» The Winterfest Boat Parade Weekend

The largest one-day event in Florida is Ft. Lauderdale’s Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade on the Intracoastal

Waterways. This year our Miss Florida USA and Miss Florida Teen USA are VIP’s along with Grand Marshall Randy Jackson

from American Idol. Viewed by over 5 million people on the banks of The Ft. Lauderdale Intracoastal Waterways. This year

Miss Florida USA Cristin Duren is featured on The Lady Chateau Boat while Miss Florida Teen USA Jennifer Wooten is sailing

on the Savior Fare Boat.

If your not invited to one of the exclusive parties on the mansions surrounding the waterway then you can see the parade live at Birch State Park starting at 6:00pm. Otherwise the parade is shown live on Comcast cable Saturday December 16^th throughout Broward County. The rebroadcast of Winterfest on WSVN will be seen in South Florida on WSVN-Fox Channel 7 this upcoming Thursday December 22^nd at 8:00pm and their sister station Channel 7 NBC in Boston.

» Thursday Night VIP Party

Miss Wooten and Ms. Duren were guests of honor at the traditional Thursday Night VIP and Press Party that signals the beginning of Winterfest Weekend. The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino invited such dignitaries as Burt Reynolds, boxing legend Angelo Dundee and even King Tut, who is in town for a two month exhibit, up to the podium to greet the sponsors, guest and media to this great event.

The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino invited such dignitaries as Burt Reynolds

Miss Wooten is introduced! (left) Alumni Sherrie Helms (FLUSA 3rd RU '00, right)

It's the famous boy ruler King Tut who's on tour in Ft. Lauderdale. Looking good for 3,000 don't you say?

Ms. Duren enjoys the chocolate fondue!

Boxing legend Angelo Dundee wanted a photo also!

The Pink Ladies team won the spirit award

WSVN Channel 7 personality Alitta Loresco introduces Miss Wooten & Ms. Duren during the VIP event.

Parade President and Miss Florida USA judge Lisa Scott made sure our ladies were treated like royalty as the entire room wanted to take pictures with them. WSVN weatherperson Alita Loresco was the hostess of ceremonies and presented our titleholders to the audience. Then it was time to network and mingle with such local business leaders as WSVN-Fox Station Manage Bob Leider, United Way of Broward County President Doug Webber and Seminole Indian Chief Max Osceola who all were very impressed with The Florida USA team. Enjoy the pictures.

Lee Tiger and Max Osceola of The Florida Seminole Tribe the Title Sponsors of Winterfest.

After the VIP party are girls were still looking great!

More Pictures!

(click on thumbnails to enlarge images)

» Westin Diplomat Bowling for Charity Tournament:

Thursday night was not yet over for our dynamic duo. Up next was a trip south on I-95 to The Hollywood Bowling Palace for the first ever Westin Diplomat Bowling for Charity Tournament sponsored by Tel-Air Interests, The Gravitt Family and Miss Florida USA with all donations going to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. It was a fun evening of bowling and camaraderie as the staff of our favorite hotel went all out to make sure this was one special evening!

Pageant Producer Mary Lou Gravitt presents a $1,000.00 check from Tel-Air Interests and Miss

Florida USA to the director of The Broward Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

Westin Diplomat General Manager and Miss Florida USA Judge

Mark Kukulski before the bowling began!

James Gelfand with our titleholders who took pictures for $5.00 with all procedes going to charity (left)

and a very proud state director! (right)

Ms. Duren and Miss Wooten were the hosts of the evening as they raffled off some lovely prizes for the participants and added royalty to the mix. Some really bad bowling surrounded the ladies but over $4,000.00 was raised by charities. But the ladies couldn’t stay out to late as tomorrow morning it was time for a live appearance on WSVN-Fox’s Morning and Afternoon News.

» Live Appearance on WSVN-Fox Channel 7

Live on Fox!

Friday morning was time to appear on behalf of Winterfest during the mid afternoon newscast on Channel 7 Fox in South Florida. The surroundings were beautiful as the interviews took place live on the docks of The Ft. Lauderdale Marriott. With the Intracoastal waterway in the background our Miss Duren and Miss Wooten were interviewed once again by weather personality Allita Loresco as they talked about the following evenings event. Look for more picture from this and the boat parade next week only at Faces & Places, your Florida pageant people report!

A photo opp with Ms. Loresco and Lisa Scott the Winterfest Director

and former Miss Florida USA judge (right)

» Kudos & Did You Knows:

- Kudos to Amber Gerrod (Miss Palm Beach County Teen USA), Carrisa Grazel (Miss Gold Coast USA) and Alyssa Spirato (Miss Gold Coast Teen USA) for their representation of The Greyhound Adoption Pet Presentation during last weekend West Palm Beach Holiday Parade. Way to represent ladies!

- Kudos to one of our sponsors, Justin Popovics aka “Built Boy” on his really nice article at one of our favorite on-line pageant sites www.TFTJ.com and is published by former Florida Teen USA judge Penny Grizell. The link to the article is http://www.tftj.com/News/Features/BuiltBoy/BuiltBoy1.htm where I am sure everyone will enjoy seeing pictures of some very familiar faces. Justin is the best and we congratulate him!

- Kudos to 30-year-old sports radio host Danni Boatwright who beat 25-year-old “Survivor” veteran Stephenie LaGrossa in the finale of “Survivor: Guatemala, The Maya Empire.” Boatwright, a former Miss USA and Miss Teen USA contestant from Tonganoxie, Kan., outlasted and out-charmed LaGrossa, a veteran of the last “Survivor” series, to win the 11th version of the popular CBS reality show Sunday night along with $1 million (U.S.) and a new car.

Danni Boatwright, left, reacts as she learns she is the winner of 'Survivor:

Guatemala, The Maya Empire,' during the shows finale.

Survivor Guatemala winner Danni Boatwright (L) and runner

up Stephenie LaGrossa (R) pose with the show's host Jeff Probst after

taping the season finale of the show in Hollywood, California.

Boatwright was named the winner of this season's series in the final

episode of Survivor Guatemala.

» Miss West Broward USA’s Wild Weekend

Sunday started out with an early wakeup call (5:30am) as Sarah Callahan (Miss West Broward Teen USA 2006), Jennifer Olkininsky (Miss West Broward USA 2006), Barbara Ewald (director Miss West Broward USA) and Sarah Callahan's Mom Barbara meet at The Coral Springs KMart at 7:30 AM to shop with some local children for some holiday shopping courtesy of the Coral Springs Jaycee's.

The children got to shop for their siblings as well as themselves. After a hectic morning of shopping it was off to Barbara Ewald’s House to do a holiday card with Sarah and Jennifer. After the photo session it was off to The Wheel of Fortune Video Taping at the Broward Convention Center. When they arrived the girls wore their banners and were greeted by staff members. “Once we entered the stage area they wanted to know do you have VIP seated I said NO but we would LOVE to have them just kidding and not expecting anything.” Said Barbara Ewald “Then the girl proceed to announce that the 2 girls and their titles and asked if they had ANY seats available for us. WELL they took us right to the FRONT row !!!” with about 500 people already seated it was special treatment for ladies.

The girls then were greeted by Pat Sajak, he congratulated both girls and told them he would have voted for you, too!! Then Vanna White came over and greeted the party. The girls were then invited to go behind the wheel with Vanna and Pat for a picture. Then they sat through all 3 shows in the FRONT row. “The staff gave all of us the ROYAL treatment and we can't thank them enough.” Said a grateful Mrs. Ewald “The girls had sooooooo many people come up to them and talk to them as well as take pictures with them. They really felt special and we had such an incredible day!” Watch Feb 20,21 and 22 2006 when the shows will air. The West Broward team also was in Thursday Nights Coral Springs Holiday Parade. What a week it was! Enjoy the pictures.

» Upcoming Event – Titleholders Wanted!

Hi Grant:

My titleholders are doing an event Sat Jan 28,2006 and we need your held. This is a Diabetic Charity Event with golf held at Heron Bay in Coral Springs. They are still in need of volunteers for this event. The girls would dress casual and are able to wear their banners. The time is 9am - 2pm they would help out with mini golf, popcorn machine, slide, etc. Should be a fun time while helping a great charity.

Please spread the word. I did email out to local directors but anyone is invited to help. Just have them let me know if they would like to volunteer.

Appreciate all your help to spread the word for me.

Thanks

Barbara Ewald
Director
Miss West Broward USA & Teen USA Pageant

misswbrowardusa@aol.com

» 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!

This beautiful action shot of Ms. Duren at last nights Winterfest VIP Party

caught our editor’s eyes and is definitely Picture of The Week worthy. Enjoy!

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