Wedding Bells in Orlando

Last weekend was a very special day for one of our Miss Florida USA family as former Miss Florida America and current pageant director Katy Carson pledged her marriage vows at a beautiful ceremony in Orlando. We as friends gather in important moments and last week I truly felt the pageant “family” concept before my eyes. In honor of all of those who admire Katy I signed the guest book with best wishes from The Miss Florida USA family.

The Monnins along with Brenda Marie Orcutt and Michael Galanes

Enjoying the reception are The Coburns along with Miss Florida Region Six Director Pamela Adams (left)

and Nick and Katy after the cake cutting! (center)

Mother of the Bride Marianne Oden looking fabulous with her wedding guests

The pageant family attending included Miss Manatee County USA Sheena Monnin; Miss Sarasota USA Megan Ortegous; Miss Ft. Meyers Teen USA Heather Mowrey; Miss Miami Beach USA 2005 Lindsay Coburn and Miss Sarasota Teen USA Brenda Marie Orcutt along with pageant director Michael Galanes and MAO Director Pamela Adams enjoyed the beautiful wedding and reception. As always we had our camera in tow so enjoy the pictures and congratulations to Katy and Nick on a long and happy life together!

Miss Florida USA Historic Home Tour Pre Taping

After a fun Saturday Night it was a trip down the Turnpike as an 11:00am call awaited Miss Florida USA Melissa Witek; Miss Manatee County USA Shenna Monnin; Miss Hollywood USA Lindsay Shockey and Miss South Florida Lia Anter as the day’s video taping session was all about The Hollywood Historical Societies Classic Home Tour. Six homes in the beautiful North Lake district were open for this annual fundraiser and our ladies toured every one of them!

Melissa poses in front of a classic Ford at The Historic Home Tour (left)

Miss Hollywood USA Lindsay Shockey enjoys a beautiful patio as video cameras catch all the beauty (right)

Miss Manatee County Shenna Monnin

enjoys the tropical mural on tour.

This was a really fun afternoon that allowed the contestants to get to know each other and perform for the cameras. Some serious walking was involved but the ladies didn’t seem to mind as the video tapings for this year’s Miss Florida USA international broadcast. As always we had our camera along for the trip so enjoy!

One last group shot

before a wrap is called!

Kudos & Did You Knows

- Kudos to the new Miss University of Florida MAO and Miss Florida USA alumni Mari Wilensky on her second Miss Florida America title! We look forward to rooting you on this summer at state.

Miss UF Pageant winner Mari Wilensky receives her crown

from last year’s winner, Ashley Glass, Monday night

at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.

See Thursday’s edition of the Avenue for complete coverage!

- Kudos to Miss Florida America Jenna Edwards on an outstanding performance singing the national anthem for this years Daytona 500 on Fox. Also Kudos to our Miss Florida USA assistant producer John “J.B’ Best for producing the opening of the Fox network broadcast!

Miss Edwards is pictured with Scott Miller

of the Ford Racing Team at The Daytona 500.

- Kudos to Miss Florida Teen USA Alumni Jean Leifhelm who is selling ribbons (similar to the breast cancer ribbons you can wear) for a dollar each in the color of blue to help the private fund set up for Pageant Director Rachel Uziels sister Tani. If you don’t know the story Tani, a 31 year old mother of four, was diagnosed with Leukemia and is awaiting a bone marrow transplant. For more information on how you can help this cause close to our Miss Florida USA family please email Jean at horsesaremyhomies@hotmail.com. Great job “Mean” Jean!

- Did You Know one of our favorite Miss Florida America’s Shauna Pender will be on The Montel Williams Show on March 1^st. The theme of the show will be Life Changes In A Second. Wishing Shauna all the best in her recovery and career!

Former Miss Teen USA Still Giving Back

Tami Farrell likes to think big. During the next five years, the native Oregonian wants to act in a feature film and a television pilot. She wants to own two restaurants, have her own record label, attend cooking school and learn how to be a master chef.

These dreams may sound ambitious to some, but Farrell, who was named Miss Teen USA 2003, is already well on her way. Farrell spoke to about 10 Douglas County middle schools Tuesday and today about the importance of goal setting. Her appearance was a part of the Celebration of Literacy program, which concludes this weekend.

"When I tripped, I laughed at myself," Farrell said about competing for the crown. "I was who I was." Farrell, 20, grew up in Phoenix, near Medford. A self-proclaimed tomboy, she vied for the Miss Teen Oregon title over the span of her high school career.

The first time she participated, Farrell said, she felt like Sandra Bullock in "Miss Congeniality." She was nervous and klutzy in front of the judges. Much the same happened the next year; so that by the time she was a senior, she decided the pageant scene wasn't for her. But her family and friends convinced her not to give up. This time around, Farrell said, she just had fun. Despite getting into a car accident on the way to the Miss Teen Oregon Pageant, staining her dress and arriving with platinum blond hair because of a bad dye job, she stayed true to herself.

The judges liked it, and she won as a result. The same happened when she later took the coveted Miss Teen USA title. "I had fun at the pageant," Farrell said. "I won Miss Congeniality and Miss Teen USA."

Reading, Farrell said, is a big part of her daily life. Now attending acting school in Los Angeles, Farrell said she spends a good chunk of her evening’s readings scripts for films and television series. It's a talent, she said, that is needed in any career -- even for professional athletes. "You need to know how to read contracts," she said to a John C. Fremont seventh-grader who wants to become a basketball player. "I want to know who's getting my money, because they get a percentage of what I do."

Farrell also spoke about the importance of overcoming challenges during her presentation. For her, this includes a heart ailment that prevents her from participating in sports. She could feel sorry for herself, she said, but she knows there are a lot of people out there whose health problems are much more serious. Instead, she chooses to be happy.

This philosophy made a strong impression on Olivia Redmond, a Fremont seventh-grader. She said Farrell impressed her, and that she too has aspirations of becoming an actress. The most important thing she learned from Farrell's speech, Redmond said, is to never let anything get in the way of one's dreams. "I learned that you need to believe in yourself," she said. "Don't believe that others are better than you."

Maxine Durst of Roseburg holds this same conviction. A member of Altrusa International, Durst helped coordinate the Celebration of Literacy events this year. She said she's excited with the response she's had from students during the past week, and she believes Farrell's message is an important one for people to hear.

More than anything, she said, she wants students to know that reading is key to achieving success. "I think that if they dream big enough and work toward that dream, they can succeed at anything they want," she said.

This Weekend on The Pageant Calendar:

Up next on The Road To Hollywood is a trip to West Broward for The Miss Pembroke Pines USA and Miss Pembroke Pines Teen USA Pageants. Halavin Productions kick’s off their first of three pageants this season and we will have the results and pictures on Monday. Then a full recap on Friday at YOUR Faces & Places Report.

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!

PICTURE OF THE WEEK!

This weeks picture features our very own Miss Florida USA Melissa Witek

and this beautiful shot featuring Twinestone Jewelry,

an official jewler of Miss Florida USA.

Look for more pix and a complete shoot recap on this Friday's Faces & Places