Miss Florida USA Faces

What a great weekend it was in Hollywood as so many friends, family and alumni returned to one big reunion in celebration of this year’s titleholder. So many friends and happy faces greeted us at our state championship of teenage pageantry. We saw friends at our host hotel, The Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood Hilton Garden Inn and Bailey Concert Hall on the Central Campus of Broward Community College!

Also a big thanks goes out to the hard working preliminary pageant directors who joined us this weekend. Finally a HUGE thanks goes to our Contestant Directors who volunteer their time to help our amazing young women. They are truly the hero’s of all pageantry. Enjoy the pictures!

Pageant director Frankie with Miss Elwell at Friday’s registration (left) &

Mari Wilensky with her little brother Saturday night (left) Pageant Coach Tiffany Johnson with Miss Wooten (center) &

The camera is turned on pageant photographer Don Seidman with his lovely daughter Samantha.

Team West Broward USA! (left) & Team Halavin’s Mandi Halavin with Amy Diaz

(Miss Homestead/FL. Keys USA) and Judith Coffman (Official Pageant Coach Miss Florida USA) before

Hosted by The Hollywood Beach Marriott and The Hollywood Jaycees the 2008 season kickoff party was quite the success. Pageant Director Jules Meyer and her volunteer committee welcomed our host cities VIP’s for an evening of good food, friendship and pageantry. The guests of honor were The Diamond of The Gold Coast’s representatives to state; Rachel Rose and Krizia Toledo. Both addressed the audience and reflected on their pageant experiences.

Amongst the local dignitaries in attendance were; Hollywood Vice Mayor Fran Russo and City Manager Cameron Benson a former Florida USA Judge and Florida USA Pageant Director Grant Gravitt, Jr. Look for the Marriott to host the fourth edition of Miss Hollywood USA this upcoming January 21^st. The food was spectacular and so were the pictures, enjoy.

It might be just a store, but the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World in San Carlos Park will treat its opening in two weeks like a celebrity event. Those scheduled to attend the Nov. 1 sneak preview for the store include: NASCAR driver Martin Truex, Jr., former Florida Gator and current Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Jevon Kearse, lead guitarist for Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rickey Medlock, representatives from the Miami Dolphins cheerleaders and Miss Florida USA 2007, Jenna Edwards.

Those from the fishing world include TV fishing host Jimmy Houston, angler Roland Martin, 2005 Bassmaster Classic Champion Kevin VanDam, 1998 Bassmaster Classic Champion Denny Brauer, former Classic Champion David Fritts, saltwater fishing TV show host George Poveromo and bass angler Jason Quinn. Also there will be Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris and Bass Pro Shops President Jim Hagale.

Mixed media artists Deb Chinery and Suzanne Ens display their panoply of women's decorative, ceremonial and/or protective attire in the exhibit Bods & Bodices: Visions of Women's Armor, a Panoply at Barbella's Gallery & Studio Oct. 27 through Dec. 14. Open reception is Oct. 27, 6-10 p.m.

Ens, who usually works in mosaic mixed media, uses the female form as a canvas, "dressing" it to portray some familiar stereotypical guises and roles women don to armor themselves in male dominated cultures. Her mosaicked torsos in this show include a pink and toile 1950s housewife, a 1920s "new woman" flapper and Miss Florida USA.

Chinery is already well known for her "Bra'scapes," pieces that begin with a purely feminine and hidden article of clothing, the brassiere. Using textual images, primarily quotations by visionary women. Chinery embellishes the mundane undergarment to create an aesthetic that celebrates what is, at essence, uniquely feminine.

Opening trading today at the American Stock Exchange were Miss Universe, Zuleyka Rivera, Miss USA, Tara Conner and Miss Teen USA, Katie Blair, in New York on October 18, 2006. The lovely trio was on hand to ring the opening bell and received the VIP tour of the trading floor and stopped to get the feel for some trading activity and to learn about the stock market. Miss Universe, 18 hails from Salinas, Puerto Rico, Miss USA, 20, is from Russell Springs, Kentucky and Miss Teen USA 18, is from Billings, Montana.

» PICTURES & STORIES WANTED!

If you enjoy reading the stories of our Miss Florida USA Family and want us to know what great things are happening either during or after you reign please email us at telair@aol.com. We love touting our sorority of outstanding Florida women. Please send us a paragraph (or two) on your appearances, awards or community service and include pictures. We want you to have all of the support of this great lifestyle we call Miss Florida USA!

» 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!

With a total home state pride our Picture of The Week Committee bypassed the traditional crowning photo for something a little more organic. Presenting the first picture of Team Florida USA as both our Miss Hastey and Ms. Edwards get to share this prestigious title, Picture of The Week….enjoy!