» Ahalan, Miss Seamline:

Israeli & Palestinian Beauties Preen For Peace

A Palestinian teenager pranced off with the tiara at a groundbreaking Israeli-Palestinian beauty pageant held in "disputed territory" along the territorial "seam" that links, and separates, Arabs and Palestinians in southern Jerusalem. The pageant attracted twenty young women and teenagers, including three Palestinians. In last year's debut, Arab contestants backed out. The beauty contest is the brainchild of Adi Nadar, who lives in the Jewish Jerusalem suburb of Gilo in a south east suburb of Jerusalem. The area has in the past been the frequent target of automatic arms fire from the neighboring Palestinian town of Beit Jallah. Several years ago, at the peak of the violent Arab uprising, there were nightly battles involving artillery.

"We were looking for a way to forget our mutual suffering and our distrust, by avoiding sport and politics, and we thought about beauty and women were the best way to bring us closer together," said Nadar, who leads a Jerusalem residents association for peace. Five judges considered the merits of 17 young Israelis, an East Jerusalemite of Armenian origin and two Christian Palestinians from Beit Jallah. One of them, Shira Marie Farah, a 17-year-old with chestnut brown hair, was declared the winner following the parade of evening dresses and swimsuits, prancing to the tunes of Abdel Hakim Hafez, a top Arab music star. In a rare show of Middle East harmony, Israeli contestants draped themselves in the Palestinian flag, and vice-versa. The winner received an air ticket to Paris and invitations from major fashion houses.

A contestant spreads out on the floor (AP)

"It was wonderful to see these young girls together, like a family ... Before the pageant they went together to the Dead Sea and to the Ramat Rahel kibbutz," in southern Jerusalem. "Of course, I entered the contest hoping to be crowned the winner," said 19-year-old Eliane, another Palestinian contestant who works in an East Jerusalem hairdressers. "But for me the important thing is to meet up with my Israeli friends."

"What I won tonight was that our neighbors in Gilo have become our friends," said fellow Palestinian contestant Christine, 14. Israeli girls were also enthused. "This contest allows me to get to know my neighbors, and I like them a lot," said Tali Cohen, 17. Several Israeli members of Knesset, including Danny Yatom and Colette Avital, attended the event. Israeli pop star Koby Shai was also in the crowd, fishing for an invitation to broaden his horizons. "I hope that next year I might be able to sing in the Arab world," he said.

The swimsuit competition (AP)

» Miss Hollywood USA Kickoff Party

The Hollywood Jaycees threw a lovely kickoff party for the 2007 Miss Hollywood USA and Miss Hollywood Teen USA Pageants. Hosted by Mama Mia’s Restaurant on Young Circle the event was attended by local VIP’s, sponsors, volunteers and Cameron Benson, City Manager for The City of Hollywood. Miss Florida USA Pageant Producer Mary Lou Gravitt and Co-Pageant Director Rachel Uziel were also in attendance to support the hometown pageant.

Enjoying the party are Jules Meyer (Hollywood Pageant Director);

Miss Crawford, Ms. Shockey, Ms. Uziel and Mrs. Gravitt

The ladies viewing their winning moments!

Miss Hollywood's with City Manager Cameron Benson

The guests of honor were Lindsey Shockey; Miss Hollywood USA 2006 and Diane Crawford, Miss Hollywood Teen USA 2006 who both looked beautiful. Pageant Director Jules Meyer spoke and wished Miss Crawford good luck the next weekend as she has the honor of being the host preliminary queen at this years state pageant. It was also announced that this years pageant will take place on Hollywood Beach at the brand new Marriott Hollywood Beach for year three.

Look for great things out of this pageant as The Hollywood Jaycees extend a year of opportunities for their titleholders. With weekly events it has been a very full year as Ms. Shockey and Miss Crawford were among the hardest working titleholders in the state. Look for another great pageant this upcoming January. Enjoy the pictures!

» Simon Mall Hurricane Fundraisers

The third and final weekend of fundraising for the Hurricane victims of now Rita and Katrina as the grand total raised was over $8,000.00 for the three weekends. South Miami Dade Simon Properties Dadeland, International and Sunset Place Malls saw our titleholders seeking donations and having a great time. This weekends volunteers included: Miss Marco Island USA LauRen Merolla; Miss Ft. Myers Teen USA Heather Mowrey; Miss Boca Raton Teen USA Barbara Cosme; Miss Daytona Beach USA Megan Perkins; Miss West Broward USA Jennifer Olkininsky; with a special thanks to Miss Miami USA Rachel Rose who attended all three weekends, great job of helping out ladies! Up next is the Hollywood Care telethon October 27^th on PBS in Broward County.

Ms. Rose at Dadeland Mall on Sunday (left) & Miss Okininsky with a young fan and contributor!

Miss Mowrey was at international

mall on Saturday.

A big thank you goes to the project coordinator Jamie Converse Estrada who did a wonderful job on coordinating this effort. This was an amazing experience for the young ladies and thank you for the tireless effort that it took to coordinate volunteers, security guards and mall personnel!

» Kudos & Did You Knows

- Kudos to our new Miss Hispanidad USA Cindy Kohn Cybulkiewicz on her participation in The Regions Bank Young Hispanic Leadership Awards as a part of The Hispanic Heritage Festival. It was a very lovely evening honoring outstanding Hispanic achievers of Miami Dade County under the age of 40. Way to go Cindy!

- FACE TIME: Award recipient Willy Ferrer talks with Miriam Rosquete, center, chairwoman of the Hispanic Heritage Council, and Cindy Kohn Cybulkiewicz, Miss Hispanidad, at the Hotel Inter-Continental in Miami on Thursday.

- Kudos to Daphne Angulo and Anne Friedman who held a seminar on Saturday for last minute tips leading up to this weekends state pageant. Miss West Broward Teen USA Sarah Callahan and Miss Pembroke Pines Teen USA Christian Erickson took them up on their offer for a fun day of pageantry. Great Job Ladies!

» Pageant News Wanted!

Are you a titleholder or at large delegate who is making appearances or doing good things in the community? We would love to tell all of the Miss Florida USA Family your story. Send pictures and updates to telair@aol.com as we feature everything Miss Florida USA on Friday’s at Faces & 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!

Take two very cute Miss Florida Teen USA contestants and two very cute

little girls then add some crowns and sashes and you have the recipe for a picture

of the week. This was from last weekends Hollywood Beach Clambake New

Orleans Fundraising concert. Enjoy the pix!

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