Miss Polk County Recap

The first pageant of 2005 saw a standing room audience as several titleholders, directors, friends and alumni in attendance! Congratulations to first time directors Julie Broughton and Shannon Williams on an excellent pageant with such strong competition. We had a chance to get pictures and catch up with pageant friends. Here we go!

Let’s start with the outgoing Miss Polk County USA Lindsey Campbell. Ms. Campbell flew in from San Diego to crown the new titleholder. She looks fantastic and is enjoying the challenges of attending her new hometown college, San Diego State and pursuing a degree in hospitality. “It’s a new program (4 years) so the professors are recently from the industry and are very enthusiastic!” With so many job opportunities at the resorts in the San Diego area it seems we will have to root for her at the Miss California USA Pageant!

Miss Seminole County Teen USA 2006 Savannah Stephens is all smiles

during pageant intermission (left)

A special guest of the pageant was Chelsea Cooley Miss North Carolina USA 2005 who had a chance to be introduced to the audience on stage in a interview segment with our own Miss Florida USA Melissa Witek. I’m proud to report that Ms. Cooley is a delightful young woman and was a very gracious guest. Ms. Cooley to me she was glad to make a new friend in Melissa before going to nationals.

Win The Crown Directors Julie Broughton & Shannon Williams a

are all smiles an hour after crowning their first titleholders!

Titleholders spotted in the audience included Miss Manatee County Teen USA Megan Polly; Miss Sarasota Teen USA Sara Long & Miss Sarasota USA Genevieve Jahn who came directly to the pageant from a day of gown shopping. Miss Seminole County Teen USA Savannah Stephens and her mom were in attendance and receiving many kudos for their recent fundraising efforts for tsunami victims. Miss Tampa USA Nari Gill was sitting with her good friend Ms. Cooley and sister queen Miss Tampa Teen USA Jamie Stramondo.

Tatiana Schoepler, Miss Polk County Teen USA 2005 and third runner up at state gave a lovely farewell speech. I had the chance to catch up with her before the pageant and she looks pageant ready. Look for her to compete again this preliminary season. Preliminary directors in attendance include West Coast Director Marianne Oden, Gold Coast director Glenda Byrd and Miss City Beautiful USA director Frank Arcidiacono who also choreographed the pageant.

Once again congratulations on a job well done to Ms. Williams & Ms. Broughton along with her hard working volunteers, a job well done! Enjoy the pictures.

Kudos & Did You Knows

Kudos to Miss USA Shandi Finnessey who was a featured speaker at yesterdays Military salute in a prelude to the presidential inauguration. Ms. Finnessey joined actors Karri Turner and Richard Roundtree, and former President George H.W. Bush in the presentation of dramatic readings of letters sent home from veterans of wars from the Civil War to the global war on terror. What an honor!

Our Miss USA during the military

salute to our troops Tuesday

Kudos to Miss Florida Teen alumni Siena Osta on winning the Volusia County Latin club competition this past week. She now goes on to the state competition next month. Good job Siena!

Congratulations to the Latin champion of Volusia County, Siena Osta (left)!

And cogratulations also to Ms. Seheult (right) on winning her local title!

Kudos to Miss Florida Teen USA 2005 first runner-up Aimee Seheult on her winning her hometown title of Miss Manatee this past Saturday night in Bradenton. “It’s my way of giving to the community," Ms. Seheult said. "When you represent your own town, it's significant."

This Weekend on The Pageant Calendar:

The Road To Hollywood ventures south on the turnpike to the bohemian enclave of Coconut Grove for Sundays inaugural Miss South Florida USA Pageant. The pageant takes places at The Ransom Everglades Auditorium off of Main Highway with a 5:00pm start this Saturday. If you can’t be there in person then look for pictures and results on Monday and notes from the pageant on Friday!

Alumni News Wanted!

If you know of any Miss Florida USA alumni in the news please drop us an email to feature them in future articles. Email all info to info@missfloridausa.com! Until next week here to good pageantry!