The Miss Florida USA & Miss Florida Teen USA

Magazine of January 20th, 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. The pageant year is off to a great start after a very exciting Miss Polk County USA Pageant this past weekend. The sellout crowd and along with all the crowns & tiaras in the audience excites this pageant veteran as a true buzz is going on around our state. Up next is a trip to beautiful Coconut Grove for the first Miss South Florida USA Pageant this Saturday night at Ransom Everglades High School on Main Highway. Pictures and reports on Monday!

This weeks Ezine features a two-part interview with reigning Miss USA Shandi Finnessey from the pages of Ability Magazine. Having gotten to know Shandi and her family at last year’s Miss USA I can tell you first hand that she is a delightful, witty and ambitious young lady. Now you will get to know her a little better on The Road To Miss USA. Pageant News features information on this weekend’s Miss South Florida USA Pageant as well as all the results of last weeks Miss Polk County USA Pageant. On Preliminary Updates we are announcing two new preliminary pageants, Miss Ocala USA & Miss Kissimmee USA. All of this every Thursday at YOUR Miss Florida USA Ezine.

Here’s to another week of great pageantry!

Grant H. Gravitt, Jr.

Executive Producer

Miss Florida USA & Miss Florida Teen USA

3 Days until Miss South Florida USA!

PRELIMINARY PAGEANT NEWS

» MISS POLK COUNTY USA 2006 Results (January 16, 2005)

The first pageant of the New Year saw a highly competitive Miss Polk County USA Pageant with twenty-four delegates competing for the two titles. A standing room only crowd at the International Drive Embassy Suites in Orlando came to cheer on the fourteen Miss USA and ten Miss Teen USA delegates. After guest vocalist Jacqueline Urbuteit (Miss Pasco County Teen) started the evening with a beautiful rendition of Good Bless America it was time for the pageant to begin!

The show started with performer Tevin B. (www.tevinb.com) getting the crowd out of their seats and then introduced all of the delegates in lavender and white outfits of their own choosing in a dance number choreographed by Frank Arcidiacono. After the opening it was time to introduce our Mistress of Ceremonies Erin Wolf from Channel 13 news who did a admirable job in her first pageant. Erin then interviewed two Miss USA delegates, our very own Miss Florida USA Melissa Witek and Miss North Carolina USA Chelsea Cooley who were special guests of the pageant.

Up first was the swimsuit competition as the delegates competed in either one or two-piece suits of their own choosing. Afterwards outstanding vocal performances by Elizabeth Everett and a second number by Ms. Urbuteit led to the final competition. Everyone’s favorite The Evening Gown Competition was up next. Fashion was on display as the delegate competed in gowns of their own choosing.

After the semi final competition was over it was time to meet the judging panel. Ron Johnson is a veteran newscaster on Channel 13 news; Kathleen Charles is a singer, model and imager for The Disney Companies; Dr George Pope is a highly respected plastic surgeon in Central Florida; Ashley Land is a product developer and designer for Chico’s Women’s Wear and Mark Taglia is a show and parade performer as well as trainer for Disney World Wide.

Then it was time to narrow the field down to five finalist in each division. Up first was the Miss USA division and those finalists were Deanna Pollina, Carissa Grazel, Lindsey Norris, Suzanne Quast & Heather Johnson. Then it was time to announce the finalists in the Teen USA division. Beginning with Jennifer Wooten, Meagan Waters, Stephanie Sickles, Jennifer Bentson & Wyndee Gray. These young women are all now qualified for state.

Then it was one last round of interviews on stage as questions were from the delegates themselves. Then both Tatiana Schoeppler and Lindsay Campbell both had the chance to take the last walk of their titles. Both speeches were poignant and were received by standing ovations.

Before the final placements were announced it was time for those special awards that also qualify the winners for state. First was Miss Photogenic and the winners were Brooke Milner (TUSA) & Suzane Quest (USA). Ms. Quest then won the $1,000.00 award to John Powers Modeling School for best in pageant. Miss Amity went to Stephanie Sickles and Heather Johnson. Finally it was the Peoples Choice Award and that awarded to Amanda Mason & Lindsey Norris.

Then the final results were announced with Miss Polk County Teen USA being read first:

4^th Runner Up is Wyndee Gray.

3^rd Runner Up is Megan Water.

2^nd Runner Up is Jennifer Bentson

1^st Runner Up is Jennifer Wotten

Miss Polk County Teen USA 2006 is Stephanie Sickles!

Then it was time to announce the new Miss Polk County USA:

4^th Runner Up is Suzanne Quast.

3^rd Runner Up is Heather Johnson.

2^nd Runner Up is Deanna Pollina.

1^st Runner Up is Carissa Grazel.

Miss Polk County USA 2006 is Lindsey Norris!

The New Miss Polk County Teen USA

and Miss Polk County USA.

The current and former Miss Polk Counties

What a great evening of pageantry! Congratulations to Win The Crown directors Julie Broughton and Shannon Williams along with their outstanding group of volunteers ran an outstanding pageant. Job well done! Now the Road To Hollywood ventures south on the turnpike to Coconut Grove and Miss South Florida USA next weekend. See you in Miami!

» MISS SOUTH FLORIDA USA THIS SATURDAY NIGHT!

The first pageant of the season for the Southern part of the state is this Saturday night as the inaugural Miss South Florida USA Pageant at Ransom Everglades Auditorium at 5:00pm. Hosting the event is Beatriz Guerra and features a tribute to the eighties. Tickets are $25.00 and can be purchased at the auditoriums box office. Ransom Everglades is located at 3575 Main Highway, Coconut Grove 33133 (for you mapquesters!).

» ANNOUNCING MISS KISSIMMEE USA & MISS KISSIMMEE TEEN USA!

The last piece of the Central Florida Puzzle came into place with the announcing of this years Miss Kissimmee USA & Miss Kissimmee Teen USA Pageants to take place on May 28th & 29^th at The Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee. Look for a grand weekend of pageantry at the final prelim of the season. Director Linnea Maloney has already posted her pageant schedule online (preliminary pageant page) and has a wonderful website at www.tlcpageants.com. She can be reached at (774) 406-1453 or online at www.MissKissimmeeUSA.com.

» ANNOUNCING MISS OCALA USA & MISS OCALA TEEN USA!

Marion County now has a Miss Florida USA preliminary of its own as we announce the first annual Miss Ocala USA & Miss Ocala Teen USA Pageants to be held tentatively the second weekend of April. Pageant Director Tracy Barfield is planning a great day of pageantry and can lo. be reached at 850-592-2200 or at barfieldexp@gtcom.net look for more information here in the next few weeks

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

STATE PAGEANT ELIGIBILITY STATS

Miss Florida USA 2006

Delegates Entered: 13

Delegates Eligible: 48

Miss Florida Teen USA

Delegates Entered: 13

Delegates Eligible: 34

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

Shandi Finnessey Interview by Chet Cooper

Reprinted From Ability Magazine

When 26-year-old Shandi Finnessey put on the $200,000 diamond and pearl Mikimoto crown to become Miss USA, she also put on the role of ambassador, with an invaluable opportunity to touch the lives of people around the world. The former Miss Missouri has visited the local heroes of New York City’s police and fire departments and traveled overseas to provide a morale boost to troops stationed far from home. She has used her persona to raise funds for charities ranging from the American Cancer Society to Derek Jeter’s Turn 2 Foundation (which helps at-risk kids choose healthier lifestyles). She has spent afternoons reading to elementary school children as well as visiting soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

With a background as a professional model, Shandi has graced runways, billboards, print media and television commercials. In her spare time she paints, knits, plays both the violin and piano masterfully, and practices yoga and meditation. She has even gone bungee jumping to conquer her fear of heights. An honors graduate from Lindenwood University in Missouri, Shandi completed her Bachelor of Science in psychology in just three and a half years. In 2002 she authored a children’s book, The Furrtails, which helps children appreciate individuality and understand their peers who have disabilities.|

Recently Shandi sat down with ABILITY Magazine’s Chet Cooper to discuss her year as Miss USA; the growing pains she endured to get there; and her role as national spokesperson for breast and ovarian cancer education, research and legislation (the official causes of the Miss USA pageant).

Chet Cooper: I heard you received the Angel Award.

Shandi Finnessey: Yes. It’s a local award in Florissant, Missouri. Each year they find someone who is an angel in the community and who has helped to bring the community together.

CC: Well, congratulations.

SF: Another award I received recently that I am very proud of is the Ryan Brems Award, which had to do with the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities. I didn’t learn the full story behind the award until I went to accept it. Ryan Brems was a young boy who had very severe mental and physical disabilities. He could not walk or talk, but he was mainstreamed into a typical classroom. Because of complications of his conditions, he ended up passing away. It wasn’t until the funeral that the parents of his classmates realized that he had disabilities. Their children would come home and talk about their friend Ryan, and what they did that day in school with their friend Ryan. The other children never felt it necessary to say that he couldn’t walk, he couldn’t talk or that he had a disability. They just saw him as a friend. Ever since he passed away, an award has been given to a person who has done a lot toward inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities. I was extremely honored to receive the award.

CC: What work have you done to further inclusion?

SF: I’ve done many things, such as job placement and mentoring. I wrote a children’s book entitled The Furrtails, which was published three years ago. The book talks about how we all have strengths and we all have weaknesses. These strengths and weaknesses don’t make one person better than another; they just make people unique and different. I’ve been doing a lot with the book with Special Olympics, the National Down Down_Syndrome Convention, arenas like that. I also go into grade schools to share my book with students. I have been trying to raise awareness because I think the unknown is what scares people so much. They don’t know how they should interact with someone with a disability—someone who is different from them.

CC: Tell me more about your book.

SF: It’s about a family of rabbits called the Furrtails, and throughout the course of the book, there’s two...

CC: The Furrtails?

SF: (laughs) Yeah…the fur tails. (laughs) Throughout the course of the book, there are two rabbits, Sammy and Robby. Sammy, the older of the two, is not as quick and wise and smart as the younger rabbit. The younger, Robby, doesn’t understand. He’s thinking, “You’re my older brother. You should be able to do the same things I do.” In the story, Sammy winds up in a trap on Mr. Villman’s farm, and all of the rabbits have to use their special traits and skills to free Sammy from the trap. In the end, if even one of the rabbits, including Sammy, had not used his or her special skill, Sammy would not have been freed. After the story I help the students identify one thing they are really good at. They say everything from skateboarding to math...

CC: …to trapping rabbits?

SF: (laughs) Kids say some pretty cute things. Once we’ve talked about their strengths, I ask the kids, “What’s one thing that maybe you’re not so good at or that you need help with?” It takes them a while to start thinking, but then they start flowing with ideas. I hear some really interesting stories from the kids—one talked about his grandmother who used a wheelchair, and how he noticed she was treated differently and how that hurt him. It gets the kids to really recognize situations they’ve been in where people have been segregated.

Look for the second installment of the Shandi interview next week. More on this amazing role model on at YOUR Miss Florida USA Magazine! Online every Thursday only at www.MissFloridaUSA.com.

Magazine article and picture courtesy of
Ability Magazine