Contact: 850-656-8700

Also Kim Anderson and Pageant Director Brook Francis went on ABC Channel 27 yesterday to invite girls to the meeting and introduce the Little Miss Tallahassee Mentoring Program. All reports were that they were awesome! They are very close to selecting a location for the pageant and we will keep everyone updated.

» MISS POLK COUNTY USA/MISS LAKE BUENA VISTA USA DATES ANNOUNCED:

Director Julie Broughton has finalized the dates of crowning The Polk County USA & Lake Buena Vista USA titleholders. The event is Saturday 2/11/06 at the Embassy Suites on I-Drive in Orlando. Email me at directors@winthecrown.com or call directly if you'd like more information (321) 297-4635. Thanks!

» Miss Broward County Fair

November 27, 2005

Traditionally Thanksgiving weekend in South Florida means it’s time for The Broward County Fair Pageant. This year Pompano Park hosted the fair and the pageant for it’s twenty-ninth edition. This unofficial qualifier for state had seven Jr Miss Broward Fair Contestants (ages 12 – 16) and seven Miss Broward County Fair Contestants (ages 17 – 25). The fall day was beautiful and sunny for this al fresco event.

At stake were the title, the chance to reign over the fair and qualification as an at-large contestant. The Broward County Fair has been sending their winners to Miss Florida USA for over twenty years. Alumni include LauRen Merola and Shannon Ford along with last year’s representative Laura Lombardo who was on hand to crown this year’s winners.

First runner Nicole Seeber and Miss Broward County

Fair 2006 Brittany Nicole Beyer

The day started with the Jr. Miss competition. The competitors competed onstage in Evening Gowns and Interviews that allowed insight into their community involvement. Then the nine judges (including alumni Lau Ren Merola) selected this years winners. First runner up was 14 year old Nicole Seeber from Southwest Ranches (also daughter of Audrey Seeber – FLUSA ’85 & ’86) leaving for the final announcement. Miss Broward County Fair 2006 is 14 year old Brittany Nicole Beyer from Southwest Ranches!

Laura Lombardo after her final walk

with pageant director Charles Reynolds

Up next was the final competition of the day with the title of Miss Broward County Fair to be awarded. The field of seven delegates competed the traditional competitions in evening gown, one or two piece swimsuits and onstage interviews to select the new titleholder. The judges then announced the selection of 21 year old University of Miami student April Coehn of Parkland as first runner-up. This years Miss Broward County Fair is 17 year old Lilly Ann Robbins of Sunrise!

April Coehn of Parkland and Miss Broward

County Fair Lilly Ann Robbins

Congratulations to Miss Beyer and Ms. Robbins for winning these prestigious titles and at large entries into state. Also a big congratulations goes to pageant director Charles Reynolds; assistants Jennifer Reynolds and Julie Roglyn along with their outstanding volunteers and staff that make Miss Broward County Fair a local tradition and a fun day of pageantry.

» NEW PAGEANT! MISS CITRUS USA & TEEN USA ANNOUNCED:

Under the direction of Citrus Productions we are proud to add Miss Citrus USA as a new preliminary which will be the big sister to Miss Citrus Teen USA. The pageant will be held February 4 and 5, 2006. The location is The Plaza Ocean Club, 640 North Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32118. If you would like an application/information, please e-mail Michael Galanes at director@missvermontusa.com or call 407-896-5787.

» 2007 Miss Florida USA Preliminary Season Schedule

Nov. 20: Miss Oakland Park USA & Teen USA Pageants

Dec 11 & 18: Miss Weston USA & Teen USA Pageants

Jan 6-7: Miss Nature Coast USA & Teen USA Pageants

Jan 13-15: Miss Daytona Beach USA & Teen USA Pageants

Jan 27-29 Miss Sarasota/Manatee County USA & Teen USA Pageants

Jan 29: Miss Hollywood USA & Teen USA Pageants

Feb 4: Miss Polk County USA/Miss Lake Buena Vista USA & Teen USA Pageants

Feb 4 & 5: Miss Citrus USA & Teen USA

Feb 11: Miss Sunset Place USA & Teen USA Pageants

Feb 18-19: Miss First Coast USA & Teen USA Pageants

March 18: Miss Southwest Florida USA & Teen USA Pageants

April 2: Miss West Broward USA & Teen USA Pageants

April 8: Miss Gold Coast USA & Miss Palm Beach County USA & Teen Pageants

April 23: Miss Treasure Coast USA & Teen USA Pageants

May 6: Miss Boca Raton USA & Teen USA Pageants

May 7: Miss Homestead USA & Teen USA Pageants

MISS FLORIDA USA AIRINGS THIS WEEKEND

PENSACOLA/MOBILE

WFGX-WB Channel35

TBD

» Catherine Warren captures title of Miss Illinois USA

BY LINDA BLASER / STAFF WRITER Lake Forester Pioneer Press

Lake Forest's own Catherine Warren, 21, won the Miss Illinois USA 2006 crown Sunday night in Chicago and will represent the state at the Miss USA 2006 contest in April. Miss USA will be broadcast nationally on NBC. Warren, a 2002 Lake Forest High School grad, said Monday morning she still couldn't believe she had earned the state title from a field of 126 contestants.

"I'm still sort of in shock," Warren said. "I'm trying to soak it in. There are all these different emotions. I'm so excited." When she first realized she won at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago, Warren said her mind went blank. "I don't even know if I had any thoughts. I was crying, my knees were getting weak," she said.

Meanwhile, a contingent of family and friends who attended Sunday night's competition went wild with joy. "It was very exciting," said Mary Warren, Catherine's mom, Monday morning. "I am in total shock. Her father (Bob Warren) and I are so proud of Catherine. She's worked very hard and diligently for this."

This was the fourth time Warren competed in the Miss Illinois USA contest, but she knew this year after the on-stage interview that she had a chance at winning the crown. "My on-stage interview went better than it has in the past," she said. "I knew that I had a chance, but I also knew the girls I was up against were very talented and knew what they were doing. I knew it could go either way, depending on what the judges were looking for."

A senior at the University of Kansas, Warren is studying applied behavioral sciences with a focus on early childhood education. She will take off one semester of school to fulfill her duties as Miss Illinois and to prepare for the Miss USA pageant. With the help of her pageant director, coaches and sponsors, Warren said she believes she "has a good shot" at the Miss USA title.

"No matter what happens, I'm so honored I got the opportunity to go there," she said. "This is definitely something not a lot of people get to experience." Warren entered her first pageant when she was 16. "I started randomly," she said. "About six years ago I got a letter about being in the Miss Teen Illinois pageant. I had done some modeling and enjoyed being on stage, so I decided to try."

Warren said she had so much fun the first time out, "I decided it was something I was going to pursue," she said. To pageant contestants of all ages who aspire to become Miss Illinois someday, Warren said: "Just keep trying and have fun with it. Relax. That's the biggest thing. This year was my most relaxed year I had and it definitely worked to my advantage.

Through her year's reign as Miss Illinois, Warren will spread her message of community involvement, encouraging people to mentor and volunteer. "The state of Illinois has hundreds of children just waiting for mentors," Warren said. "If people were more aware and educated of that, there wouldn't be the need." Warren started Mentoring Connections, an initiative that matches people who are interested in mentoring with children who need an adult counselor.

» BYU student wins crown

By Marianne Holman Daily Universe Staff Reporter

For most, a crown is something only worn dressing up on Halloween, but for BYU student Soben Huon, it is now a daily accessory after winning Miss Utah USA in early November. “I figured it was a great opportunity to network if I were to win,” Huon said. “It has given me that opportunity so far.”

In her senior year, the political science major from Long Beach, Calif. thought the pageant would be a good opportunity to meet all sorts of people. Even with school, Huon managed to prepare for the competition while still living the life of a student. “The last two weeks it was intense,” Huon said. “Just getting the little things together and practicing interview questions. I spent about a month and a half preparing just trying to get everything together. ”

Preparations paid off on Nov. 12th at the Ellen Eccles Theater in Logan, as Huon received the crown and 2006 title. With this win, Huon will serve as Miss Utah for the next year and is eligible to compete in the Miss USA pageant, owned by Donald Trump, in April 2006.

Photo Courtesy of Suben Huon

BYU student Soben Huon won the title

of Miss Utah USA at the beginning of November

and plans to compete in the Miss Utah USA pageant in April.

Titleholders are judged on three events: an interview, swimsuit competition and evening gown. Judges are chosen on their ability to recognize a woman of substance, often including local celebrities and modeling agency representatives, said Yolanda Weller, assistant director of the Miss Utah USA pageant.

“We look for girls with really good morals and standards that come from a good family,” Weller said. “Someone who will be a role model for the young girls of Utah, and someone that will represent Utah well at nationals.” Along with the title, the crown holder’s job includes public appearances, speeches and representing Utah in larger events.

“The title is really just a platform if you so choose to use it,” said Marin Poole, Miss Utah USA 2005, who is also a BYU student. “Soben has the opportunity to reach thousands across Utah, however she chooses to use it. The title provides a vehicle for change to happen, it is an opportunity for her to create change.”

Huon plans to take next semester off of school in order to fulfill her duties as Miss Utah USA, and she said she looks forward to representing Utah in the Miss USA pageant in April. “She is a great girl,” Weller said. “Not only is she beautiful, but she is intelligent and comes from a great family. She worked very hard to prepare herself for the pageant.”

» North Dakota USA Pageant Results:

The results are in from Sunday’s Miss North Dakota USA Pageant. Kim Krueger, Miss Red River Valley U.S.A., has taken the title of Miss North Dakota 2006, after the competition was held in Fargo. Miss Bottineau County Teen U.S.A., Katie Cooper, now holds the title for Miss North Dakota Teen 2006.

Lacey Schumacher, Miss Jamestown Teen, was runner-up in the teen pageant, and Stephanie Haremza, Miss Fargo Teen, followed. Ashley Ware, Miss Fargo U.S.A., was runner-up in the Miss N.D. pageant, and Natalie Sather, Miss Cass County, followed.

Miss North Dakota USA 2006 Kim Krueger

Katie Cooper Miss North Dakota Teen 2006

» Kansas pageant winners crowned
By RUSS PULLEY/The Kansas City Star

Miss Kansas USA 2006 Ashley Aull

Ashley Aull earned the tiara as Miss Kansas USA 2006 Sunday night during a ceremony in Overland Park. The 20-year-old Aull, a Lansing native, currently attends Johnson County Community College in Overland Park. She entered this year’s pageant as "Miss Leavenworth County USA." Her parents are Melanie and Alex Aull, Lansing.

The Miss Kansas USA and Miss Kansas Teen USA pageant returned to Overland Park for the second year, as this year’s event was once again held at the Carlsen Center within Yardley Hall at Johnson County Community College. Emcees were Keylee Sue Sanders (Miss Teen USA 1995, Miss Kansas Teen USA 1995) and Jennifer Vannatta-Fisher (Miss Kansas 1998).

The new title-holder was judged on her performance in three categories, including evening gown, swimsuit and personal interview. Aull will advance to the Miss USA Pageant in the spring, which will be televised on NBC.

Also a part of this year’s event, more than $1,200 was raised to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. This initiative will continue at each state pageant this year, with a goal of $25,000 raised. If this goal is met, it will be matched by the Miss Universe organization. Funds were raised in the form of $1 per vote in the "People’s Choice Award," which was given this year to "Miss South Leawood Teen" Jovana Mirabile, 16, and "Miss Greater Lawrence" Megan Price, 20.

» ROAD TO NATIONALS PICTURE MONTAGE:

With no less then eleven (11) pageants during Thanksgiving weekend we have a lot of pictures to present. These were all found surfing the pageant highway on the internet. Enjoy!

Miss New York USA Adriana Diaz & Miss Maine USA 2006 Katee Stearns

enjoying their winning moments

Miss New York Teen USA 2006,

Candace Kuykendall

Miss PA Teen USA 2006 Inessa Rodriguez

Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2006 Tiffany Withrow

The District of Columbia’s team heading to nationals

Art + Fun = X
X = Art Basel

Where can you see world-class contemporary or classical art and still have a riot of a good time? Forget the museum. Head to Art Basel.
Art Basel comes in two parts: one in Switzerland in June and the other in Miami Beach during the first week of December. Even though both shows exhibit many of the same artists, we're for Miami - our favorite easy to reach fun spot.

With over 2,000 artists showing work, Art Basel may seem overwhelming, but you can always get a guided tour of the miles of exhibitions or just hot the things that immediately appeal. We suggest the Art Nova exhibit, which features 150 of the hottest new talents. Or, hit the Sound Lounge where you can indulge your ears in experimental noise and music. Be sure to also check out a new section of Art Basel - design.05, which brings together the top architects and designers from around the world. See everything from the hottest new furniture designer to say, the latest in contemporary decorative arts. And after a day of culture, take in some cocktails at the official hangout of Art Basel: The Shore Club. Afterwards, continue your aesthetic education by feasting your eyes on sophisticated night crawlers at cool lounge, Post. Or, get wild with the locals at the latest hotspot, Snatch -! think indie rock, dancing atop tables and the best "real" tans you've ever seen.

Getting a little culture is a good thing, especially when you can do it in party town like Miami. It's a match made in travel heaven.

# More About Art Basel
# See More About design.05
# Check Out The Shore Club