By Miami Herald staff

The beautiful and talented ladies of the Miss Florida USA pageant were in Hollywood this past week. Sixty-five finalists culled from more than 1,200 applicants around the state converged on the Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa.

The contestants -- who are rehearsing at the hotel and competing at Bailey Concert Hall on the Central Campus of Broward Community College -- were vying for the Miss Florida USA 2007 crown. This year’s show marked the 56th year of competition and twenty-seventh year of broadcast.

This year's five-day competition began on Tuesday, and culminated with the crowning of Miss Florida USA 2007 Saturday. The new Miss Florida USA winner will compete for the national title of Miss USA. More than 5 million viewers worldwide saw the Pageant Finals in Saturday's live, two-hour show.

Jenna Edwards of North Miami has been crowned Miss Florida USA 2007. Twenty-four-year-old Edwards entered the pageant as Miss North Miami USA. Edwards has a degree in communications from the University of Miami and founded a nonprofit organization -- Queen for a Day -- that hosts makeover parties for girls with cancer.

Yazmin Navarro of Miami finished second and won the Pageantry Magazine Miss Photogenic Award. Other finalists were Ashley Panaggio of DeLand, Amy Diaz, who represented the Florida Keys, and Genevieve Jahn of Orlando. Miss Amity was awarded to Vida Sheffield.

click to enlarge images:

» MISS FLAGLER COUNTY PAGEANT

For the 43^rd year the Miss Flagler County Pageant was contested on July 4^th in Veterans Park. The traditional pageant was a part of the Downtown Flagler Beach Independence Day Festivities and for the second time the winner qualified for Miss Florida USA. This year twelve delegates competed with Nicole Kelly capturing the title. Congratulations to Ms. Kelly as she becomes the first entrant for Miss Florida USA 2008.

» MISS FLORIDA SUNSHINE USA & TEEN USA PAGEANTS

AUGUST 5TH

8001 International Drive
Orlando, Florida 32819
United States
Phone: 407-351-2420

This summer pageant will be a blast! The pageant will start at 7pm. Opening number will be white pants and any pastel colored top. This is where you will have a prepared opening statement 45 seconds. Top five will have an on-stage question only. No personal Interviews. (Because we can teach you that for Miss Florida Teen USA)

Rehearsal starting at 10:00am. Friday night workshop to learn some extra tips.

We will take the first 14 applications and after that we will reserve spot for additional applicants. For additional 10 contestants we will add the title of Miss Orange Blossom Teen USA.

Prizes Include: Entry to Miss Florida Teen USA / Crown & Banner / Training session for Miss Florida Teen USA (2 hours) / Make-up lesson / Flowers

» Miss Hispanidad USA Qualifying This Saturday:

Our friends at Hispanic Festival Miami are having their preliminary qualifying pageant for August 13^th’sMiss Hispanidad USA Pageant. The event starts at 5:00pm and has well over 200 contestants qualify for the 30 spaces in the final competition. Simon Properties Miami International Mall (1455 NW 107^th Avenue, Miami, FL) hosts the event as they select this years representative at Miss Florida USA. Cindy Kohn-Cybulkiewicz will host the event. Look for pictures next Friday at Faces & Places.

» MISS FLORIDA USA TELEVISION NETWORK STATION LIST AND AIR TIMES:

It’s not too late to catch the action and glamour that is Miss Florida USA 2007! Here are our Tape Delay dates in the remaining markets.

NAPLES/FT MEYERS	WINK-CBS Channel 11	Saturday, July 22 1-3PM
PANAMA CITY	WJHG - NBC CH7 WPGX FOX 28	Saturday, July 29th 1:30PM CT
OCALA/GAINESVILLE	WGFL-CBS Channel 53	TBD
JACKSONVILLE	TBD	TBD

MISS FLORIDA USA PAGEANT SCHEDULE:

July 22^nd   Miss Hispanidad Qualifying Pageant

August 5^th Miss Sunshine USA & Teen USA Pageants

August 13^th   Miss Hispanidad USA – Gusman Cultural Center 2:00pm

August 15^th  MISS TEEN USA (PALM SPRINGS)

October 13^th  Miss Florida Teen USA Registration

October 14^th  Miss Florida Teen USA Preliminary Pageant 7:30pm

October 15^th  Miss Florida Teen USA Finals – 2:00pm

FEATURED MISS FLORIDA USA MINI MOVIE OF THE WEEK:

We go back one week as host Luis Aguirre is about to announce the final results,

then you are up onstage after the announcements! Welcome to our very first

www.YouTube.com Mini Movie of The Week!

Will Be Back Soon!

That Little Thing Called New York

Get It All With Eva

New York is still the fashion capital of the world. That's right. We said it and we won't have any arguing from you naysayers. For all of those who don't get to wander the streets of Soho or cruise uptown to Barneys, Eva, Nolita's (that's North of Little Italy) most fashion-forward boutique is opening her virtual doors. Come and get it kids.

A favorite stop for the best dressed celebs (Natalie Portman, Rebecca Romin, Darryl Hannah) and iconic stylists (Patricia Fields) Eva's impeccable selection is curated by the fine eye of owner Stephanie Pappas. Eva (www.evanewyork.net) is launching its full site to coincide with Fall Fashion Week and the new lines from Alexander McQueen's McQ, Vivienne Westwood's Anglomania and the fresh talents of Gen Art alum, Society for Rational Dress. With its sleek lines and image heavy site, Eva is replicating the feel of New York fashion: lush and decadent like the velvet-quilted or mirror-lined ambience of haute couture salons from the "Funny Girl" era. Shopping is a treat, and easy too, with the store's vast selection of designers like our favorite, Grey Ant. We've been looking for the label's Big Jacket for months with its downtown 80s feel.

Not all the pages are up, but go take a peek at the dreamy introduction, it's enough of a tease to last you till the real thing.

Blog: Enter The Lion's Den

The collection of men's slip-on sneaks over at web store and Los Angeles gallery Lion's Den have our senses on overdrive. They're listed in the men's section, but clearly, they're unisex....
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