Miss Florida USA Faces

What a great day it was in Lee County just off the waters of Ft. Myers at The Alliance Theater of The Arts. With a full day of rehearsals, a VIP reception prior to the event and then one fun evening of pageantry the Envy Pageant Productions Team pulled off a first class production. In particular the VIP Party was unique as we were surrounded by an inspiring art collection. With the dignitaries of the region in full force it was clear that this is Miss USA Country!

The SW Florida USA Team of Pageant Director Cristina Apkarian and Miss Lee County USA Britney King (left)

Miss Sarasota Teen USA 2008 and Ft Myers Pageant Director Suzi Hosfeld (right)

Miss Wunderlich and Miss Lupo rocked the microphone as hostess of our YouTube report

Visiting titleholders from Sarasota and Lee County joined Miss Florida Teen USA Jillian Wunderlich as they were introduced and mingled with local personalities. Then Miss Wunderlich assumed co-hosting duties during the evening as the show time was greeted by a standing room audience that was excited to start the pageant season. They were treated to a great show and competition. The perfect way to start the 2008 Pageant Season!

With Miss USA right around the corner our Miss Florida USA Jessica Rafalowski and Pageant Director Mary Lou Gravitt have been on the road visiting our sponsors. The past week we ventured to the Miami International Mall and the home shop of Bijoux-Terner for a fun day of jewelry shopping. It’s always like old-home week as this is one of the titles most fun days. Think of an endless amount of accessories and mixing and matching became and art form. With a few last minute photo opportunities the day ended with bags of fun stuff!

Bags were full when we left (left) Handbags at Bijoux Terner! (right)

Then fast forward a few days and our Miss Florida Teen USA Jillian Wunderlich joined the fun with her big sister queen. Destination Sergio Zelcer as shoes were the rage of the day. Cutting edge shoes were there for the taking as our friends at SZ made Jessica and Jillian feel at home. They also made them feel great in some stylish new shoes as we always put our best foot forward with Sergio Zelcer shoes.

- Kudos to Miranda Weber, Miss Avalon Park USA 2008 on being the featured student of Daytona Beach College's new marketing campaign in Volusia County. You’ll see Ms. Webber featured on city bus, posters and in several magazine and newspaper ads and soon to come... a billboard!!! Miss Webber says “this was my most exciting modeling experience because I'm able to represent my own school and major. The culinary program uses me for all of their advertisements. They call me their superstar because they know I'll end up with my own Food Network show!” Wouldn’t surprise us a bit Miranda!

- Kudos to Miss Tallahassee Teen USA 2008 Kelly Haffner who modeled for the MET (Models Empowering Teens) Calendar. It is a collaborative effort of many talented teen models, photographers, MUAs & stylists in period costumes (Kelly is 1890's), so please check it out! This project is being sold online on the lulu store network and all benefits go to benefit children in the Florida Foster Care System and available only through February. If you would like to make a contribution and help this worthy cause then visit their store page at http://www.lulu.com/content/1771770. Way to help a great cause Kelly!

- Did You Know that our Miss Florida USA 2008 Jenna Edwards made her network game show debut last week? Ms. Edwards was a contestant on the Drew Carey game show Power of 10 on CBS. Unfortunately we don’t have a new millionaire in the pageant family but it was sure fun seeing the show. If you missed it, we found a replay online at http://www.cbs.com/primetime/powerof10/video/index.php?id=15&set=2. Way to go Jenna!

In our ongoing attempt to be everywhere on the internet we now have an active Face Book Site. We love the interaction and ability to contact our friends and keep them up to date with the latest in pageant news and pictures. Surf to www.FaceBook.com/MissFloridaUSA and say hello!

» MISS FT. MYERS USA, BIJOUX TERNER SHOPPING AND MISS WEST BROWARD USA SEMINAR DAY PICTURES AT OUR VIRB SITE:

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 pictures from Jessica’s shopping trip to Bijoux Terner, Ft Myers USA and Miss West Broward USA Seminar Day! Always trying to stay ahead of the communications curve here at Miss Florida USA.

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!

The POTW Committee has reconvened (just like congress) for the new pageant year. Our first order of business was this week’s initial installment. After going through pictures from all over the world we found one of our own that connected with our somewhat bitter committee members. At the heart of pageantry is friendship and camaraderie. Nothing says that more than this picture from Ft. Myers stage of our newest titleholder being congratulated by her friends that were fellow contestants that day. Enjoy and here’s to the power of good and pageantry. Happy New Year!