January 25, 2008
Miss Chaban at state this year
January 25, 2008
Miss Chaban at state this year
» Boca beauty queen starts company to raise funds for child prosthetics
“I was watching the Oprah show and it was
about people who helped raise money for prosthetics for children with missing
hands and legs that couldn’t afford to buy them,” said Chaban, a student
at North Broward Preparatory School. “People would make fun of them. Just
because they are different doesn’t mean they should be excluded from being a
kid. I wanted to let them know that they are not alone or forgotten and that
someone is out there that really does care.”
Chaban plans to raise money through
fundraising events at her school and in the community. All funds raised will
go to Pediatric Prosthetics Inc., a company operated by professionals who make
and fit “advanced” prosthetic limbs that allow the child to run and play.
“I know that there are many charities out there that are deservers just as
this one. But I’m asking people to open up their hearts,” she said.
“This will give them a chance to play sports and do something they always
want to do.”
$2,000 Raised
So far, the local student has raised about
$2,000, but she hopes to reach over the $5,000 mark and her biggest fundraiser
is yet to come. Chaban plans to host a dinner and fashion show but is looking
for area businesses to contribute. “It’s good to give back. When you help
someone you get that feeling inside and you know that you changed someone’s
life,” she said.
Chaban said the title has brought her not
only self confidence but also a greater meaning in life: being a positive role
model. Even when she passes on her crown, Chaban will continue to raise funds
for her cause. “I know that I can be a good role model,” she said. “I
want not just teens but everyone in to give back to the community and raise
money and let people know that they care about them.”
To
contribute to the cause, contact Michelle at Heart2heartmc@aol.com
or 561-703-5351.
» Pageant needs more than lipstick
service
The presidential primary is coming at a
perfect time. Republican presidential hopefuls have descended on Florida to
line up support before Thursday night's debate at Florida Atlantic University
and Tuesday's primary election. So it's "make a wish" time for us.
Whatever we want, somebody aspiring to be the next president will promise to
deliver it.
Central Florida's getting pledges to explore
Mars. North Florida's getting its military stroked. And we're being romanced
with talk about Everglades restoration. But we need something more. I'm
talking, of course, about extracting a promise to restore the dignity to one
of our most cherished institutions, the Miss South Florida Fair pageant. Turns
out, not only do we have trouble electing presidents but also we have a hard
time running a controversy-free beauty pageant.
The winner, Jessica Wittenbrink, 21, was in
tears at the show during the weekend after discovering that somebody sabotaged
the back of her competition gown with four streaks of red lipstick. Sheriff's
deputies Lancomed the area for clues but didn't have enough evidence to blame
one of the other 12 contestants or, perhaps, an outside infiltrator. Add to
that a 30-minute delay in counting the ballots, and you've got one big CoverUp
Girl scandal.
Sure, we want to go to Mars, bolster
Florida's military bases and clean up the Everglades. But first, we may need
federal help in cleaning up the mess we've made of the fair's beauty pageant.
Don't laugh. This is serious.
Once you start questioning the fair's beauty
pageant, it's a slippery slope to wondering whether the cows in the
fairground's Mooternity Tent are really pregnant. As one reader to this
newspaper's Web site so eloquently put it, "Scandals are taking place.
... The pageant world is very corruptive."
If the saying is true, that all politics is
local, then the Republican candidates will have to address our pageant problem
during the debate Thursday in Boca Raton. I know they're busy, maybe too busy
to formulate the pageant issue into their campaign themes. So I've done it for
them:
Mitt Romney: Talking point:
"The problem is the border. With the backstage area porous to intruders,
law enforcement couldn't rule out that the lipstick vandal was an undocumented
pageant intruder."
Solution: Build secure fences around
the backstage areas of beauty pageants.
Rudy Giuliani: Talking
point: "There is real evil in this world. Streaking a contestant's
dress with lipstick during a pageant is evil, which reminds me of another
evil. ..." (Then talk about Sept. 11 until microphone is cut off.)
Solution: Limited nuclear strike
against beauty pageant culprit.
John McCain: Talking point: "I'm going to give you some straight
talk you might not want to hear. We may never catch the perpetrator of this
heinous act of pageantry. But that doesn't mean we will ever stop
investigating this, even if it means spending years and years at it."
Solution: Victory.
Mike Huckabee: Talking point: "I'm the only candidate who knows
how to run a state fair, so when it comes to dealing with fair problems,
nobody knows better than me the difference between a deep-fried Twinkie and a
Bloomin' Onion."
Solution: Eliminate all makeup and
other tools of the Jezebel from future beauty pageants. See Bible, 2 Kings
9:30-33, for details.
Ron Paul Talking point: "The so-called victim here
probably brought it on herself. Maybe we ought to focus on what this
Wittenbrink woman did to get somebody upset enough to smear lipstick on her
gown."
» TWO SEMINAR SATURDAY: MISS HENDRY COUNTY PAGEANT
Final
group shot #1
We were invited to be a guest speaker at this year’s Hendry County Pageant Seminar Day this past Saturday in Clewiston. Over thirty attendees greeted yours truly as we were very impressed with the both the contestants and pageant staff. After a meet and greet session it was time to learn pageant secrets from traveling titleholders including our very own Riley Nowell, Miss Stuart Teen USA 2008. After a brief motivational speech and DVD giveaways it was time for some quick photo opportunities and then hitting the road for the second pageant seminar of the day.
The
special guests of the day with super directors Sherrie and Janet
Group shot #2
PageantDiva.com donated DVD’s for the fun of it! (left)
MISS GOLD COAST USA
After a quick dash east we were greeted by our newest pageant director Trudy Williams as she hosted a fun afternoon of pageantry in Wellington. The New World Visual Acting Academy Studio Stage hosted five potential delegates in pursuit of the title. With assistance from acting coach Michael Haney from the Palm Beach Acting School the delegates had a fun and informative day. The event
Onstage introduction practice (left) Delegate with proud mom! (right)
Acting
Coach Michael Haney addresses the delegates and family
Greeting
in the lobby
» JOSE MARTI PARADE honors Cuban poet and revolutionary
Royalty
on a float
With raindrops falling on
his face as he rode down José Martí Boulevard on his Harley-Davidson
motorcycle, Eddy ''Bigotes'' Rodriguez pondered once again whether the message
of the ''Cuban Apostle'' would remain one of democracy for Cuba.
This was the 15th year that Rodriguez and his 15 friends, all Cubans and also
on motorcycles, were riding in the annual Hialeah-sponsored parade dedicated
to poet, writer and independence fighter José Martí. ''He is the light of
our nation of freedom and of principles of men; he is the strength to fight
for Cuba,'' said Rodriguez, who has lived in Hialeah for 24 years after coming
from Cuba, where he was a political prisoner.
Miami
Tropics is in the house!
Awaiting
the parade in the Miss Florida USA convertible
The parade, which began in Hialeah in 1971, celebrates Martí's birth in
Havana on Jan. 28, 1853, and his rise to leader of Cuban independence and
prominence as a poet. He died May 19, 1895, while fighting Spanish troops at
the battle of Dos Rios.
''Some sorry Cubans back home want to take the flag of this leader to
themselves and say that he was a communist, but, although he was making a
revolution with his pen, he was doing it for democracy and freedom,''
Rodriguez said. ``That is why it is the patriotic duty of every Cuban who
comes here for freedom to come today and get a little wet for him.'' The
parade was sponsored by the city; 50 public and private schools, churches and
other organizations took part. They marched along West 29th Street/José Martí
Boulevard, between Fifth and Ninth avenues. Orsa Ranson, who lives in
Homestead and came to see her daughter Ashanti Douglas, a cheerleader at
Lincoln-Marti School, said she knew little about Martí but was aware of the
importance of celebrating leaders from the past.
Indoors
and warm!
''This is not my leader or my hero, but I like the fact that we remember the
people who fought for something in the past, like at the Martin Luther King
Parade in Homestead that I went to yesterday. It brings people together, and
it revives the message of these leaders, helping us and new generations
understand them better,'' Ranson said. ``Plus, I love to listen to the music
and see all the dancing and the children dressed up. It's a lot of fun.''
» MISS FLORIDA USA ON FACEBOOK
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 MARION COUNTY/ALACHUA COUNTY USA & TEEN PICTURES AT OUR VIRB SITE:
Going
online Saturday night will be the best of shots from the four title pageant
Miss Alachua/Marion County USA & Teen to be held Saturday afternoon in
Gainesville. Then look for Miss Sunset Place Seminar Day pix Sunday night as
we travel to Las Vegas for the National Association of Television Programming
Executives (NATPE) that night.
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!
Always trying to stay ahead of the communications curve here at Miss Florida
USA.
»
New State Pictures Up at our www.Virb.com Miss Florida USA Channel!
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!
Our Picture of The Week Committee shifted through international entries but returned to the Jose Marti event in Hialeah for this weeks winner. The cameras captured this adorable picture of young queens in banners awaiting the parade. It was agreed that this was too cute and thus worthy of the honor. So enjoy and hope this puts a smile on your face…it did ours!
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