MISS FL USA NEWS!

» Two New Pageant Directors Announced!

Welcome back to the Miss Florida USA family as our two newest directors are alumni of Miss Florida USA. A welcome goes to the new Miss Tallahassee USA Director Brook Francis (brookmariefrancis@comcast.net) as she leads The Capital Cities USA contingent. A big welcome also goes to Miss Naples USA Pageant Director April Gregory (Aprilmarie458@aol.com) who will do outstanding things in the regal coastal town synonymous with the West Coast of Florida. Look for contacts and plans for these pageants in the new few Miss Florida USA Ezine’s your source for everything Miss Florida USA.

MISS TALLAHASSEE USA INFORMATION:

www.misstallahasseeusa.org

Contact: Brook Francis

Phone Number: 850-878-8140

E-mail: misstallahasseeusa@comcast.net

Mailing Address: Will secure a P.O. Box today!

MISS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA USA INFORMATION:

www.poshproductions.us

Contact: April Gregory & Tracye Kearney

Phone 239.823.3937

Email: aprilmarie458@aol.com

» Miss Manatee County USA & Teen and Miss Sarasota USA & Teen

January 27-29th.

M Productions will be producing only one preliminary pageant this season and it will be the third edition of Miss Sarasota USA and Miss Manatee County USA Pageants. “We feel as a staff that 14 is too many titles for me...I love all my title holders and have had sooo much fun getting them ready, but I want the local title to be awesome with great appearances so that going to State is just a cherry on the top of a great Sundae” states M Productions Director Marianne Oden.

Contestants are now entering and pageant plans will be announced in the next few weeks here at The Miss Florida USA Ezine. For more information please contact M Productions at MOden41@aol.com.

» MISS BOCA RATON USA PAGEANT TO END PRELIMINARY SEASON MAY 6^th

Returning for year two is the Miss Boca Raton USA and Miss Boca Raton Teen USA 2006 Pageants to be held on campus at Florida Atlantic University May 6^th. The final event of the season is being again directed by Jeanne & Norman Brander. For more information please feel free to contact the Branders at JeanneJose@aol.com to register.

» MISS POLK COUNTY USA & MISS LAKE BUENA VISTA USA PAGEANT UPDATES: Pageant Director Julie Broughton has added a second title to the mix as this pageant is looking to find dates in mid-February. Look for more information in the next few weeks. If you would like to compete in this mid state tradition contact Ms. Broughton directly at directors@winthecrown.com.

» MISS FLORIDA USA’S COMMITTED TO KATRINA TELETHON:

Up next in our efforts to help those devastated by Hurricane Katrina is our “Hollywood Helps Katrina’s Kids” telethon to be held October 27^th and televised live 7:00 to 9:00pm throughout Broward County on BECON TV, the PBS station of Broward County. Big name stars will join our Miss Florida USA trio of Cristin Duren, Melissa Witek and Kristen Berset along with Luis Aguirre. Also look for our newly crowned Miss Florida Teen USA Jennifer Wooten to also assist on the live television event. We need volunteers to help with everything from answering the phones and receiving pledges to being greeters of the celebrity VIP’s and sponsors. We are having big name stars as the event is being tied into the tradition Miss Florida USA appearance at The Marti Huizinga Boy’s & Girls Club of Hollywood. For more information and to RSVP call Rachel at the home office to reserve your space at (954) 924-4949 or via email to telair@aol.com. The event takes place on Hollywood Beach at the brand new Marriott Hollywood Beach just a few miles north of our two sponsor hotels. All funds raised will go to The Hollywood Emergency Fund and earmarked for The Boys & Girls Club of New Orleans, The Police Athletic League (PAL) of New Orleans and The New Orleans YMCA. This is going to be a huge night with a very large donation, to this date over $80,000.00 has already been sponsored. Just another way to promote our “Crowns for A Cause” initiative as The Miss Florida USA Family really cares!

» 2007 Miss Florida USA Preliminary Season Schedule

Nov. 20: Miss Oakland Park USA & Teen USA Pageants
Dec 3: Miss Sunset Place 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 18-19: Miss First Coast 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

» Shelbyville Native crowned Miss Tennessee USA 2006

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. Lauren Grissom of Shelbyville has been crowned the new Miss Tennessee U-S-A 2006 and will go on to compete in the Miss U-S-A pageant. First runner-up in the Miss Tennessee U-S-A pageant was Casey Porter from Rock Island and second runner-up was Hailey Brown from Williamson County. They were among 65 women who competed for Miss Tennessee. Grissom gets a 25-hundred dollar scholarship to attend Austin Peay State University and she also will receive a full scholarship to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Ms. Grissom of Shelbyville being crowned

the new Miss Tennessee USA 2006

Crowned on Saturday as Miss Tennessee Teen USA was Ashley Durham from Adamsville. First runner-up was Johnna Disterdick from Southeast Tennessee, and Mary Katherine Ross of White County was named second runner-up. Ninety teenage girls from across Tennessee competed for the title. Durham will go onto compete in the Miss U-S-A pageant as the volunteer states representative.

» Dream comes true for Adamsville girl

at Miss Tennessee Teen USA
By REGAN LOYOLA HUNEYCUTT
The Leaf-Chronicle

Ninety teenage girls from across Tennessee competed Saturday for the title of Miss Tennessee Teen USA 2006, but only one went back home with the crown. Ashley Durham of Adamsville was selected to represent the Volunteer State in the national Miss Teen USA pageant after participating in the statewide competition at Austin Peay State University's Music/Mass Communication building.

Finalists competed in a swimsuit and evening gown showing and a question-and-answer segment. Durham wore a turquoise evening gown featuring a tiered skirt and plenty of silver sparkles. When put on the spot during the question-and-answer portion of the competition, Durham was asked to tell the judges what she thought she had taught her parents.

"Honestly, sometimes parents can be pretty old-fashioned, so I think I've taught them how to go more with the flow," she said. Along with her new crown, the McNairy County teen takes home a variety of prizes, including several college scholarships, cosmetic dental care, a skin care package and a wardrobe allowance. Durham, a sophomore at Adamsville Junior-Senior High School in south West Tennessee, said higher education is in her future. "I want to go to college and be a pediatrician," she said. Last year's winner Tessa Reyes of Brentwood said the experience was "such a blessing." "It's been so much fun, and I've felt like a superstar," she said. "It's definitely been a dream come true."

Though every girl could not fulfill their dream Saturday, others beside Durham came away a winner in the competition. First runner-up was Johnna Disterdick, Southeast Tennessee Teen USA; and Mary Katherine Ross, White County Teen USA, was named second runner-up. Third runner-up was Tucker Perry of Franklin, and the fourth runner-up was Keriann Johnson of Orlinda. Shelby Thompson, Centennial Teen USA, was honored for her congeniality; and Alexis Wilson, Appalachian Fair Teen USA, was named most photogenic. Wilson also was presented with the first-ever People's Choice Award. Members of the audience paid $1 to cast a vote for their favorite contestant with the proceeds donated to the American Red Cross' disaster relief effort.

Brintley Clark, who won the Miss River Teen 2005 contest, which was a part of the Rivers & Spires Festival in April, made it into Saturday's top 15. Clark is from Cedar Hill. It is the seventh year Clarksville has served as host to the Miss Tennessee Teen USA Pageant.Clarksville-Montgomery County Convention and Visitors Bureau estimated the pageant brought in a about 555 visitors to to the city, yielding more than $146,000 in direct spending.

» Miss Arkansas USA & Teen USA Results

www.TFTJ.com Reporter: Jason Greco

The new Miss Arkansas USA 2006 is Kimberly Forsyth of Little Rock. She was 2nd runner up a year ago, and will now go on to compete this April at Miss USA. She will try to become the state's second Miss USA. Kimberly was crowned by outgoing queen, Jessica Furrer of Conway.

The first runner up went to Michelle Fawcett. Second runner up went to Jennifer Elliot. The third runner up went to Erin Golden, she also received the Photogenic honors. The fourth runner up went to Stephanie DeClerk. Remaining delegates were Megyn Bell, Danielle Crafton (Ret '05, 1st '04-MO USA), Emily Duncan, Angela Giger-Henry (Congeniality), Amanda Haynes, Rachel Roland, Brandy Trout, and Amanda Whatley.

A new Miss Arkansas Teen USA 2006 was also crowned, and a very happy and surprised young lady walked away with the title. Persistence paid off for Taylor Wright of White Hall. She was last years 1st runner up. Taylor was crowned by last years winner, Ashton Schmidt of Batesville.

First runner up went to Tina Korbe (Photogenic). The second runner up went to Kristen Hill (Congeniality). Third runner up went to Felicia Woods. And the fourth runner up went to Lauren English. The remaining contestants in the competition were Alyse Eady, Alexis Farmer, Lily Fisher, Taylor Mills, Courtney Moody, and Kayla Sontag

Photo Credit: Premier Pageants

» UNL senior is Miss Nebraska USA 2006
By MEGAN BLACK/ www.dailynebraskan.com

October 11, 2005

After watching beauty pageants on television, many young girls wobbled before their mothers’ full-length mirrors, swimming in oversized high heels and glittery accessories, dreaming that one evening they would accept the tiara. For University of Nebraska-Lincoln senior Emily Poeschl, this childhood ritual paid off Monday night when she was crowned Miss Nebraska USA 2006. The road to the Johnny Carson Theatre in Norfolk, which is host to the Miss Nebraska USA competition, was two years in the making for Poeschl. It began with a second-place finish in the same competition in 2004. “It was an amazing weekend,” said Poeschl, a sports and entertainment marketing major. “I left feeling really good about myself and met so many amazing women.”

The experience inspired her to compete for the title of Miss Nebraska USA 2006, which includes an application, interview with the state director and finding a sponsorship. Going into the competition, Poeschl said she never got nervous. Instead, preparation enabled her to enter the event with excitement. The night of the competition, after judgment in the three categories of evening gown, swimsuit and personal interview, Poeschl won “most photogenic” honors and received special recognition for her personal interview. These standings garnered her the title of Miss Nebraska USA 2006. Poeschl said she wanted to represent Nebraska because of the high morals and values that are upheld across the state.The training she received through her classes in the College of Business Administration helped her speak in front of the panel of judges, in addition to the instruction she received from her interview coach.

As Miss Nebraska USA 2006, Poeschl has many opportunities to help others. In addition to the acceptance of the tiara, Poeschl will undertake duties with many charities and causes, including those relating to breast cancer.

Scott Voorhees, public relations director of the event, said Poeschl will also travel to schools, hospitals and assisted living centers to speak about her experience. In the spring, Poeschl will advance to the Miss USA Pageant, broadcast on NBC. “I look forward to the preparation,” she said. “I’ve got a lot of work to do to transform myself into the woman that I want to be.” She said her new role will open doors in the future. “I recommend this to any girl who has ever stayed up late playing dress up the night after a pageant as a little kid,” Poeschl said. “If you have hopes and dreams they can come true. If you have goals, you can achieve them.”

photo: Jim Grillot / Thanks to: Vanbros. Pageants, Inc.

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