MISS FLORIDA USA PRELIMINARY REPORTS

» MISS POLK COUNTY USA

Hi everyone! We hope you all had a great holiday weekend. We are so excited about our Miss Polk County USA/Teen USA pageants on January 16th. We still have available slots in the teen division, so email us to reserve your spot! Have a safe and happy New Year. We hope to see you all at our pageant next month! Contact us online at directors@winthecrown.com or visit our website at www.winthecrown.com - Shannon & Julie

» MISS SOUTH FLORIDA USA ANNOUNCES PRIZE

Entry fee paid to represent South Florida in The Miss Florida USA 2006 Pageant. A $500.00 Cash Prize; Hair care service package by Salon Baccarat; Sportswear apparel by Blue Fish Active wear (www.bluefishactivewear.com); Photography package by Miss South Florida USA official photographer Alexander; Espriella of Culture Photo (www.culturephoto.com) Official Crown and Sash Presentation; skills coaching package by Speak Out! (www.speakoutinc.com) Etiquette and Modeling Prize Scholarship by Alicia Faccio.

State Competition Apparel by MARGARITA'S FASHION BROWN SUGA SPA PACKAGE Luxury's Best Kept Secret Providing the top 5 finalists with a Luxurious Gift basket. (www.brownsugaspa.com) $100 GIFT CERTIFICATE FROM EILEEN B. (305) 931-0000. Opening Number Shirts provided by Teeze-Us (www.Teeze-Us.com) Professional Make-up Lessons & Beauty Products Gift Basket By GABRIEL PRODUCTIONS, INTL. Voted Best Make-up Artist by Miami Metro Magazine (305) 444-1999. Dental evaluation & Laser Whitening by Dr. Karent Sierra (Miss Florida USA 1st Runner Up '94 & Dentist to the Stars) (305) 443-8225. Rozio Couture all Contestants Receive a $250 Gift Certificate towards a custom made evening gown. Personalized Fitness Training Program By Rafael Toruno of B-Fit for Life.

STATE PAGEANT ELIGIBILITY STATS

Miss Florida USA 2006

Delegates Entered: 12

Delegates Eligible: 45

Miss Florida Teen USA

Delegates Entered: 12

Delegates Entered: 32

Every week more delegates become eligible to compete at state.

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.

Next Pageant January 15 – Miss Polk County USA & Miss Polk County Teen USA.

THE ROAD TO MISS USA

MISS MISSOURI USA GOES FROM KITCHEN TO STAGE!

By: Kellie Houx, Assistant Editor

PASTA? Carbs scare some dieters.

Miss Missouri USA Andrea Ciliberti works

at an Italian restaurant and likes pasta.

Go figure.

Miss Missouri USA Andrea Ciliberti, 21 did not know what to expect when she entered the pageant as Miss North Kansas City. She has been in four pageants including Miss Missouri USA held Dec. 12. "I actually procrastinated on filling out the paperwork," she said. "I knew I wanted to compete for most of the year, but did not really dig into the paperwork until two months ago. Then I did not decide on my swimsuit until a couple weeks ago. I didn't get my interview suit until the day before."

Ciliberti accepted help from former Miss Missouri USA Melana Scantlin, Gladstone. "I really did not do anything special to prepare for the pageant," she said. "I still ate the same and went to work." Her grandmother and grandfather Annette and Andy Packard opened Sorrento's, a family restaurant, in Riverside, earlier this year. Ciliberti and her mother Denise help at the restaurant. Ciliberti also works at Harrah's Casino.

"I am fortunate that I have a high metabolism or all the wonderful Italian food my grandmother makes would go to my hips," she said. Ciliberti said she competed against 56 women in the pageant. Ciliberti, a full-time student, studies accounting at Maple Woods Community College. She attended St. Pius X High School for two years and finished at Winnetonka.

"I plan to get a degree in psychology," she said. "Accounting comes easy for me so I plan to work my way through school. I can pay my bills and for my education with some accounting work."

Ciliberti won the Italian Festival queen title held at Crown Center during the summer. "That win helped motivate me," she said. Ciliberti said sincerity sways judges. "Often contestants seem to give answers that people want to hear," she said. "They really need to give answers that they truly believe."

Ciliberti said her interview answers might have convinced the judges that she deserved the title.

"I was asked if pageants are losing their relevance," she said. "I said that because reality television is so popular now that cameras might need to go backstage to see some of the real work, not just the pretty faces on stage."

Ciliberti said the contestants submitted questions at registration. "I got the question from Miss Truman, 'Do you think you are turning into your mother?' I said that couldn't be happier to be my mother's daughter," she said.

At Sorrento's, Ciliberti took orders and money, and served patrons last week. Grandfather Andy said her personality won over the judges. "When she was in the Miss Southern Teen contest, she was Miss Congeniality," he said. "That's picked by the other girls. No one does not like her. She just has an outstanding personality and a pretty shape that probably helps a lot."

Andy said he never expected his granddaughter to enter pageants. "We all encourage her as we can," he said. "I wouldn't have missed her win. I drive for Yellow Freight and missed a drive happily to see her compete." Grandmother Annette said Ciliberti's win did not surprise her.

"We always thought she was pretty," she said. "Andrea was more a tomboy. I want her to stay her sweet humble giving self. I don't want her to forget where she came from and I want her to get a good education. The scholarship from the state win will help."

Between serving customers, Ciliberti said work at the restaurant keeps her humble.

"I believe people need this in their lives," she said. "You can appreciate things with a more complete heart if you have to work hard for them. I definitely understand that winning this title means being a role model. I have younger cousins who look up to me." Ciliberti said the title would help her promote education on lupus, which affects her mother. "I want to make Missouri proud," she said.