MISS FL USA NEWS!

» South Florida Simon Malls
Former Miss Florida USA pageant title holders will be collecting donations for the Red Cross’s Disaster Relief Fund every Saturday and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. throughout the month of September at Dadeland Mall, Miami International Mall and The Shops at Sunset Place. At Dadeland Mall and Miami International Mall they will be collecting donations at center court and at The Shops at Sunset Place they will be collecting donations at the mall entrance between Dan Marinos and Z Gallerie. They will be accepting cash and check donations only.

» ANNOUNCING MISS BROWARD COUNTY USA:

Welcome to a new pageant year with another great opportunity for the young ladies in South Florida. Pageant directors Angie and Mandi Halavin will be producing these pageants on November 19^th, 2005 with the location to be announced at a later date. Halavin Productions, Inc. starting its second year of bringing us new pageant locations, has demonstrated the values and fun of the Miss Florida USA competition. For more information or to request your application you may contact Angie and Mandi Halavin at 954-445-8181 you may also email for information at missbrowardcountyusa@yahoo.com

» 2007 Miss Florida USA Preliminary Season Schedule

Oct. 15-16

Miss West Coast USA & Teen USA Pageants

Nov. 19

Miss Broward County 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 18 & 19

Miss Daytona Beach 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

» State Pageant Corner & Important Dates

Finally we have put together a calendar with all of the important dates for this year’s Miss Florida USA Pageant. Look for it’s permanent home every week at YOUR Miss Florida USA Ezine.

September 30

Miss Florida Teen USA Registration and Interview Competition

September 30

Miss Florida USA Preliminary Directors Meeting 1:30pm

October 1

Miss Florida Teen USA Preliminary Competition

October 2

Miss Florida Teen USA Finals

MISS FLORIDA USA AIRINGS THIS WEEKEND

PENSACOLA/MOBILE

WFGX-WB Channel35

TBD

» Getting to Know Miss Montana USA

Ellen Thompson/Havre Daily News

In the Hollywood version of a beauty pageant, a contestant advocates for cancer research before flashing her well-practiced smile. Once out of the spotlight, she lets her thoughts turn back to shiny objects and puppies.

In the real world, or at least in the case of newly crowned Miss Montana Jill McLain, off-stage life really is dedicated to helping people. Havre native McLain returned Tuesday to Dickinson State University in Dickinson, N.D., where she is in the midst of cancer research. This after a weekend spent winning the Miss Montana USA pageant in Billings.

McLain may be bubbly, but she has a seriousness that extends beyond the interview portion of a pageant. She is majoring in biology and chemistry, is a member of a college science club designing a space suit for NASA, and a cancer researcher.

"They are multiplying right now as we speak," McLain said about prostate cancer cells she's growing for her research. Once she has grown the cells, McLain will test the effect of lycopene, a red pigment found in tomatoes, guavas and watermelon, on those cells.

After this semester, the Dickinson senior will put college on hold to dedicate herself to the demands of the national pageant, which are also intense. To make a good showing there, McLainmust continue to work on improving her physique, her poise and - the fun part - her wardrobe. She'll have a nutritionist, and perhaps a trainer, provided by the Miss Montana contest, as well as a shopping spree. In the coming months she'll make appearances in other statewide pageants and at community service events across the country, visiting nine states for both purposes.

"It still hasn't sunk in yet," McLain said Tuesday in a telephone interview from Dickinson, where she'd returned Monday to flowers, calls and congratulations from friends. McLain entered her first pageant at age 14. She tried three times to be Miss Teen Montana and also Miss Teen USA at a pageant in Florida. This was the first year she tried for Miss Montana USA, she said, which is for women who are 19 to 27.

She recalls enjoying playing dress-up from a young age, beginning with a trunk of play clothes her mother gave her. That, along with a competitive streak that McLain, who is 5 foot 1, couldn't easily satisfy through sports, led her on her way to pageants. She'd always done well, but had never won a pageant like this one, she said.

Now McLain will have a single shot at Miss USA. She won't be eligible for the pageant again after winning Miss Montana USA. The likely other pageant she may have ahead of her is Miss Petite International, a pageant she tried in the past, reaching the top 15. But she can't attempt that until her reign as Miss Montana ends in one year.

McLain said she was told by the judges that she won because of her ability in the interview process. In that event, judges ask a few questions over two minutes and then one on-stage question. Those questions tend to come from a contestant's resume, rather than being sweeping questions about changing the world.

In McLain's case, she was able to talk about her cancer research. Other pageant events included evening wear and swimsuit competitions. What matters in those are your looks, but also how you carry yourself, McLain said. She said about wearing a bathing suit in front of an audience: "It's funny, but I work so hard on getting my body fit that it doesn't bother me. I feel really good. It doesn't exploit women. You work so hard on your body and you want to show it off. It takes a lot of self-confidence."

Jill's mother, Steph McLain, has seen that characteristic develop in her daughter. A lot of it, she said, comes from the mental and physical preparation. Steph McLain calls her daughter to prepare her for the interview process, asking her questions each day that Jill answers as though she were speaking at a contest.

The preparation Jill gets is far different from what some young women get, Steph said. Steph and Jill have seen that when they have traveled nationally for competitions. In Southern states, girls are trained for beauty pageants as toddlers, Steph said. At Jill's first national pageant, the mother and daughter showed up with makeup, while other girls came with an entourage of trainers.

"Montana certainly is the Jamaican bobsled team," Steph said. "We don't get a lot of people interested.”

__________________________________________________________

» Miss Barstow crowned Miss California Teen USA

By KAREN STAPLEY - Staff Writer/Desert Dispatch

Miss Barstow Jessica Powell earned the title of

Miss California Teen USA on Sunday in Palm Springs.

Photo by Karen Stapley

BARSTOW -- Miss Barstow 2005, Jessica Powell, was named Miss California Teen USA at the Miss California USA Pageant held Sunday in Palm Springs. Powell is the first girl from Barstow ever to be awarded the title. Powell also won a $100,000 modeling contract with the Morgan Agency. "I'm very excited," Powell,17, said. "I can't explain in words -- it seems like a dream."

Powell said when she realized she was the last girl on stage she was surprised. "I was jumping up and down and crying. I couldn't believe it," Powell said. "My heart was pounding and I was screaming." Powell will be entered into the Miss Teen USA competition to be held in July 2006 which will be nationally televised. "I'm very proud," Debbie Hall, Powell's mother, said. "I knew she could do it but it seems too good to be true."

Miss Barstow Jessica Powell earned the title of Miss California Teen USA on Sunday in Palm Springs. Miss Barstow Pageant Director Kris Watson said Powell is a seasoned competitor who handles herself well. "She has a fresh, youthful look," Watson said. "She has a vibrance about her that stands out in a room."

Growing up in Barstow may have helped her win the title, according to Watson. "Home towns girls have a lot to offer," Watson said. "They are more personable and friendly than city girls." Powell has been doing beauty pageants since before she could walk. She entered her first pageant when she was eight weeks old. She continued to do them until she was about three and then stopped because she went through a shy period, Hall said.

Powell re-entered the world of beauty pageants at the age of seven, when the Miss Barstow Pageant added a children's division, Hall said. She did not have much success until 2000 when she was crowned Pre-Teen Miss Barstow. "That was my breakthrough," Powell said. Since then Powell has racked up sashes, crowns and titles which adorn her bedroom. She won Teen Miss Barstow 2002, Miss Barstow 2005 and dozens of other pageants throughout California.

Powell prepared vigorously for the pageant by hitting the gym with her personal trainer and by watching what she ate. She said she eat small, healthy meals frequently, at least five times a day, which increases the metabolism. Along with her modeling contract, Powell won a multitude of prizes including nutritional advice, gift bags and a training at a modeling and acting school. But the title has not changed what Powell has always wanted to be -- a teacher.

"I love kids," Powell said. "That is where my heart is. I would do anything to put a smile on a kid's face." Powell said while she is excited about the modeling and acting opportunities that lie before her, she plans to continue her education. "Modeling and acting have a short duration," Powell said. "I will get an education to fall back on."

Powell will have to hang up her Miss Barstow sash and crown. While she will retain the title and perform her duties, she can no longer wear them in public, as she has to wear her California Teen USA sash and crown. Watson said the title will be great exposure and lead to many opportunities for Powell. "It is phenomenal. This is huge, it's massive." Watson said. "Her life is going to be very different from here on out."

GADGETS - A LITTLE NEUROTIC?
Soothe Your Nerves With The Home Heartbeat

Ever worry that you left the heat blasting and you're going to roast the cat? We have. If you share our neuroses or would like a bit more piece of mind let the Home Heartbeat alleviate your stress.

Home Heartbeat can monitor everything from open doors to flooded basements. Sensors placed in your space communicate through a wireless network regarding subtle changes in the environment and then send messages to a monitoring keychain. No matter where you are keep apprised of all activity going on at the crib. Think of the Home Heartbeat as an inexpensive nervous system for your apartment and a Valium for your nerves.

Whether this is a sign of OCD is debatable, but we think it's genius especially if you have animals, plants, selfish significant others or, well OCD. Hey - sometimes it's better just to know.

Instant Gratification
Check Out The Home Heart Beat
Find Out About Security Packages
See Other Wireless Technologies
Get It Now!