The Miss Florida USA & Miss Florida Teen USA

Magazine of May 8, 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. After a week off we are back in full swing as pageantry in Florida never stops. Last week we were special guests at Expo Alfresco our taste of Hollywood in our downtown Arts Park. Fifteen delegates had a blast in spite of breaking their diets. That kicks off pre-tape season and this Friday & Saturday we have more shoots in anticipation of our telecasts in July and October. As always pictures we will be posted all weekend on our www.virb.com/missfloridausa site and stories follow on Monday.

This week’s World Pageant News takes us to Canada, Peru and Belarus as we travel the globe to keep you informed. In news a little closer we take you to Panama City for results and have news on new pageants in Orlando, The Space Coast and The Florida Keys. Faces & Places is published today as we play catch-up with reports from Panama City as well as fun stuff from around the Sunshine State. GenArt features hits from The Tribeca Film Fest that includes our very own “Bart’s Got A Room”. Our Miss Florida USA Channel has a doubleheader from Miami and The Magic City. 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

» 10 Days until Miss City Beautiful USA & Teen USA

» 15 Days until Miss Panhandle USA & Teen USA

» 16 Days until Miss Florida Keys USA & Teen USA

» 17 Days until Miss Space Coast USA & Teen USA

PAGEANT NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

» MISS CANADA UNIVERSE

Toronto event planner Samantha Tajik was crowned the 57th annual Miss Universe Canada last night before a packed house in downtown Toronto. An ecstatic Tajik, 25, outshone more than 60 contestants from across the country to capture the crown before hundreds of black-tie supporters at the Winter Garden Theatre, on Yonge St.

"I want to thank my family and friends for all their support," she said. "I look forward to the Miss Universe pageant in Vietnam." Outgoing Miss Universe Canada 2007, Toronto's Inga Skaya, 22, said, "It's been a life-altering experience for me."

Tajik will represent Canada at the July 14 Miss Universe pageant in Vietnam, and has won the use of a car for a year, jewelry and trips.

» MISS PERU UNIVERSE

Karol Castillo Pinillos, a native of Trujillo, was crowned Miss Peru Universo on Thursday evening and will represent the Andean country at the Miss Universe 2008 beauty pageant on July 14 in Nha Trang, Vietnam. Giuliana Cevallos, Miss Loreto, was the runner-up.

Karol, an 18-year-old university student majoring in psychology, is the youngest of three. She affirms that her two older brothers, Paulo and Bruno are very protective of her. The new Miss Peru Universo, who has long black hair and is just under 6 feet tall, captivated the panel of judges last night at what used to be the Hacienda Villa, located in Chorrillos, a seaside Lima district.

After the pageant, the new beauty queen stated she did not think she would win the crown and dedicated her victory to the city of Trujillo. "I dreamed of it but I didn't expect it," said Karol. "This proves that anyone can reach (the goals) they set."

» Twenty-one-year-old resident of Vitsyebsk becomes Miss Belarus 2008

Volha Khizhynkova, a 21-year-old resident of Brest, was named the winners of a biannual national beauty contest, Miss Belarus 2008, in a ceremony held in the Palace of Sports in Minsk on Friday night. She is six feet one with a hip size of 36 inches. Ms. Khizhynkova, an instructor at a vocational school, was awarded a 3.53-ounce white gold crown and a one-room apartment in Minsk’s Vyasnyanka neighborhood, which can be valued at more than $70,000.

Attending the ceremony was Belarusian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka.

More than 2,000 girls took part in the contest, with 26 advancing to the final. Thomas Anders of Germany, Philip Kirkorov of Russia and Belarusian pop singers Dzmitry Kaldun and Ruslan Alyakhno sang at the ceremony.

MISS FL USA NEWS!

» PAGEANT RECAP:

Miss Emerald Coast USA & Teen USA Results

April 27, 2008

On a beautiful Sunday afternoon The Road to Hollywood paid a visit to Historic Downtown Panama City for the sixth edition of Miss Emerald Coast USA and Teen USA. The Martin Theater in its regal charm entertained the five Miss USA and four Miss Teen USA contestants. An enthusiastic audience greeted the ladies as they hit the stage in either red (USA) or white (Teen USA) cocktail dresses. After self introductions the pageant was on!

Jessica Williams answer Ashley Nance’s

question during her on stage interview

Hosting the broadcast was Miss Florida USA 2004 Kristen Berset along with interview help from Miss Panama City Beach Teen USA 2008 Hilary Hughes, Miss Emerald Coast Teen USA 2008 Jessica Ahlberg and Miss Emerald Coast Teen USA Ashley Nance. The pageant began with self introductions that were followed by the interview competition. Each delegate drew a question and then answered before the judges and audience. Then it was time for the swimsuit and evening gown competitions.

Sally Wusstig in the Evening Gown Competition &

Bailey Powell in Swimwear of her own choosing.

The judges for the afternoon competition included Lisa Lawson-Fish, Miss Maryland USA 1991; Natalie Barnett, Miss Alabama USA 1990 and Lauren Howell, Miss Emerald Coast USA 2005 and first runner up at Miss Florida USA. First up were the special awards for the weekend. Miss Amity was a tie between Sally Wustig and Angel Bedenbaugh while Miss Photogenic went to Miss Bedenbaugh as they now have both qualified for Miss Florida USA this July and Miss Florida Teen USA this October in Hollywood.

Then the stage was left to the Miss Emerald Coast Teen USA contestants

as Ms. Berset read the results;

The first runner up was Angel Bedenbaugh

The new Miss Emerald Coast Teen USA 2009 is Katelin McFarland

Miss McFarland is Miss Emerald Coast Teen USA!

The pageant ended with the Miss Emerald Coast USA results;

The first runner up is Chelsea Cooper

The new Miss Emerald Coast USA 2009 is Bailey Powell

Congratulations to the new Team Emerald Coast USA of Miss McFarland and Ms. Powell as they represent Panama City this summer in Hollywood. Also a big thank you goes to our hard working staff and volunteers as pageantry returned in a big way to North Florida. The Road to Hollywood takes a two weekend break as we return May 17^th in Orlando for Miss City Beautiful USA!

Team Emerald Coast USA with Ms. Berset and

new Emerald Coast USA director Anna Nowling

The judging panel with their selections

» The Miss Orlando & Miss City Beautiful USA Pageant

When: Sunday May 18th at 3:00PM
Where: Radisson Resort Worldgate
3011 Maingate Lane
Kissimmee, FL 34747

** Pageant room rate is $79.00. Book now it’s better than the normal
$113.00. Just mention The MIss Orlando USA Pageant.**

Entry Fee: $350.00

Tickets: $15.00 all tickets

Prize package: Official USA Preliminary Crown and Sash
State Entry Fee paid $1750.00
Gown assistance $350.00
** John Casablancas will award all winners a FULL scholarship

Each winner will receive $2000.00 worth of pageant coaching from Pageant Ready!!!!

and much more!!!

MISS ORLANDO TEEN USA- I WILL HAVE A TEEN TITLE AS LONG AS LONG AS I RECEIVE AN INTEREST OF 5 OR MORE CONTESTANTS.

I WILL ALSO AWARD A THIRD TITLE IF I RECEIVE 15 OR MORE MISS CONTESTANTS!!! SO PLEASE SHOW YOUR INTEREST!!!

Please contact the director Frank Arcidiacono at 407-761-7039 or email at
Archie723@aol.com

» MISS PANHANDLE USA & TEEN USA MAY 23^rd

The Emerald Coast is getting ready to host its Miss Florida Panhandle USA pageant competition, to give young woman the opportunity not only to be entered for the Miss Florida USA competition, but also to win a college scholarship.

The event will take place at the New World Landing in Pensacola on May 23rd. Women between the ages of 19 to 27, unmarried with no children are qualified and will be judged in personality, swimwear and evening gown. Besides good looks and good personalities, no talent is required form the participants.

“I have two titles to give to the deserving young lady and a wonderful prize package is unfolding” said Tracy Gray, the director of Miss Panhandle USA and Miss Panhandle Teen USA. A professional photo shoot, acting, modeling and vocal training, entry fee paid for the state pageant competition, a part in a literacy awareness television show sponsored by Entertainment Ventures and scholarships are some of the prices valued at $50.000.

“My big goal is to make sure that Miss Florida and Miss Panhandle USA, maybe Miss USA or Miss Universe is truly a moral, gracious, elegant, cerebral and kind representation of this area, this county and women in general” said Gray. “I looked at the history of the beauty pageants and the bad press girls had received in the last couple of years and with all that is going on in this country, where family values are neglected, I think someone with good values and good ethics should be wearing that banner”

Gray, who previously worked with Entertainment Ventures Inc. in Naples Florida., on different children’s literature television series and other children’s educational programs, said that, due to the current economical realities and long working hours of most parents, she observed that kids were not being looked after the way they should be. She noticed that in this area of Florida, parents were much more involved and worked hands-on with their children and that she saw a great potential here.

“I looked around and I saw that there is the caliber of girl here that I am looking for” said Gray. “I believe that she will make an upstanding titleholder, who will use the title to her advantage and do something positive, do something moral and be involved with charity, and take it to a different level that has been for a while now”

Applicants for Miss Panhandle USA and Miss Florida Teen USA are still welcome. You can contact the pageant director Tracy Gray by e-mail under pageantusainfo@aim.com

» Announcing the Miss Space Coast USA & Teen USA Pageant

When:  May 25th, 2008

Time:  4:30pm

Where:  Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center

Tickets:  $10 Adults, $5 Students available by calling 386-676-3375

Entry Fee:  $350 Miss Contestants, $300 Teen Contestants...we will work with you!!!

Please do not let the entry fee keep you from competing!  We offer contestants the

alternative of selling advertisements or finding sponsors to help reduce the cost for

the contestant to only $49. Check out our website at www.MissDaytonaUSA.com

The fourth annual Space Coast USA Pageant

will take place May 25^th

» Miss Florida Keys USA & Teen USA – Last Qualifier in South Florida

Can you believe the Miss Florida USA Season is almost over? Our last pageant of the year is going to be special as we are planning a wonderful Miss Florida Keys USA & Teen USA Pageant this upcoming May 24^th. We are planning a very active year with networking, appearances and training throughout the year, not to mention the fun that goes along with the most unique state pageant in the country!

Please feel free to contact either myself or state pageant director Mary Lou Gravitt at our Hollywood offices at 954 924-4949 or via email to Telair@aol.com with any questions and join us for our seminar instruction day at our pageant location, The Coral Shores Performing Arts Center this upcoming may. It’s a great way to meet the delegates and prepare for pageantry the Miss Florida USA Way!

It’s going to be a blast and we would enjoy assisting you on your pageant journey!

Team Florida Keys USA 2009 will be announced May 24^th

» MISS FLORIDA USA & MISS FLORIDA TEEN USA ON MYSPACE:

Be our MySpace friend at either www.myspace.com/missfloridateenusa or www.myspace.com/theofficialmissfloridausa as we feature the Miss Marion County USA 10 Minute Pageant at our Miss Florida USA site and the Miss Marion County Teen USA 10 Minute Pageant at our Miss Florida Teen USA site.


As we return from our Spring Break we present to you a doubleheader

from the stages of Miami. Check out this year’s Magic City championship

and return tomorrow for a special engagement feature.

Only from the first ever online channel dedicated to pageantry

from Miss Florida USA!

Click here for more YouTube Movies!

Hot Outta Tribeca!

5 movies that should move to the top of your must-see list for summer. Thanks, Mr. De Niro.

One of the biggest perks of my job is the cool stuff I get to see. Take this past week, for example: the Tribeca Film Festival was raging in full force, and along with a handful of great new flicks, I also had the chance to check out Regina Spektor, Sondre Lerche and Chris Thile of Punch Brothers at the ASCAP Music Lounge. If you've never seen Spektor live, I recommend grabbing tickets the next time she comes through your town. In spite of a painful looking leg injury (she'd fallen down some stairs at a screening of "War, Inc") that forced her to hobble around the stage, she blew the crowd away with her magical vocals.

But I digress. Below, five of the best movies I saw during my film fest whirlwind—be sure to catch these indie gems when they hit a theater near you this summer!

1. "Baghead"
"Mumblecore" darlings (and Gen Art film program alums) Mark and Jay Duplass are back with this charming follow up to "The Puffy Chair" about four struggling actors who retreat to a cabin in the woods to make their own indie film. After copious amounts of alcohol is consumed, they settle on a story about a killer who wears a paper bag over his head. Hilarity ensues.

2. "Bart Got a Room"
I'll be honest. After seeing set photos of Cheryl Hines and William H. Macy donning really bad wigs, I wasn't psyched about taking in this teen sex comedy. But I was wrong. This sweet little gem about a nerd's struggle to find a date for prom will give you John Hughes-style warm fuzzies.

3. "Boy A"
Newcomer Andrew Garfield delivers a heartbreaking performance as Jack, a rehabilitated child killer trying to make a fresh start under a new identity after serving a 14-year sentence. If it sounds dark, that's because it is, but what makes this drama brilliant is how it plays with your idea of a hero.

4. "Paraiso Travel"
After reading that this foreign indie about a couple illegally immigrating to the United States had swept Colombian's box office, I knew I had to check it out. Sexy? Check.