Miss Florida USA Faces

Backstage at registration Saturday morning (left) Miss McDonald and Miss Schamber before the pageant (right)

Boca “inner” beauties crowned Miss Boca Raton Teen USA and Miss Boca Raton USA 2008

For Boca residents Gabriela Wagner and Linda Hill, beauty is beyond skin deep. Although the duo possess an outer beauty, it was the inner that won over the judges at the recent Miss Boca Raton USA and Miss Boca Raton Teen USA 2008 pageant held at West Boca Raton Community High School.

Thus the two were crowned. Wagner, 17, took home the title of Miss Boca Raton Teen USA 2008. Hill, 21, was crowned Miss Boca Raton USA 2008. “It was the total package,” said Pageant Director Jeanne Brander. “Not only did they have smarts but they looked great and spoke great, and they are very sweet people. They’re two terrific human beings.” The winners competed in an interview process and on stage competition, which included a swimsuit, evening gown and question and answer session.

Hill will go on to compete in The Miss Florida USA Pageant that will be televised this July in Hollywood, Florida. The first runner-up was Jennifer Olkitsky and second runner up was Megan Brooks. Other titles that were awarded in the Miss Category included, Miss Amity, won by Kira Brooks, Miss Photogenic won by Kourtney Gallego and the Peoples Choice Award also won by Linda Hill.

Wagner will compete in the 2008 Miss Florida Teen USA Pageant in October. In the Teen division, the first runner up was Karlee Janigian and the second runner up was Rebeca Garcia. Miss Amity was won by Karlee Janigian, Miss Photogenic was won by Brittani Robins and the Peoples Choice Award was won by Gabriela Wagner.The two will hold the titles until next year’s pageant, which will be held in January 2008.

Both winners went into the pageant without a superficial goal and instead hoping to bring awareness to those in need. For Wagner, it was a first. “I was so shocked that I won because I was the only contestant that had never done a pageant before,” she said. And she’s says she’s not the everyday beauty queen.
“I don’t wear makeup, I had to learn how to walk in heels, and I was the only one eating cookies. I’m the girl at school who’s not wearing makeup and doing experiments in biology lab,” Wagner said. “I’m the antithesis of a beauty pageant girl.”

So why did she enter? Wagner said this competition was more than looks. “I researched this a little bit and found that it was not just about beauty. I only believe in promoting beauty in the environment. I feel people should care about appearance only to a degree and not be consumed by it,” she said. “This pageant takes into account the whole person. They’re looking for an overall person, not just a Barbie doll and not someone who is superficial.”

Unlike Wagner, Hill has dreamed of being crowned since she was little and has competed in various pageants. But like Wagner, Hill learned that being a winner means more than looking good in a bikini. “For all the other pageants I always thought it was about the looks and I always focused on things like wardrobe or smile, which turned out to be kind of superficial. I figured all the girls that were winning were doing something to help the community and that made me want to reach out and do something good, not just to win but to help others,” Hill said.

Both growing up in Boca Raton and involved in community service, the winners say they will use the titles to help others. Wagner, a junior at Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, said her top priority would be animal rights. This holds a special meaning since Wagner almost died a year ago after her horse accidentally kicked her unconscious and she was left with 250 stitches, a crushed skull, multiple surgeries and three weeks of blindness. Despite the accident, Wagner said she wants to bring aid to all animals.

“I want the entire community to promote more animal welfare awareness. So many animals are dying. And 15 million animals in the United States are going to a shelter this year. It’s so sad. That’s why we have to prevent animal cruelty,” said Wagner, who has various community service projects at her school to raise money for animals in need.

Besides aiding animals, Wagner said she also wants to focus on bring confidence to teen girls and all teens while giving back to the community.
“Every girl has a twinkle and charm inside of them that’s intrinsic, and by not utilizing and cultivating it, that goes to waste. That beauty will become dull if they use it on something stupid like drugs or drinking or feeling succumbed by boys,” she said. “It’s essential that each of us make the best of our gifts whether it’s intelligence, music, or sports. That will benefit ourselves and then we can use our gifts to benefit the community.” She added, “The uniqueness of every girl makes her so special and it’s what makes her even better than any type of Miss Teen USA.” Wagner’s platform is “to help animals make our community stronger and inspire all teens not just girls to try their best, and by doing their best they should want to give back to the community.”

On the other hand, Hill, a student at Palm Beach Community College and Florida Atlantic University, wants to devote her time to bringing comfort to soldiers overseas through her project, We Love Our Soldiers. “It’s all about showing the families who live in our communities and have sons and daughters serving our country that we appreciate everything that they’re doing. It’s something with all controversy with the elections and school shootings that has kind of been forgotten and people are still overseas being killed and traumatized,” she said. “Sometimes they go weeks without mail and I want to raise money to put together baskets and letters.”

Hill plans on filling that void by raising funds to send care packages to the troops filled with goodies they like from CDs to movies and letters to show that the community still cares. In addition to helping soldiers, Hill hopes to also focus on aiding other countries since she is from Dominica. She’s currently pursuing a degree in international journalism. “I’d like to travel and one day be an ambassador for a country,” Hill said. “Through the pageants I’ve learned to be appreciative of what I have and not to be mediocre. I want to do something big because you only get one life and I really want to stand out and contribute to society. Even if I am not recognized for it, that’s fine as long as I have it in my own heart and know that I did the best I could.”

Both winners said they hope to continue to represent Boca Raton.

After a rather length drive an oasis awaited at The Sandesin Beach Resort and County Club as it was last call for entries representing North Florida. Citrus Productions put on a great show that saw the return of Miss Florida USA 2006 Cristin Duren to her hometown. Hosting the competition with pageant friend Alyx Reynolds it was all about selecting two more great representatives. Big thanks go to our northernmost pageant friends and look for big things to come in this growing region.

Miss Hafner and Ms. Dahmen model our sponsored Miss Florida USA second look outfit by Elan-USA (left)

» KUDOS & DID YOU KNOWS

- Kudos to Team Halavin Productions (HPI), which assisted “A Child is Missing” organization at their annual golf tournament. The HPI titleholders participated by helping sell tickets and presenting the winners awards. Then the HPI titleholders themselves were honored with a plaque for their volunteer efforts. Great job Angie and all of your titleholders.

- Kudos to Miss Southeast Florida USA 2008 Christian Ericksen on her recent graduation as Miss Ericksen had the must service hours in her senior class. All of the HPI titleholders were invited to come with their sash to represent their city and in support of their graduate. Congratulations and best wishes in your college career.

- Kudos to Miss Miami Beach USA 2008, Michelle Piwko who has been quite the busy lady lately! Not only has Ms. Piwko been the featured model in both the Ed Hardy and Carolina Brasil Swimwear fashion shows, she also found the time to graduate from The University of Miami Law School. Congratulations Michelle on all your accomplishments!

» 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!

This week our picture of the week committee meet behind closed doors as a heated debate over which national costume contestant would win this much coveted award. In the end the beauty who best graced the Mexican stage at The Miss Universe National Costume Presentation as voted upon by our distinguished panel was......Giannina Silva, Miss Uruguay 2007 at the Auditorio Nacional Thursday. Don't forget Miss Universe 2007 airs LIVE on NBC Monday May 28th, 2007 at 9PM EDT. But in our books Miss Uruguay is already a winner!