February
22, 2008
» KRISTEN
BERSET MISS FLORIDA USA 2004 GOES TO IRAQ: In
Her Own Words:
Okay
for those of you that don't know. I recently returned from a trip to Kuwait
and throughout Iraq. I along with my fishing show co-host Joe Mercurio and
Captain Eric Maninno were invited by Armed Forces Entertainment and the
Baghdad Fly Fishing club to host Operation: Catch Fish at Z Lake on Victory
Base Complex in Baghdad.
It's
the first ever official fishing tournament for the soldiers deployed over
seas. We had 361 soldiers participate. Every branch of the military was
represented and 7 different coalitions. It was more successful than we could
have ever imagined. We shipped over 10, 000 lbs of free stuff for the troops
from hats, to sunglasses, to shirts to shoes.
But
before we arrived in Baghdad we spent about a week visiting with troops at
several different Forward Operation Bases through Kuwait and Iraq. I tried to
tell the story of the trip through the captions. It was an amazing, one that I
will never forget. It opened my eyes not only to issues dealing with Operation
Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi freedom but with life itself.
Signing
autographs & at the Royal Mansion
The
soldiers I talked to are some of the most remarkable people I have ever
met. We sat with them and listened to their stories...It was also an eye
opener to see how Saddam Hussein lived in these elaborate palaces and the
people of Iraq were pretty much in poverty.
At
one of the camps where we stayed the night I actually met a soldier from my
hometown. We actually know a lot of the same people but had never met. His
sister and I are friends and his mother was my 7th grade Spanish teacher. It's
a small world!
It
was the trip of a lifetime and I hope you all enjoy the pictures. I know there
are a lot!!!
Receiving
a service plaque
Don't
mess with Kristen no more!
Group
Shot!
» FULL
ACCESS: MISS HIALEAH USA
For
the first time ever The Road to Hollywood ventured to West Miami Dade as the
dynamic duo of Rose and Desiree from Miss Miami Tropics pulled off one fun
evening of pageantry. It seems like every Miami Dade titleholder was in the
house as photo opportunities were aplenty!
The
pageant was at Henry Filler Auditorium on Jose Marti Blvd. In Hialeah as the
City is now officially Miss USA crazy. Enjoy the pictures and look for our
full access cameras in Tallahassee this weekend for The Miss Capital City USA
Super Pageant.
Miss
Hialeah USA Court and Judges
Teen
USA (and younger) delegates
Pageant
buddies (left) Rachel
Rose was our YouTube hostess (right)
The
Gallegos and Miss Miami Teen USA 2008 Devora Wills (left)
Team
Miami Tropics
(right)
Twins!
Very
proud directors with their new titleholder Stephanie Jimenez
» KUDOS
& DID YOU KNOWS
- Kudos to Miss Volusia County USA 2009 Megan Clementi who recently met with Kaitlyn Chana, the founder of Love
Letters, and assisted her in creating Bear Love Letters for the children at Florida Hospital. The event was held in Altamonte
Springs at the Joanne Fabrics store. Love Letters is a non profit charity which gives inspiring/uplifting homemade cards to
children suffering from a life threatening disease.
-
Kudos to the team of Envy Pageant
Productions as their Queens were recent VIP's at the Crowne Plaza
Hotel-Fort Myers as they celebrated the designation of becoming Green
Lodging. The evening was filled with environmentally friendly paper goods,
food, and drinks, local VIP's, fun and a chance for the area's VIP's to meet
and mingle with the Queens. Way to go green ladies!
Jillian
Wunderlich-Miss Florida Teen USA, Miss Fort Myers Teen USA-Kendra Altemeyer,
local television personality-Chad Oliver of NBC, Miss Fort Myers USA-Maria
DeMoya and Donna Snow-Miss Sarasota USA enjoy the event.
The
girls make a stunning entrance.
The
Queens pose with Director Suzi Hosfeld
-
Did You Know we were well represented at this year’s South Miami Black
History Month Parade? Three of our newest titleholders were Grand Marshals as Miss Sunset Place Teen USA 2009 Vania Pedraja, Miss Kendall USA 2008 Kourtney Gallego and Miss Kendall
Teen USA Jasmine Avery were the guests of Simon Mall. It was a fun morning
that was highlighted by meeting State Congresswoman Ileana Ross Lehtinen. Way
to show our support of Black History Month ladies!
Miss
Pedraja with Representative Ross Lehtinen
Ms.
Gallego with one of South Miami’s finest (left)
Miss
Avery rocked the mic (right)
Alein
Cadalso, General Manager, The Shops at Sunset Place and the Vice Mayor of
South Miami
share
the photo with our parade Grand Marshalls.
-
Kudos to our new Miss South Miami USA
2009 Rachel Rose, Miss South Miami Teen USA 2009 Alyssa Rivera and Miss
Pinecrest Teen USA 2009 Phillipa Valencia as they were the featured
readers at Saturday’s Kidgets Children’s Club Soiree at The Falls in South
Miami Dade. The ladies not only read children’s favorites they also gave
away prizes and signed autographs.
Miss
Valencia, Ms. Rose and Miss Rivera were the featured stars at this weekend’s
Kidget’s Klub at The Falls
The
kids loved Ms. Rose (right)
»
THIS
WEEKEND ON VIRB:
Going online Saturday night
will be the best of shots from this weekends Miss Capital City USA Pageant to
be held in Tallahassee. 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.
» 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!
»
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 always brags on our own and this week we
have a beautiful entry featuring Miss Florida Teen USA 2007 Annilie
Hastey as she graces another magazine cover. Our supermodel has been
killing in the modeling scene since she completed her reign and today
our POTW is this beautiful cover shot. Congratulations to our favorite
supermodel as you win another coveted award, The Picture of The Week!
Recent
Editions:
