MISS FL USA NEWS!

» Too Hot for Fashion – Benefit Fashion Show

June 22^nd 2:00pm – 9:30pm

The final fun event of the season before the state competition is the “Too Hot For Fashion” Benefit Fashion Show for The Broward Outreach Center; The Homeless Assistance Agency of Broward County. We need 15 contestants for the event Thursday June 22^nd starting at 2:00pm with fittings that lead to a 7:00pm Fashion Show.

Last year the event raised over $30,000.00 for this great cause and this year promises to be bigger and better. Those who attended last year had a blast helping others! This year we are giving the benefit more airtime as it will also be a part of the prize tape. We need fifteen delegates and space is still available so sign up now!

LOCATION:

Hollywood Beach Culture and Community Center

1301 South Ocean Drive

Hollywood, FL 33019

» Openings/Swimsuits; Prize Modeling & Hollywood Beach Tour

Friday June 2^nd

1:30pm – 8:00pm

Our Make Up Video Day gives the delegates a chance to guide our viewers through the various fun places on Hollywood Beach! The fun includes roller-blading and bicycling on the world famous broadwalk and then hits the sandy beaches and Downtown Hollywood.

The day begins with modeling this year’s Regalia Prize Collection as well as a special award from Carroll’s Jewelers. Then it’s all aboard the Holly Trolley to continue the fun! If you have not shot your opening and swimsuit montage this day if for you! RSVP to reserve your space today.

Meeting Location: The Hollywood Production Center / 2040 Sherman Street/Hollywood FL 33020

Wardrobe: Opening Outfit; Swimwear, Rollerblades (optional); Shorts & Top (Broadwalk Friendly); Sundress & Sash for On-Stage Introductions

» Miss Florida USA Seminar Day

The soundstages of The Hollywood Production Center were packed with pageant contestants, as the sixth annual Miss Florida USA Seminar Day was a big success! The day was all about getting to know pageantry the Miss Florida Teen way and our aspiring delegates were certainly paying attention. Leading the way was the pageant staff along with special guests; Miss Florida USA 1998 Jamie Converse Estrada; Vickie Davis, Producer and Choreographer; Judith Coffman, Miss Florida USA Pageant Coach and of course Miss Florida USA 2006 Cristin Duren.

The doors opened up promptly at 10:00am as the line was very lengthy in pursuit of the first chance to select the delegates Second Look outfit courtesy of Fashion Bug. Also in attendance during the early hours of the festivities included Cary O’Neal of Regalia Fine Apparel along with the official pageant photographer of Miss Universe Don Seidman. While the ladies had fun in the office park, on the soundstages was a recruiting seminar of the preliminary pageant directors.

Mrs. Converse-Estrada had the full attention of the audience

The afternoon started with a meet and greet where the attendees and their families got to know one another. It was great to see the families and pageant directors there to support their young ladies. Then it was off to the television soundstages for an afternoon of pageantry!

First up was self-introductions for all attendees throughout the audience. No small feat as there were well over 100 attendees for seminar day. After the opening announcements it was time to unveil the competition week schedule to the attendees. Executive Producer Grant Gravitt, Jr. presented a video presentation allowed the girls to see last year at state so they know what to expect. They also got to see how much fun a pageant can truly be!

Up next were Pageant Producer Mary Lou Gravitt and Co-Pageant Director Michael Galanes who with the help of Mrs. Coffman took the delegates through the interview phase of the competition. Notes were being taken as the biggest announcement of the day was the Miss Florida USA is changing to a panel style interview. This will allow for a :30 - :60 second introduction before the judges with a four minute session awaiting each delegate.

Ms. Korka models her second look outfit

Then it was everyone’s favorite part of the day as Mrs. Converse-Estrada gave the ladies some well thought out tips in her presentation. It was truly an unveiling of pageantry secrets as it was very quiet in the room when she spoke. It is always great to have the members of our Miss Florida USA family come back and help our delegates.

Then it was time for a seminar break! This allowed more time for the young ladies and their families to make new friends and ask questions for the pageant staff. This is going to be such a fun year as the halls were filled with friends being made left and right! Then it was back to business as up next was Mrs. Davis who spoke and revealed the perspective of the pageant choreographer. She challenged the ladies to be “Diva’s with gratitude, not Diva with attitude!” With Mrs. Davis’s unique humor and outstanding choreography it should be one great pageant this next month.

Ms. Erett gives her full attention to the guest speaker

Finally it was time for our Miss Florida USA who addressed the attendee’s first hand on how great her year had been! Ms. Durren spoke on her year and experiences. After hearing her speak to the attendees it is quite clear why she is truly a special young woman the state is very proud of! She is truly a valued part of The Miss Florida USA family.

All during the session freebees and gifts were either handed or raffled off to our guests. These prizes included various home video titles from our seminar sponsor, pageantdiva.com and the PageantDiva video series and The Don Baker Video Series. The seminar day was sponsored by Tel-Air Interests and The Hollywood Production Center.

Following the seminar day, Ms. Duren and crew headed over to Montella Park in West Hollywood for a special appearance at The West Broward Concert Series and was greeted by Hollywood Commissioner Fran Russo. We also ran into our good friend and Miss Tampa USA 2007 Heather Johnson along with her family. After a few stand-ups and a tour of some classic cars it was time to call it a day! Next up was a 6:30am call as it’s the pool and beach at The Westin Diplomat Resort on “Get Away Day” this Sunday.

» JUNE PRETAPE WEEKEND

June 1, 2006

Ms. Wallin introduces herself to the worldwide audience

The last and biggest pretape weekend began on Thursday as Anne Kolb Nature Center was the background for self-introductions, swimsuit modeling and kayaking amongst the mangroves. The stormy weather stayed away as Miss Florida USA 2006 Cristin Duren brought the sunshine and the television cameras! Choreographer Vickie Davis had the delegates looking great in their opening wear of jeans along with either lime green or tangerine orange.

The kayak competition is about to begin

The late call of 4:00pm allowed for a different look amongst the beauty of natural Florida as the parks in Hollywood are truly spectacular. After the modeling it was time to hit our little corner of the Intracoastal for some Kayak fun with Ms. Duren landlocked but watching the fun! As the sun was setting (and the mosquito’s were buzzing!) it was time to say goodnight as the fun starts all over again Friday afternoon. Joining the

Ms. Duren meets the legendary “no-see-ems”

during her mangrove standup

June 2, 2006

Friday was greeted by an absolutely beautiful South Florida afternoon as twenty delegates awaited an afternoon of self-introductions along with swimsuit and fashion modeling. The destination was a return to The Diplomat Country Club and Spa after a viewing session at The Hollywood Production Center. Our chariot for the day was the Holly Trolley as we all rode together to location. Miss Florida USA 2006 Cristin Duren as always was the star and Choreographer Vickie Davis had the delegates looking great in their opening wear of jeans along with either lime green or tangerine orange.

The Holly Trolley took us to The Westin Diplomat

Spa and Country Club on Friday afternoon.

The first setup of the day was in and amongst the corral and waterfalls. With it being a hot summer day no one complained when it was time to get creative and put the ladies in the water! After several group and individual swimsuit modeling shots it was time for the self introductions. We split the group into half of the openings at the Spa and Country Club and the other on the Broadwalk on Hollywood Beach.

Then it was time to model the Fur Council of America prize as it was off to the golf course to catch some of the beautiful end of day sun. Spectacularly beautiful shots came out of the combination of our beautiful delegates; spectacular waterfalls and lush tropical foliage. But unfortunately time ran out on the “golden hour: and their was on sunset! So it was time to say goodnight as for the first time in ages we didn’t complete our schedule!

Ms. Dolan; Ms. Sitzman; Ms. Weller and Ms. Scott on a hot pre-taping afternoon.

Ms. Moons in the FICA prize segment

June 4, 2006

Sunday morning greeted us with a beautiful sunrise at it was a very early morning call for “get away day” at Miss Florida USA. Twenty-four delegates were bright eyed and energized at the end of this great pageant weekend. The final location of the weekend was the lush tropical pool at The Westin Diplomat Resort. Upon arrival it was up to the official suite and change into the opening attire, then down stairs to our official poolside cabana.

The opening choreography

Ms. Salamone; Ms. Zurell and Ms. Chandler during Swimsuit taping

The final group swimsuit shot

The first setup of the day was amongst the waterfalls and palms with the delegates opening introductions. Then the ladies returned in their swim attire for the swimsuit montage. The production crew took full advantage of the brand new beach and incorporated this location into the taping. After a few group shots it was time to call it a weekend and head to the many destinations.

» 2007 Miss Florida USA Preliminary Season Schedule

UPDATED 6/8/06

June 22 Too Hot for Fashion – Hollywood Beach Community Center

June 23 Re-shoot Day

July 11: Miss Florida USA Registration Day

July 12 Miss Florida USA Fun Night

July 13 Miss Florida USA Preliminary Interviews

July 14: Miss Florida USA Preliminary Night

July 15: Miss Florida USA Finals & Telecast

» Check Out the complete MISS USA 2007 Reports!

Breaking News - Robert Geller's, Harald

Ladies are you listening? Robert Geller's spring 2006 women's collection, Harald seems made for a visit to an old chateau in Brittany with its 18th century detailing and elegant silhouettes. However, if you can't muster up the Learjet and noble French boyfriend, don't worry. Harald will have you looking like the gentile lady you secretly are all summer long.

Full of pleats and binding, Geller's collection is romantic in a way that is toned down, and totally under-the-top. The lookbook is chocked full of muted colors set off against dashes of blues, lavenders and roses that'll bring out the blush in your cheeks. This German designer is inspired by his upbringing in Europe, his current hometown of New York and of course, The Cure. This latter influence shows up heavily in his fall collection with its stunning sea of fitted options: black leather jackets, shirts of cream, grey zip-up sweaters, etc. Plus, Geller's knack for Palestinian scarves is an elegant, bohemian touch that we're eager to try out.

Geller got his fashion start at Marc Jacobs and later worked for cool brand, Cloak. However, Geller isn't looking to cater to these established designers' audiences. More so, he wants a woman to take bits and pieces from his collection to highlight what's already in her closet. Think of Harald as an extensive, fabulous accessory and aren't the accessories what really make an outfit?

RANDOM TANGENT:
When asked about ex-boyfriend Ashton Kutcher's relationship with Demi Moore, Brittany Murphy replied, "I suppose the crux of their relationship basically means to him that age doesn't matter and to her that size doesn't matter. Good going for him, I suppose."

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