The Miss Florida USA & Miss Florida Teen USA

Magazine of January 13th, 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. After a nice holiday rest its time to resume The Road to Hollywood as Miss Polk County USA kicks off the 2005 pageant year. Twenty-four delegates are after two titles on Sunday afternoon. You know reports and pictures await right her on Monday!

This weeks Ezine has the latest in pageant news from around the state at Preliminary Pageant Reports. The Road to Miss USA features a report this week on Miss Louisiana USA. Faces & Places has two great stories. One on a Miss Florida Teen USA contestant who single handedly raised $17,000 for the Tsunami Victims. Only here at the nations only weekly on-line pageantry Ezine!

Until next week here to great pageantry!

Grant H. Gravitt, Jr.

Executive Producer

Miss Florida USA & Miss Florida Teen USA

3 Days until Miss Polk County USA!

10 Days until Miss South Florida USA!

PRELIMINARY PAGEANT NEWS

» MISS POLK COUNTY USA

The show is this Sunday January 16 and starts at 6:30 at the Embassy Suites I-Drive South in Orlando. The address is 8978 International Drive. We have a GREAT group of contestants and can't wait! We hope to see you there! – Julie & Shannon

Miss Polk County USA 2005 Lindsay Campbell &

Miss Polk County Teen USA 2005 Tatiana Schoeppler

» MISS EMERALD COAST USA REGISTRATION OPEN - MARCH 18-20 - TELEVISED!
Here comes the sun! Come be a part of Miss Emerald Coast USA / Teen USA (www.missemeraldcoastusa.com) and soak up the sun during a fun-filled weekend at beautiful Panama City Beach. Held March 18-20 at the historic Marina Civic Center in downtown Panama City, Miss Emerald Coast USA will be televised live across Northwest Florida and lower Alabama . . . and rebroadcast in select market throughout the state!

EVERY Delegate in Miss Emerald Coast USA / Teen USA receives a FREE swimsuit and sarong, Leading Lady T-shirt, personal web page, official headshot, professional makeup services and much more! The prize package for Miss Emerald Coast USA / Teen USA includes pageant wardrobe for the state pageant (including evening gown and interview suit), cruise to the Bahamas, cosmetics package, physical training, photography session, personal web page . . . and OF COURSE, the opportunity to represent the beauty of the Emerald Coast at Miss Florida USA and Miss Florida Teen USA!

Delegates who sign up before Feb. 20 are also invited to participate in our charity fashion show, TV appearances, parades, and television pre-taping! Email amanda@leadingladymagazine.com today for more information on how you can take the first step! Or visit www.MissEmeraldCoastUSA.com for more information.

» MISS PALM BEACH COUNTY/GPA FASHION LUNCHEON

Join the delegates competing in the Miss Palm Beach USA Pageant as they put their best foot forward for a special paws! Tickets are now available for the Greyhound Pets of America / Miss Palm Beach County USA Pageants Luncheon and Fashion Show - Sunday, January 30 - noon to 3 pm at the Harriet Theatre in CityPlace West Palm Beach. Come enjoy the show -- also featuring TOM Can't Stop -- the area's premier party (8 piece) band!!! Get your raffle and admission tickets today!!! Raffle prizes include a $250 Jamis Ranger SX Mountain Bike -- a TV set -- a DVD player and MANY more items. Raffle tickets are $5 each -- 5 tickets for $20.

Admission tickets are $25 if purchased in advance and $30 at the door. To get your own personal tickets send check payable to:

Greyhound Pets of America

226 SE First Avenue

Boynton Beach FL 33435.

Tickets ordered early will be sent promptly by mail. Besides the wonderful fashion show featuring the pageant contestants and the GPA dogs, you will enjoy a delicious lunch. Pageantry for a great cause – good going Miss Palm Beach USA!

» Leading Ladies Spring Fashion Show!
Leading Ladies Productions is currently casting for the Spring 2005 "Role Models" Fashion Show to benefit the American Red Cross. The event will take place at the end of February (exact date/time TBD this week) and will feature models from across the state of Florida . . . along with a couple of very special guests. ALL young women ages 13-25 are invited to participate strut their stuff on the runway and help support the Red Cross, the official charity of Miss FL Panhandle USA and Miss Emerald Coast USA. A segment on the fashion show will be aired during the Miss Emerald Coast USA TV show. If interested in participating, please email amanda@leadingladymagazine.com.

MISS FLORIDA TEEN USA TELEVISION NETWORK

STATION LIST AND AIR TIMES:

MIAMI/FT LAUDERDALE	WSVN-FOX Channel 7	January 8th, 2005 4PM
NAPLES/FT MEYERS	WINK-CBS Channel 11	Saturday, January 1st, 2005 5PM
TAMPA/ST PETE/CLEARWATER	WMOR-IND Channel 32	Friday, December 31st 10PM
ORLANDO/DAYTONA BEACH	WRDQ-IND Channel 27	TBD
TALLAHASSEE	WTLS (Ch. 24, UPN) WTLH FOX Channel 49	Saturday, January 8th 5:00PM
PANAMA CITY	WMBB-ABC	TBD
PENSACOLA/MOBILE	WFGX-WB Channel 35	Saturday, January 1 7:00PM
OCALA/GAINESVILLE	WGFL-CBS Channel 53	Sunday, January 23, 2005 1:00PM
JACKSONVILLE	WAWS FOX Channel 47	Saturday, January 8th 12 Midnight
WEST PALM BEACH	WTCN-WB	Saturday, December 11 4PM
STUART/FT PIERCE	WTCN-WB Channel 16	TBD
VENICE	W56CN-IND Channel 56	TBD
PORT RICHEY	W46BQ-IND Channel 46	TBD
SEMINOLE	WMOR-LP Channel 63	TBD

MISS USA UPDATES

» PRESENTATION SHOW: The only chance to see all of the delegates in competition for the title of Miss USA are The Presentation Show and that will be held on the evening of Wednesday, April 6, 2005. Tickets are not yet on sale to the public. Ticket Master will be the outlet for the two Miss USA evenings.

» HOST HOTEL: The Host Hotel for the contestant’s friends and families attending the 2005 MISS USA Pageant in Baltimore is The Sheraton Columbia Hotel. They are offering a special “Friends and Family” program for State Directors and friends and family coming to Baltimore in connection with the pageant. To obtain the discounted rate, please call 1-800-638-2817 and reference: MISS USA FRIENDS & FAMILY. Reservations must be made by March 4, 2005 and by calling the 800 # ONLY. The friends and family rate is not available on-line.

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STATE PAGEANT ELIGIBILITY STATS

Miss Florida USA 2006

Delegates Entered: 12

Delegates Eligible: 45

Miss Florida Teen USA

Delegates Entered: 12

Delegates Eligible: 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.

ROAD TO MISS USA

Xavier senior wins 'Miss Louisiana' U.S.A. title

Xavier University senior speech pathology major Candice Stewart recently made history when she was named Miss Louisiana USA. The first African-American winner in the pageant's history, the 21-year-old is now busily prepping for the national Miss USA pageant, which will be held next April in Baltimore, MD.

That prep includes attending a series of photo shoots, collaborating with poise and beauty experts, and choosing a gown for the national competition. But the whirlwind of activity since she was crowned Miss Louisiana USA in Lafayette, La. has not been limited to preparation for the pageant. Stewart is using her newfound fame to begin promoting her agenda of community service before several all-girls high schools in New Orleans and traveling around the state. She plans to continue to mentor young women and encourage them to "always believe in the beauty of your dreams."

The former New Orleans Saintsations dancer hopes to someday open a pediatric speech and language clinic. Being named Miss Louisiana USA is the latest in a long line of accomplishments for the Metairie, La. native. A model since the age of 7, Stewart is no stranger to the catwalk. At the age of 18, she captured the title of Miss Louisiana Teen USA and was first runner-up in last year's Miss Louisiana USA pageant.

Candice believes that in order to achieve personal and professional goals one must first create a better, successful self on the inside. It is a practice that has served her well thus far! Despite the busy spring that looms ahead, Stewart plans to continue her studies in order to maintain her TOPS scholarship. Over the next few months, Candice will likely be asked many times what it takes to be crowned Miss USA? Stewart, who started competing in beauty pageants at age 16, says all you have to do is act naturally. "All you can do is be yourself and hope the judges like you," she said.

When she isn't competing in pageants or hitting the books at Xavier, Stewart enjoys volunteering in the community, working out, hitting the malls to do a little shopping, spending time with family and friends and dancing.