Going Away To Miss USA Party!

Lauren Merola, Kristen and Melissa catch up.

It is an honored tradition to bid a bon voyage to those on epic trips. This would be the case as it was time to root on our very own Miss Florida USA Melissa Witek as she heads to Baltimore to make us proud at the national Miss USA Pageant on NBC. It was truly a who’s who of Hollywood as well over 100 people attended the soiree this past Monday night.

Barbara Ewald and Rachel Uziel catch up with Kristen Berset (left), while Christian Erickson,

Miss Pembroke Pines Teen USA catches up with Diane Crawford, Miss Hollywood Teen USA (center)

and the Mowry's pose for the cameras (right)

Miss Hollywood Teen USA 2006 Diane Crawford and Miss Carnavale Miami USA 2006 Yazmin Navarro

pose with some very proud mothers!

The Hollywood Production Center hosted this salute to pageantry as the room was full of banners, smiles and warm cheer. Ms. Witek looks ready for Miss USA and it was apparent she has the support of the entire Miss Florida USA Family. The evenings highlight’s included Melissa thanking the pageant sponsors, fans, friends that propelled her to where she is today. Especially touching was the kind words in thanks to her support team that included directors Mary Lou Gravitt and Rachel Uziel; Built2Win; Don Baker; JPI Properties for the Miss Florida USA apartment and preliminary pageant director and confidant Marianne Oden who drove all the way from Sarasota to attend the evening. The Mayor of Hollywood Mara Giulianti as she told of Melissa’s great story and how she is an inspiration to young women. Miss Florida USA is so lucky to be sponsored by a city such as Hollywood who truly encourages and supports this celebration of women.

Claudia Santiano, Miss Pembroke Pines USA 2006 poses with Lauren and Yazmin.

Melissa with South Florida CEO Magazine Editor William Placencia (left)

Photographer John Larmarch poses with Miss Hollywood USA 2006 Lindsay Shockey (right)

John Lamarsh photographs the leading ladies of Hollywood. Miss Hollywood USA Lindsay Shockey

and Miss Hollywood Teen USA Diane Crawford with Hollywood Mayor Mara Giulianti.

It was wonderful seeing so many of our Miss Florida USA family were in attendance to support our titleholder. Amongst the guests were Miss Florida USA 2004 Kristen Berset; Miss Florida Teen USA 2004 Anastagia Pierre; The Westin Diplomats James Gelfand; MAO Florida board member Lorraine Brennan-O’Neil (t15 ’87); Omar from twinestone Jewelry; Several local titleholders from this years Miss Florida Teen USA and Miss Florida USA pageants as well as the entire staff of Miss Florida USA. As always we took several pictures to make you feel like you were at the event! Enjoy.

Anastagia Pierre, Melissa Witek and Kristen Berset trade secrets about nationals

Miss Florida USA Featured on Twinestone Sight

Twinestones FASHION JEWELRY is the official jewelry sponsor for Ms. FL USA 2005. Presently, we are launching the celebrity section of our high-end, fashion-oriented website (http://www.twinestones.com/). Accordingly, we are welcoming Melissa Witek as the inaugural guest. At this time, we would like to wish her a successful journey while on her quest to become the next proud Ms. USA.

twinestones FASHION JEWELRY is a haute and steamy collection of semi-precious necklaces, bracelets, earrings and chokers. The designs are aimed to be both aesthetically pleasing and spiritually uplifting. Indeed, their mission statement is to marry the superficial beauty of stones like turquoise, agate, amethyst, opal, citrine, tiger’s eye, garnet and serpentine to the powers they are believed to possess, ranging from happiness and inspiration to healing, wealth and even love. All of the semi-precious stone jewelry, often integrated with artisanal finished silver, is versatile and anything but cookie-cutter. Clearly, the strands of chunky, layered and embellished necklaces are classic pieces in the collection. Worthy of royalty, these gorgeous gems are guaranteed to make any outfit radiant! – Omar

This Week Ahead for Miss Florida USA

Look for yours truly to venture all the way to Panama City for the preliminaries of Miss Emerald Coast USA this Friday and Saturday. Sunday is an early call as we drive to Orlando for the Citrus Productions/City Beautiful Super Pageant at The Orlando North Hotel in Maitland right off of I-4. Pictures and reports next Friday only at Face & Places!

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!

Once again the editors searched the pageant world for the picture of the week.

This weeks choice features the candidates for Miss Universe Slovak Republic 2005.

They sure make us want to take up winter sports!

So as a unanimous selection we present our picture of the week.