The Miss Florida USA & Miss Florida Teen USA

Magazine of November 23rd, 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 big news this week is the announcement that Miss USA will be a late April event and we are returning to Baltimore for our nations championship. Last year Florida had quite the delegation and with the event being so close to our state we look forward to more fun this year. Also congratulations to our first titleholders of the new season as three crowns were awarded last Sunday in rain soaked Oakland Park. Check out the reports and pictures below. We wish everyone in our Miss Florida USA family a happy Thanksgiving!

Pageant News of The World has reports on our nations two biggest pageants. We meet Miss Massachusetts USA on The Road to Baltimore. Full results on Miss Oakland Park USA highlights our Florida USA News. Faces & Places debuts today with more on our Miss Florida USA’s special Sunday and Gen Art features some cool gadgets for holiday shopping. All the pageant news that fits to print updated on Thursdays and Mondays only at YOUR Miss Florida USA Ezine, the only Ezine in the pageant world! Gobble Gobble.

Grant H. Gravitt, Jr.

Executive Producer

Miss Florida USA & Miss Florida Teen USA

19 Days until Miss Weston USA & Teen USA!

PAGEANT NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

» MISS USA TO BALTIMORE

NBC to Broadcast Miss USA Live from Baltimore's 1st Mariner Arena on April 21st

Miss USA returns to Baltimore in April

NEW YORK/ -- Paula M. Shugart, President of the Miss Universe Organization, announced today the state of Maryland will host the 55th Annual Miss USA® Competition. The extravagant live show, which was held in 2005 at the historic Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore, moves this year to the 1st Mariner Arena, managed by SMG, Baltimore's largest indoor sports and entertainment facility to accommodate the large demand for tickets. The internationally celebrated event will air live on NBC on April 21st, contestants, their friends and families, most of whom were first time visitors to Maryland, all commented on the hospitality and sense of community they found here. We anticipate another great partnership between the Miss Universe Organization, the state of Maryland and the city of Baltimore, and we are excited to show our audience, for the second year in a row, more of why Maryland is a fabulous travel destination."

Hosting duties will be split evenly among the State and the City, and the live telecast on NBC will showcase both the City of Baltimore and the State of Maryland. "It is truly a testament to Maryland's outstanding quality of life and world-class venues that we will once again host the Miss USA competition," said Maryland First Lady Kendel Ehrlich. "Bringing this event back to Maryland has truly been a team effort between State and City officials, private businesses and community leaders and we are thrilled to have another opportunity to show off our great State to millions of viewers around the country and the world."

Baltimore's Mayor, Martin O'Malley, echoes First Lady Ehrlich's sentiment. "Baltimore is thrilled to welcome back the Miss USA Pageant in 2006," said Mayor Martin O'Malley. "It is especially exciting because next year's event will be staged at the 1st Mariner Arena, allowing a much larger number of citizens here in the city and from across the state to attend this spectacular show."

During the three-week pageant period, thousands of friends, family members and fans are expected to visit Maryland and millions will tune-in to watch the live telecast, providing substantial exposure for the city and state. The 2005 Miss USA pageant was distributed to a record-breaking 100 countries and territories.

» Pageant Asks Ex-Miss Americas For Cash

By JOHN CURRAN / Associated Press Writer

With its bags packed for Vegas and its bank balances sagging, the Miss America pageant is asking former winners to donate money for the scholarship that goes with the crown. In an unprecedented step, Miss America Organization CEO Art McMaster appealed to former winners to kick in for the $50,000 scholarship, citing the pageant's new push for fundraising.

In a Nov. 3 letter obtained by The Associated Press, he noted the pageant's loss of network television revenue and said donations were needed to underwrite the Miss America scholarship. "I am asking that all of you make a donation towards this scholarship and support the organization that helped to shape all of your lives, just as you would support your alma mater as alumni," McMaster wrote. McMaster, who announced this week that the next Miss America would be crowned in Las Vegas, did not return several telephone calls seeking comment. The closely-knit group of former winners had mixed emotions about the plea. "I knew this program was at a critical time and, in many ways, in dire straits," said Miss America 1990 Debbye Turner. "It didn't make me think things were worse than they are. It confirmed my worst fears that we really are at a crossroads and that something powerful needs to happen."

Sister can you spare a dime?

Miss America pitches their queens for financial support

Nicole Johnson, Miss America 1999, said the request was "a little odd. The formers, we're all in a very precarious position," she said. "You can't find bigger supporters of this organization than us, but when called on at the eleventh hour, it makes it a little difficult. We're trying to plan, as a group, to see what the best course of action is." The Miss America Organization bills itself as the world's leading provider of scholarships to young women. It makes $45 million in scholarship aid available annually, including $50,000 to the winner. Money from the pageant's TV partner has historically funded the scholarships and the organization's operations, providing up to $6 million annually.

But ABC pulled the plug on Miss America 13 months ago after record-poor viewership for the 2004 pageant, which was watched by 9.8 million people. Last year, the Miss America Organization lost $1.7 million, and in August, McMaster announced the plan to move the pageant out of Atlantic City in search of cheaper digs. Cable outlet Country Music Television has since picked up Miss America, but the broadcast rights are believed to be far less than before.

MISS FL USA NEWS!

» Miss Oakland Park USA & Miss Oakland Park Teen USA

November 20, 2005

The Miss Florida USA season officially started Sunday afternoon as the inaugural Miss Oakland Park USA Pageant was contested at The Oakland Park Collins Community Center. Produced by Halavin Productions six Miss USA and three Miss Teen USA delegates competed for the chance to represent the this fast growing Broward County town at Miss Florida USA and Miss Florida Teen USA.

The evening started with co-pageant director Mandi Halavin introducing the hostess of the evening Miss Treasure Coast Teen USA 2006 Jean Liefhelm. After introducing the pageant and local dignitaries including The Mayor of Oakland Park Allegra Murphy it was time to bring out the contestants. With the delegates entering through the audience the presented themselves in their white outfits for the teens and solid black for the USA contestants. The Teen USA delegates hit the runway first as the crowd was very appreciative. Up next the Miss USA delegates greeted the judges and audience signaling the pageant was underway. During their introductions each delegate added a tidbit of pageant history to the audience.

Sarah Callahan during the pageant introductions

The judges responsible for selecting the afternoon’s winner were then introduced: Amy Guin, President of her own marketing group in Ft. Lauderdale; Edward Smith, the Special Events Coordinator for The City of Oakland Park; Arezou Soleimani, former model and marketing director; Anita Arguello, MTV and VH1 talent director; Freddy Vasquez, owner and stylist Bria Hair Design and Elaine Childers a model and agent with ED Talent Agency.

The judge's view of Ms. Olkininsky in swimwear

After the judges were announced it was back to the pageant. The swimsuit competition was first as the delegates wore one piece suits of their own choosing. Then it was everybody’s favorite the evening gown competition. First the teen delegates and then the miss delegates all had the chance to show off their personal fashion sense. The delegates returned onstage for one last chance to make an impression on the judges with the interview questions.

The Oakland Park Teen USA delegates

await their onstage questions

Now all was left was to announce the special prizes and announce the finalists. These special award winners are qualified for state: Miss Amity is Christian Ericksen; Miss Photogenic is Lina Figueroa while The Pageant Spirit Award went to Shantavia Davis. The results for Miss Oakland Park Teen USA were the first to be announced and the final results were:

2^nd Runner Up is Shameka Fluellen.

1^st Runner Up is Sarah Callahan

The New Miss Oakland Park Teen USA is Christian Ericksen!

After the crowning moments it was time for the miss contestants to take the spotlight as the final results were announced:

2^nd Runner Up is Lina Figueroa.

1^st Runner Up is Angel Coleman

The New Miss Oakland Park USA is Shantavia Davis!

The New Miss Broward County USA is Jennifer Olkinitsky.

Congratulations to Miss Ericksen and Ms. Davis and Ms. Olkinitsky as they represent Oakland Park and Broward County at state. Also congratulation goes to the staff and volunteers at Halavin Productions for an outstanding pageant! Up next on The Road To Hollywood we venture to the western tip of Broward County for The Miss Weston USA Pageants. See you December 18th!

The Oakland Park team heading to state!

» 2007 Miss Florida USA Preliminary Season Schedule

Nov. 20: Miss Oakland Park USA & Teen USA Pageants

Dec 11 & 18: Miss Weston USA & Teen USA Pageants

Jan 6-7: Miss Nature Coast USA & Teen USA Pageants

Jan 13-15: Miss Daytona Beach USA & Teen USA Pageants

Jan 27-29 Miss Sarasota/Manatee County USA & Teen USA Pageants

Jan 29: Miss Hollywood USA & Teen USA Pageants

Feb 4: Miss Polk County USA/Miss Lake Buena Vista USA & Teen USA Pageants

Feb 11: Miss Sunset Place USA & Teen USA Pageants

Feb 18-19: Miss First Coast USA & Teen USA Pageants

March 18: Miss Southwest Florida USA & Teen USA Pageants

April 2: Miss West Broward USA & Teen USA Pageants

April 8: Miss Gold Coast USA & Miss Palm Beach County USA & Teen Pageants

April 23: Miss Treasure Coast USA & Teen USA Pageants

May 6: Miss Boca Raton USA & Teen USA Pageants

May 7: Miss Homestead USA & Teen USA Pageants

MISS FLORIDA USA AIRINGS THIS WEEKEND

PENSACOLA/MOBILE

WFGX-WB Channel35

TBD

» Crowning Glory in Massachusetts

By Rosemary Ford - Salem (Mass) Staff Writer

As she prepared for her second pageant, Gordon College student Tiffany Kelly just felt the hand of fate moving her forward. The 18-year-old found the perfect dress, twice the sponsors she needed and several enthusiastic supporters. "I thought — why not just do a pageant and go for it?" said Kelly, a Braintree resident. "Everything just fell into place." Last night, the trend continued when she became the latest young woman to be crowned Miss Massachusetts USA. Kelly received her crown at the pageant, held in conjunction with the Miss Teen Massachusetts USA pageant last night at the Marriott Hotel in Quincy. She will be the Bay State's contestant in the Miss USA 2006 pageant.

Former Miss USA and current MTV personality Susie Castillo, formerly of Lawrence, co-hosted the pageant with former Miss Massachusetts Kimberly Pressler and pageant executive producer Ken Palmer. Caroline Caruso, a 17-year-old from Wakefield, was crowned Miss Teen Massachusetts. Kelly was one of several contestants at the pageant with North of Boston connections, including 24-year-old Lindsay Lubetz and 23-year old Christina Turiez, both from Marblehead. Neither girl had ever been in a pageant before. "I figured you should try everything once," said Lubetz, who became the first runner-up.

Third runner-up Turiez wanted to compete in the pageant because she loves to perform. An actress, she has two small roles in the upcoming film "The Break Up" starring Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn, playing a poker dealer and an art fair vendor. While Turiez found the entire experience fun, it was also a little nerve-wracking backstage. The contestants all got ready in front of makeshift mirrors in a ballroom, crammed elbow-to-elbow while doing makeup, hair and getting dressed. "It was violent back here," joked Lubetz. "It was mayhem, but we all helped each other."

Contestant Toni Wakester, a 23-year-old from Beverly, had to live with hundreds of other people while stationed in Iraq with the Army Reserve. And still, she found this experience harrowing. "It was crazy, everyone was throwing stuff everywhere," she said. Her favorite moment came at the end of the pageant.” The best part of this is taking off the shoes," she said, removing a Lucite heal!

» ROAD TO NATIONALS PICTURE MONTAGE:

This years Miss Washington USA 2006 Court

(click to enlarge)

Miss South Carolina USA 2006 Lacie Lybrand &

Miss South Carolina Teen USA 2006 Brittany Smith

Onstage after the pageant are the delegates representing Virginia

and North Carolina with the evenings South Carolina titleholders.

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