The Miss Florida USA & Miss Florida Teen USA  Magazine of April 17, 2008               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. What a great week of pageantry we had in Las Vegas! Our Miss Florida USA Jessica Rafalowski rocked the national stage all the way into a top 10 finish at Miss USA. The hard work paid off with a great result and now we welcome back OUR Miss Rafalowski as she concludes one amazing year.   In this weeks World Pageant News we take you to the national championships of Brazil, Jamaica, Costa Rica and The United States. This weeks Florida USA News recaps Pompano Beach and looks ahead towards Gainesville and The Emerald Coast. This weeks Faces & Places takes you into the audience at Miss USA and Miss Pompano Beach USA. GenArt features another up & coming designer you will want to check out. A 10 Minute Pageant Triple Header with movies from Treasure Coast and Pompano Beach are featured on our www.YouTube.com/MissFloridaUSA Channel Movie of The Week. All the pageant news that fits to print on Thursdays and Fridays only at YOUR Miss Florida USA Ezine, the only Ezine in the pageant world!   Grant H. Gravitt, Jr. Executive Producer Miss Florida USA & Teen

 

 

» 2 Days Until Miss Gainesville FL USA & Teen USA

 

» 3 Days Until Miss Emerald Coast USA & Teen USA

 

 

PAGEANT NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD » MISS USA   LAS VEGAS (AP) — A 26-year-old entrepreneur from Texas was named Miss USA on Friday, besting 50 other beauty queens for the coveted crown. Crystle Stewart, of Missouri City, Texas, runs a party-planning and motivational speaking company, as well as modeling professionally. She says she wants to dedicate her life to international philanthropy. She edged out first runner-up Leah Laviano of Mississippi and Tiffany Andrade of New Jersey. Miss USA 2007 Rachel Smith relinquished the crown — and the posh New York apartment that comes with it — in a show aired live by NBC with hosts Donny and Marie Osmond from the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. The network co-owns the parent Miss Universe Organization with Donald Trump. Smith, a former Miss Tennessee USA, said she was headed to Hollywood. Contestants from all 50 states and the District of Columbia have been in Las Vegas for nearly three weeks, rehearsing and hyping the 57th annual pageant. After stints in Baltimore and Los Angeles, organizers billed the new venue as a city beloved by the event's international audience. The pageant tried to showed off its edge, featuring a grinding live rock performance by the band Finger Eleven, music from Rihanna, and contestants in barely there black bikinis and faux-fur coats. Donny and Marie kept up a steady stream of sibling banter even while swiftly whittling the field. Donny Osmond told the losers to "put on a poker face" as he sent them home. "Or use Botox; then it won't move," Marie quipped. Stewart will compete in the Miss Universe pageant in Vietnam in July. She also becomes a spokeswoman for breast and ovarian cancer awareness and other causes, while traveling to promote the organization. Miss USA contestants are scored in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown and interview. Miss Alaska USA, Courtney Erin Carroll, was chosen "Miss Photogenic USA" based on voting at the organization's website. The other contestants named Miss Ohio USA, Monica Day, "Miss Congeniality." Unlike the rival Miss America, Miss USA contestants are not asked to perform a talent. Smith's year on the throne has been marked by fewer racy headlines than her 2006 predecessor, Tara Conner. Conner's underage drinking landed her in rehab and sparked a media circus documenting her fall from grace. Smith's low point was a fall onstage during the evening gown competition of the Miss Universe pageant in Mexico City. She was booed by the crowd and Miss Japan won the title. A bigger blunder this year belonged to Miss California USA organizers. The judges crowned the wrong queen in their November contest and reversed it days later, saying Raquel Beezley, of Barstow, was the victim of a vote tabulation error. Dethroned Miss Los Angeles, Christina Silva, a Hispanic woman, has filed a lawsuit alleging racial bias. The panel of judges for Friday's pageant included Heather Mills, model and former wife of Paul McCartney; comedian Rob Schneider; Olympic gold-medal swimmer Amanda Beard; and Christian Siriano, winner of Bravo's fashion reality series, "Project Runway."             » MISS BRAZIL UNIVERSE Natalia Anderle, 22, 1.80m, became Miss Universe Brazil on April 13. “Our people had great expectations on Natalia Guimaraes at Miss Universe 2007 but she only won the first runner-up title. I know that Brazilian people expect that I can make history this July,” she said after the enthronement.                 » MISS JAMAICA UNIVERSE 18 year-old April Jackson (Miss Swift Cash) beat out 24 other young ladies to capture the 2008 Miss Jamaica Universe title. The grand coronation took place at the National Indoor Sports Centre on Saturday April 12 before a capacity audience. The Queen and her Court: Miss Jamaica Universe 2008 April Jackson, (centre) is flanked by her runners-up Doneika Plowright (left) who placed second and third place winner Rebecca Silvera. The coronation took place at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston last Saturday.                     » MISS COSTA RICA UNIVERSE SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA - 21-year old Maria Teresa Rodriguez was crowned Miss Costa Rica at the conclusion of a ceremony televised live to the whole country with Teletica. Maria Teresa, who is a former Miss Teen International, stands 1.68 m tall and will represent her country at the Miss Universe 2008 pageant in Vietnam, next July. The runner-ups were Marylin Marin and Diana Mackenzie. Melissa Porras won the 'Best Legs' award, while Maria Elena Quesada was the recipient of the 'Most Beautiful Hair' award. Nancy Soto (Miss Costa Rica 2004 and Top 10 semifinalist in Miss Universe) was among the judges. 9 contestants competed in the annual event. The new Miss Costa Rica also goes on to compete at the International Queen of Coffee contest in Manizales. Courtesy Teletica.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MISS FL USA NEWS! » PAGEANTS THIS WEEKEND IF YOU GO: WHAT: MISS Gainesville USA & Teen USA 2009 DATE: Saturday April 19 WHEN: 2:00pm WHERE: Cofrin Arts Center at Oak Hall 8009 SW 14th Ave. Gainesville, FL 32607 HOW: Tickets on-sale at the door WHY: The second and final stop of the season in Alachua County has the prestigious Miss Gainesville USA & Teen USA titles in play.          Team Gainesville USA will be announced Saturday afternoon             » THE ROAD TO HOLLYWOOD Miss Pompano Beach USA & Miss Pompano Beach Teen USA 2008         The Pompano Beach Teen USA Delegates during contestant introductions           April 13, 2008  The Road To Hollywood made it’s second stop of the weekend in Northern Broward County for the second annual Miss Pompano Beach USA Pageant.  Twelve delegates competed for the two titles Sunday afternoon at Pompano Beach City Center. The hostess for the evening was Miss Pompano Beach USA 2008 Stephanie Caits who welcomed the enthusiastic audience in their second floor performing arts pavillion. Then the six Miss USA and six Miss Teen USA delegates stared in the opening production number.         Kenja King during the interview competition (left) Ms. Rosenberg introduces herself to the audience (right)       After the applause completed the audience and judges were in store for the delegates and was followed by the swimsuit competition as the delegates competed in either one or two-piece suits of their own choosing. Then everyone’s favorite The Evening Gown Competition followed as fashion was on display as the delegate competed in gowns of their own choosing. Prior to the onstage competition the delegates competed in the interview phase of the pageant.           Devora Wills (Pink), Brittnee Aguirree (red) and Judiny Moran (Blue) in The Evening Gown Competition.         Kourtney Kester (Blue), Katherine Franklin (Black) and Annilie Hastey (Olive) in Swimwear of their choosing         After calling the entire cast to retake the stage, the special awards of the evening were presented as these winners qualify for state. First was Miss Photogenic and that was presented to Nataly Rosenberg who then won the title of Miss Amity. While the Peoples Choice Award went to Katherine Franklin. The Miss Hospitality Award went to Kenja King.      Then the final results were announced with Miss Pompano Beach Teen USA being read first: 2nd Runner Up is Sakiyna Doocran 1st Runner Up is Devora Wills The new Miss Pompano Beach Teen USA 2009 is Katherine Franklin!       Miss Franklins is Miss Pompano Beach Teen USA 2009!           Then it was time to announce the new Miss Pompano Beach USA: 2nd Runner Up is Judiny Moran 1st Runner Up is Nataly Rosenberg The new Miss Pompano Beach USA 2009 is Annilie Hastey!       Ms. Hastey is Miss Pompano Beach USA 2009!       What a great evening of pageantry! Congratulations to Miss Franklin and Ms. Hatey as they have a ticket to state and Pageant Director Dana Klein along with her outstanding group of volunteers who ran an outstanding pageant. Job well done! Now the Road To Hollywood takes I-75 North next weekend to Alachua County for the Miss Gainesville USA Pageant.        Team Pompano Beach USA 2009               » PRELIMINARY PAGEANT UPDATE: MISS EMERALD COAST USA & TEEN USA 2009 Ten days and counting until our Miss Emerald Coast USA 2009 Pageant and presently we have 3 entries in the USA division and 1 contestant in the Teen USA Division and if we can get to six in a division we will add the Panama City Beach USA Title.   Applications are still being accepted so contact our pageant offices at Telair@aol.com and ask for pageant directors Grant, Mary Lou or Jenna at 954 924-4949. It’s going to be a fun pageant in Panama City as we crown our titleholders Sunday afternoon April 27th at The Martin Theater in the beautiful downtown area. The pageant closes on Thursday April 24th at 6:00pm so sign up now to avoid last minute disappointments.          Last Call for Miss Emerald Coast USA & Teen USA               » WELCOME JENNA CALABRESE AS ASSISTANT PAGEANT DIRECTOR We are pleased to announce the return of Jenna Calabrese to the position of Assistant Pageant Director. After so many nice comments from our Miss Florida Teen USA Delegates and Parents we were excited upon her return for year two. Last year she assisted in our production as she shot and produced segments for last years Miss Florida USA web reports. With an extensive background in Film and Television Production Ms. Calabrese brings her expertise to this year’s pageant team.   Her responsibilities will include delegate communications as well as heading the pageant team during our two state championships. Please feel free to reach out and welcome Miss Calabrese to our pageant family. She can be reached at Telair@aol.com or via phone at 954 924-4949 (push 24 if prompted).       » FIRST MISS FLORIDA USA & TEEN USA PRE-TAPE SESSION We thought we would shake things up a little bit this year and invite both the USA & Teen USA Contestants down for a weekend of pre-tape fun in Hollywood. So mark your calendars as this upcoming Friday and Saturday May 9th and 10th we will break out the camera’s and crew for a fun session of prize modeling and pageant fun. Taking advantage of a rare weekend off on The Road to Hollywood we thought this would be great timing.   As always we have some fun up our sleeves as we get to show off our hometown of Hollywood as we model prizes from Elan_USA; Ritchie Swimwear and our Miss Florida USA Jewelry Collection. We also will begin the taping of the Miss USA delegates opening in their matching outfits from our friends and designers at Elan. Locations will include the world famous Broadwalk on Hollywood Beach and our beautiful Arts Park in Downtown Hollywood.   These shoots are open to all titleholders and fully paid at-large delegates. RSVP to either Mary Lou or Jenna at 954 924-4949 or via email at Telair@aol.com.         The fun starts May 9th       » Expo Alfresco Pre Tape Shoot Miss Florida USA & Teen USA Delegates We are inviting our 2009 Miss Florida USA and Miss Florida Teen USA Titleholders to attend our first pre-tape shoot of the season. Space is limited to the first seven who respond in each age division. We will meet at Tel-Air Interests (2040 Sherman Street/Hollywood/FL/33020) in casual summer outfits along with sashes only at 4:30pm and travel together caravan style to the event. We normally shoot until around dusk. It’s a blast with some really good food, friendship and pageantry fun. Parents are welcomed to join us also. RSVP as space is limited to Jenna Calabrese at 954 924-4949 or via email at Telair@aol.com and look forward to seeing everyone April 30th! Showcasing over 100 businesses intermingled with samplings from Hollywood's favorite restaurants! WHERE: HOLLYWOOD'S ARTSPARK AT YOUNG CIRCLE WHEN: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30TH 5:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. PRICE: TICKETS ARE $15 CHILDREN 10 AND UNDER FREE Join us for Gourmet Food Tasting, Beverages, entertainment, and Hollywood's Biggest Trade Fair!     » UPCOMING PAGEANT REGISTRATION Miss Miami USA & Teen USA Saturday April 26th Florida International University – South Campus Pageant Director: Rose Martinez Contact Information: Email: MissMiamiTropic@aol.com Last Date of Registration Wednesday April 23rd    Miss Emerald Coast USA & Teen USA Sunday April 27th The Martin Theater – Downtown Panama City Pageant Director: Grant Gravitt, Jr. Contact Information: (954) 924-4949/ (954) 658-2864 Email: Telair@aol.com Last