Miss Florida USA Faces

NAPLES-FL. Collier County residents enthusiastically united to walk for United Way on Saturday Sept. 29. Miss Naples Teen USA, Samantha Misener, and Miss Collier County Teen USA, Emily Provenza led the way as Grand Marshals. Other Grand Marshals included Sarah Augusthy from WINK TV, Carlos Zapata from D’Latinos TV and Azteca America, and Astrid Martinez and Tracey Edwards from Fox-4 Morning Blend.

More than 1,000 people attended the event on Saturday morning and completed the 2-mile walk that kicked off United Way of Collier County’s 2007-2008 fundraising campaign. “I am extremely happy to participate in this walk and to see so many people joining us,” stated Provenza, 17.

The walk started at 9 a.m. but registration began promptly at 7:30 a.m. Grand marshals were invited to the stage at 8:30 a.m. to greet the audience and introduce some of the United Way agencies, present at the “Agencies Village” where representatives distributed information, signed up volunteers and established a direct connection with community members.

“I’m so excited to be here today and very honored to be walking for the United Way agencies,” said Misener on the microphone. “I will be there on every last bit of the 2.25 mile walk and I expect to see every single one of you on that track having fun and walking for the Way!”

And with a huge cheer from the audience the walk started with the two beauty queens leading the Way. True leaders of tomorrow... today!

» One of those priceless beauty pageant moments that couldn't have been scripted better!

She walked onto the stage with an air of confidence, clutching her trumpet as she brushed her frizzy perm to the side and adjusted her lycra jumpsuit. Beauty pageant entrant Stacey Hedger was just about to start her performance for the talent segment of the Miss Douglas, LA contest.

The pretty blonde prepares to blow her trumpet for a version of the Star Wars theme and blow she did as it isn't entirely clear if Stacey had ever played a trumpet prior to her performance. Her dance moves are hilarious, and her bedazzler-inspired costume a real tragedy.

We have found a great host for all of our pictures before they are formally posted here on our home page starting on Monday. Visit http://virb.com/missfloridausa for updates from our first preliminary pageant this season! Always trying to stay ahead of the communications cure here at Miss Florida USA.

» Kudos & Did You Knows

Kudos to our very own Miss Florida USA 2008 Jessica Rafalowski on being the featured speaker at Hollywood’s Rotary Club prior to her autograph signing at Bass Pro Shop Outlets opening in Doral. Ms. Rafalowski spoke on her mentoring projects she runs in Volusia County and how everyone should incorporate mentoring into their lives. The audience hung on every word and she stayed afterwards to meet and greet and exchange some polish with her new fans! Way to reach out to our community Jessica.

We have found a great host for all of our pictures before they are formally posted here on our home page. Visit http://virb.com/missfloridausa as we have posted over 150 photos from this past pre-tape weekend. We will also post all timely pictures there after preliminary pageants and special appearances. Always trying to stay ahead of the communications cure here at Miss Florida USA!

» 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!

After a nice summer vacation our Picture of The Week Committee is back from our hiatus and ready to start the new pageant season! Our first order of duty is to pay homage to our newest Miss Florida Teen USA. So naturally our first picture of the new pageant year is our favorite, a crowning shot from this past Sunday featuring Jillian Wunderlich,

Miss Florida Teen USA 2008. Enjoy!