The Miss Florida USA & Miss Florida Teen USA

Magazine of May 4th, 2006

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 search for the next Miss Florida USA 2007 has begun with the first pretape session for the live television special as The Road To Hollywood is almost complete! With ten more titles in the Florida USA division the field is almost complete. Look for us in both Ocala and Homestead this weekend. We are proud to announce that for the fifth year Luis Aguirre and Kristen Beall will star as the host team with Miss Florida USA Cristin Berset leading the television taped segments.

World Pageant News offers a rare insight into Miss USA as we do lunch with our national pageant champion! Also look for reports from Turkey, Russia along with Miss Asia America. Miss Florida USA News features news on this years “Too Hot For Fashion” a special yearly fundraiser for the homeless assistance project of Broward County. This Friday’s Faces & Places we do the question answer thing with Tara Conner, Miss USA while Gen Art has the next great hip-hop voice from England as we keep you hip! All the pageant news that fits to print updated on Thursdays and Fridays and results on Mondays as well as a Miss Florida USA Pretape Pictorial Update only at YOUR Miss Florida USA Ezine, the only Ezine in the pageant world!

Grant H. Gravitt, Jr.

Executive Producer

Miss Florida USA & Miss Florida Teen USA

» 71 Days until Miss Florida USA!

» 3 Days until Miss Homestead FL USA!

» 2 Days until Miss Northwest FL USA!

PAGEANT NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

» Miss USA Arrives In the City of Cities

Lunch at the New York Four Seasons

By PRANAY GUPTE

Tara Elizabeth Conner of Kentucky knows that she's in the beauty business only for the short term. "I'm okay with that," the recently crowned Miss USA 2006 said yesterday. "The important thing is to make your run last as long as you can - the important thing is to make an impact that lasts."

At 20, Ms. Conner has many years ahead to build on her victory in Baltimore on April 21. But even as the Kentucky native savors her title, and all the attention that comes with it, she's already begun to assemble plans to make a long-term impact. New York figures prominently in those plans. "I'm a country girl with big-city dreams," Ms. Conner said. "And I've come to the city of cities."

She's here because, under the terms of her title, Ms. Conner must be based in New York for the duration of her one-year reign. The pageant, which is co-owned by Donald Trump and NBC, requires her to be put up at a Trump apartment in Manhattan. Ms. Conner resides in that building along with the current Miss Teen USA, Allie LaForce of Ohio, and Miss Universe, Natalie Glebova of Canada. Indeed, she will be competing for Ms. Glebova's title in Los Angeles on July 23.

“That takes a lot of preparation," Ms. Conner said. The preparation involves following a strict regimen of diet and exercise and, of course, confidence enhancing measures. Not that Ms. Conner needs to significantly boost her confidence in herself. She comes across as a down-home woman, yet one with poise that belies her age - a fact that judges at the Miss USA contest cited in awarding her the top title. She was one of 51 contestants who spent 23 days in Baltimore for the Miss USA competition.

The two-hour finals were televised globally, and drew an estimated audience of 250 million, according to NBC. "I'm the 55th Miss USA, and that will always stay with me," Ms. Conner, the first Miss Kentucky to win the Miss USA title, said. "The day after I won, they whisked me away - and here I was, in New York."

She said she'd never come to New York before. Would she like to live in the city? "Well, being Miss USA opens so many doors: the opportunity to appear on television, the scholarships, all the exciting people one gets to meet," Ms. Conner said. "I see myself pursuing a career in acting and modeling, perhaps even hosting my own show on TV."

While Ms. Conner is exploring those possibilities, she's also serving as a national spokeswoman for breast and ovarian cancer awareness. Since 1998, Mr. Trump's Miss Universe Organization and Miss USA have been actively involved in support of breast cancer and ovarian cancer awareness, a Trump spokeswoman said. Each year, Miss USA raises money for nationally recognized breast and ovarian cancer organizations such as the Susan G. Kolmen Breast Cancer Foundation, the National Breast Cancer Coalition, the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, and Gilda's Club.

It is not that Ms. Conner will spend her reign focusing merely on public appearances. Her prizes include a two-year scholarship from the School for Film and Television in New York. Ms. Conner said she intends to avail herself of that opportunity. "I also want to complete my college education," she said, alluding to her current enrollment in Somerset Community College in Kentucky, where she's majoring in business administration. "I want to be totally prepared for a successful career in this increasingly competitive environment."

She said she'd been dreaming about beauty pageant competitions since her early teenage years. "I come from Russell Springs - a little town of 2,200 people and three stop lights," Ms. Conner said. "When I started watching beauty pageants on TV, a whole new world opened up to me. That's when my big dream began."

That dream may have seemed incongruous in view of her modest background. Ms. Conner's father, John Conner, is a computer technician; her mother, Brenda Johnson, works in a factory. Her older brother, Josh, is in the Navy.

"I would watch those pageants and see the beauty queens being crowned, and I would say to myself; I want to be that girl," Ms. Conner said. "So from an early age, I've been working toward my title." Before she won the Miss USA title, Ms. Conner was Miss Kentucky, and before that, Miss Kentucky Teen USA. She was the second runner-up in the Miss Teen USA 2002 contest.

One gets the impression that Ms. Conner's personal familiarity with the beauty-pageant process has squeezed out any element of surprise over the celebrity status that the Miss USA title fetches. But, she said, she hadn't realized how exhausting her professional commitments would be in the wake of winning the big one.

"It's been a busy, busy time, and time goes so fast," Ms. Conner said. "You want to be absorbing everything. You want to take complete advantage of being here in New York. After all, you can get to be Miss USA only once in your life, and I want to take complete advantage of this." Her professional obligations have left her little time to socialize in New York. "I've had no social life," Ms. Conner said. "All my friends are back in Kentucky. I miss my parents. I suppose I will make new friends here, but so far there's been so little time to just hang out and relax."

The reporter, assuming that a newly crowned Miss USA would be commuting from one dazzling dinner to another wearing her string of pearls awarded by Mikimoto, asked her what she thought of New York's fabled society circuit. Ms. Conner laughed. "You know, I came back to my apartment last night and cooked myself some spaghetti," she said.

» Miss Turkey Universe

Twenty-women competed in the Miss Turkey 2006 Pageant as televised by Star TV. Merve Buyuksarac (18-center) won the Miss Turkey World 2006 title while Miss Turkey Universe is 19-year old Ceyla Kirazli (2^nd right) and will represent Turkey at the Miss Universe 2006 pageant in Los Angeles on July 23rd. Miss Turkey Europe is 22-year old Selda Ogruk (2nd left), a student of psychology and will compete in the Miss Europe 2006 pageant in Ukraine next November. Miss Turkey International is 22-year old Asena Tugal (left). She will travel to Beijing, China, to compete for the Miss International 2006 title on September 23rd.

» Vietnamese crowned Miss Asia USA

Jennifer Pham, 21, from the University of California at Irvine, beat 29 other contestants to win the 18th annual beauty pageant last Saturday. Pham, the only entrant of Vietnamese origin, was also named Miss Photogenic and Miss Body Beautiful in the US-wide contest.Pham was earlier Miss Vietnam USA 2005 and Miss Vietnamese American Top Model 2005 - Southern California.

A Vietnamese-American student was crowned Miss

Asia USA 2006 at a pageant in California last week.

» Russian Beauty Wins Mrs. World 2006 Pageant

Russia’s Sofia Arzhakovskaya has been crowned Mrs. World 2006 at the final show of contest in St. Petersburg, Russia, news agencies said. Sofia, 18, graduated from a dancing school in Ufa and is now a “free dancer”. She only became Mrs. a year ago. Together with the crown, as the winner of pageant she will receive a $6,000 worth fur coat and a set of jewelry. Mrs.Costa Rica Andrea Bermudez Romero was crowned Vice Mrs. World, although she was first mistakenly announced the winner of the contest. Contestants from China, Finland and Kenya were also named among the top five beauties of the pageant that featured thirty-four contestants from across the globe.

MISS FL USA NEWS!

» TOO HOT FOR FASHION NEXT THURSDAY!

Want to support a great cause while watching our Miss Florida USA delegates in this year’s hottest fashion? Then this upcoming “Too Hot For Fashion” benefiting The Broward Outreach Center is the perfect way of doing both! All proceeds are benefiting the homeless assistance agency of Broward County.

This fashion show; taste of Hollywood and silent auction (remember Mother’s Day is the following Sunday!) starts at 6:30pm next Thursday May 11^th at The Hollywood Beach Cultural and Community Center; 1301 South Ocean Drive; Hollywood, FL 33019 with tickets at $40.00 that includes some great food; open bar and the regions VIP’s. Also several of The Miss Florida USA family will be in attendance. For more ticket information call The Broward Outreach Center at (954) 926-7417 or visit http://www.miamirescuemission.com/browardoutreach.htm for information on how you can help!

» MISS CITY BEAUTIFUL USA & TEEN USA NEWS

HELLO MISS FLORIDA USA FAMILY! I AM STILL ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR MISS CITY BEAUTIFUL USA/TEEN USA & MISS AVALON PARK USA/TEEN USA. IT WILL BE HELD ON MAY13TH IN ORLANDO. I HAVE 5 SPOTS IN EACH STILL OPEN. THIS WILL BE ONE OF CENTRAL FLORIDA LAST PAGEANTS OF THE YEAR WITH A GREAT SET OF SPONSORS AND PRIZES. PLEASE GIVE ME CALL TODAY TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT. THANKS AND HAVE AN OUTSTANDING DAY FROM PAGEANT DIRECTOR FRANK ARCIDIACONO who can be reached at 407-761-7039 OR MCBPAGEANTUSA@AOL.COM.

» MISS HOMESTEAD/FLORIDA KEYS USA & TEEN USA NEWS

What an exciting weekend we'll have. Halavin Productions, Inc. is excited to present the 2nd annual Miss Homestead/Florida Keys USA and Teen USA on Sunday, May 7^th at Homestead Miami Speedway Champions Club, One Speedway Blvd., Homestead, Florida 33035. The pageant will start at 5pm.

Our new sponsor will be adding to the excitement, we have Beauty products from "Fierté" providing the makeup & hair care for this pageant and as a prize package for winners. Fierté is also giving The Fierté Beauty Award and a $150 Gift certificate for skin care make-up to the delegate that represents the 21st century woman in regards to beauty and personal appearance. A will be a production that you will not want to miss.

Tickets are $25 pre show, and $30 at the door. For more information, tickets and application for the pageant please contact Halavin Productions, Inc. at 954-445-8181 or via email at misshomestead_floridakeysusa@yahoo.com. Check our web site for more information http://www.halavinproductionsinc.com/

DIRECTORS

If you are interested in attending the Homestead/Florida Keys USA pageant contact Director Angie Halavin prior to the pageant by email at halavinproductionsinc@yahoo.com

-Angie & Mandi Halavin

IF YOU GO:

WHAT: MISS NORTHWEST FLORIDA USA & TEEN USA PAGEANTS

WHEN: SATURDAY May 6^th 2:30pm

WHERE: Appleton Museum of Art
4333 NE Silver Springs Blvd.
Ocala, FL 34470-5000
Phone Number: (352) 291-4455

The Appleton Museum of Art is located in the North Central Florida city of Ocala, seven miles east of I-75 on SR 40 (Exit 352) and 62 miles west of I-95 on SR 40 (Exit 268).

WHAT: MISS HOMESTEAD/FLORIDA KEYS USA & TEEN USA PAGEANTS

WHEN: SUNDAY May 7^th 5:00pm

WHERE:

Homestead Miami Speedway Champions Club

One Speedway Blvd.,

Homestead, Florida 33035

» 2007 Miss Florida USA Preliminary Season Schedule

UPDATED 4/27/06

May 6: Miss Northwest Florida USA & Teen USA Pageants (Ocala)

May 7: Miss Homestead USA & Teen USA Pageants

May 7: Miss Alachua County USA & Teen USA Pageants

May 11 Too Hot for Fashion – Hollywood Beach Community Center

May 13 Miss Miami USA & Teen USA

May 13  Miss City Beautiful USA & Teen USA Pageants

May 20: Miss Boca Raton USA & Teen USA Pageants

May 21: Miss Space Coast USA & Teen USA Super Pageant – Melbourne

May 21: Miss Ft. Lauderdale USA & Teen USA Pageants

TBD Miss Magic City USA & Teen USA Pageants

June 1 – 4 Final Pre Tape Weekend - Hollywood

June 3: Miss Florida USA Seminar Day

July 11: Miss Florida USA Registration Day

July 14: Miss Florida USA Preliminary Night

July 15: Miss Florida USA Finals & Telecast

» Check Out Our Daily MISS USA 2007 UPDATES!

He's Baaaaacccccck...

Say 'allo (again) to The Streets

Rap is almost dead. Can you hear it coughing up blood in the corner of "da club". What happened to lyricism and great beats? There's a few holdouts out there still making true hip-hop and one happens to be Mike Skinner aka The Streets. You remember him don't you?

No matter whether you were a die-hard rap addict or a rock'n'roll junkie, almost everyone could find something to love in The Streets' East End rhyme-style and real world narratives. On his latest and third album, The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living, Skinner runs through the trials and tribulations of being famous. Honestly, we're sure it's not that! bad, but Mike makes a strong case with songs like the opening track, "Pranging Out," where he bashes through all the typical musical star cliches (being depressed, alone, too drunk) to recounting a really, really scandalous affair he had with a unnamed female pop star in his usual whip smart lyrical style. Our favorite track, "Never Went To Church," has chords that echo the Beatles', "Let it be," while beautifully touching on the concept of death. Runner-up is the single, "When You Wasn't Famous." Listen to it now and see why we dig this tune. If you loved him before, you'll more than likely love The Streets now. However, this time the wonder kid is backed by serious grime beats, so those who know nothing of! the genre may need a moment to adjust, too. You've been warned.

Let's face it. Hip-hop has been murdered by money, cash and you know... that other thing, too. However, The Streets and a few others are bringing a bit of eclectic, musical genius back to the genre. Hell. Yeah.

More Music

Blog: Gotan Project

By Carrie Schupper, Gen Art's Music and Art Manager I have been waiting very patiently for the release of Gotan Project's newest album and at last my patience has paid off with the arrival of Lunatico - a collaboration of...

read more +

Video: Hit The Right Spot - With The Hourly Radio

The Hourly Radio almost sounds like your typical pop band, and then not at all. They remind us of Suede, but then this Dallas foursome kicks in some Cure and a dash of U2 and we're back at square one. What we can say with certainty is ...

watch +