April 25, 2008
April 25, 2008
» IN THE AUDIENCE:
This
weekend we had a single destination and that was in Gator Country! The Road to
Hollywood made its second visit to Gainesville this year. Chelsee Productions
presented the dual titled Miss North Central Florida and Gainesville USA &
Teen USA Pageant on Saturday in their traditional home at The Oak Hall School.
A very competitive pageant awaited as it was fun to see old friends and make
new ones.
Next week we have a doubleheader of Miss Miami USA and Miss Emerald Coast USA then it’s a three week hiatus. Our featured pageant next week will find us in Panama City for the fifth annual Emerald Coast USA Pageant. Out split crew will also be at Miss Miami USA a member of our original six preliminary pageants. See everyone next week on The Road to Hollywood.
Miss Capital City USA 2009 Vida Sheffield and Miss First Coast USA 2009 Ashley Washington
post pageant (left) After their final walks Ms. Johnson and Ms. Rhodes take a photo (right)
Lindsay
Bolendar rocked the microphone as our YouTube hostess (left)
Noelle
Johnson with Tampa/Lakeland USA Director Brigetta Long (right)
They
are heading to Hollywood! (left) Sister
Queen Lauren Harmon (Miss Gainesville Teen USA 2008) joins
Miss
Gainesville USA 2008 Nikki Rhodes and Miss North Central Florida USA 2008
Noelle Johnson (right)
» MISS MIAMI USA & TEEN USA WEEK IN PHOTOS
It’s
been quite a week at Miss Miami USA as they hosted a meet and greet at the
world famous Forge Restaurant on Miami Beach. The turnout matched the bling of
any stars that were there at the time (Jennifer Aniston was eating a few
tables away) as over twenty titleholders made the scene. The ladies looked
wonderful and everyone agreed that this was going to be one spectacular
pageant.
Then last night (Thursday) sixteen of the Miami hopefuls hit the stages of The Mary Wolf Auditorium on The Biscayne Bay Campus of Florida International University (FIU). It was rehearsal night in anticipation of Saturdays big event that’s under the direction this year of Rose Martinez and her Miami Tropics Team. We thought these pictures would get everyone ready for the Magic City pageant.
THE FORGE ON MIAMI BEACH
Our
Party with pageant director Desire Martinez (Lower right Blue)
Holding court on a world famous couch
In
the special celebrity room with potential Miss Miami Teen USA delegates
Group
shot in-doors
Miss Rose with her team
THURSDAY REHEARSAL
Some of our Miami Teen USA delegates
Linda Hill and Lia Anter backstage (left) More backstage candids (right)
Awaiting the onstage interview rehearsal (left) Michelle Chaban practicing onstage (right)
» KUDOS
& DID YOU KNOWS
- Kudos to Miss Fort Myers USA-Maria DeMoya and Miss Sarasota USA-Donna Snow who were recent VIP guests at the Fort Myers American Cancer Society Relay for Life. The girls enjoyed assisting sponsor vendor The Crown Plaza Hotel in their booth, signing autographs and taking pictures with cancer survivors. What an awesome event and great job ladies on doing a good deed!
- Kudos to Miss Tampa Teen USA 2009 Brianna Lupo spent a Saturday morning at the Pooch-a-Palooza-Fundraiser for the Human Society of Tampa Bay in Hyde Park. the park was filled with lots of Dogs big and small all available for adoption. Then she was invited as a guest to the Pepin Dist company Family Wellness Fair in Tampa. They had all the new medical prevention testing that you can imagine and the theme for the night was definitely early detection and learning to help save your life. Finally the weekend ended with Tampa’s Relay For Life fundraiser for The American Cancer Society. Way to have a great and productive weekend Brianna!
»
MISS FLORIDA TEEN USA CONTESTANTS IN THE NEWS:Marco’s
Jenna Michelle Canfield seeks Miss Florida Teen USA title
Jenna Michelle Canfield, 15, already has an
entertainment background more extensive than most adults. A positive young
lady, her latest successful quest was to be named Miss Sarasota Teen USA. To
Canfield, who acts and sings, the pageant was a way of branching out.
“I watched the national competition and it looked
like fun,” she said. “The competition was tough, there were a lot of
pretty girls,” she said of her 14- to 17-year-old competitors. Canfield
competed in Sarasota because there was no local contest. “The event follows
the Miss USA system,” Canfield explained. “We competed in swimsuit,
evening gown and an on-stage question.”
She would love to be Miss Florida Teen, with her goal
to one day compete for the Miss USA title and meet Donald Trump. The pageant
is part of Trump’s Miss Universe Pageant system. The state championship is
Oct. 3 to 5 in Hollywood. Canfield kept the Miss Teen attempt quiet. “I just
wanted to have the experience, to meet new people and advance my exposure,”
she said.
And when she won. “Oh my gosh, I was stunned and so
excited,” she said. “Only my parents knew.” Not even her groupies,
grandparents Chuck and Bett Canfield and Penny and Bud Kutzke knew. “With
Jenna’s busy schedule they are often the ones to help with
transportation,” mom Carrie explained.
Jenna’s entertainment career got an early boost when mom put her in the Marco Players Summer Camp. “At 3 years old she told me she was going to be a star and I just thought the camp would be fun for her,” Carrie said. “She loved it. No one in the family has had an interest, I was stunned by the whole thing.” By 10, she was in “Shakespeare Comes to Calamity Creek” as part of KidzAct at Sugden Community Theater in Naples. Her first leading role came in “Oliver,” playing Bet in 2005 with the Naples Players at Sugden.
Also in 2005, she played Ruth in “Thoroughly Modern
Millie” at the Theatre of Arts Center in Doylestown, Pa. In 2007, she
performed in “High School Musical” and “Grease” through KidzAct at
Sugden Community Theater. Her musical side began with piano lessons in 1996 at
only 3. She took up dance in 2002 and guitar in 2003. Voice instruction with
Tia Charles of Marco began in 2000, about the same time she started attending
acting workshops, and in 2003 she started songwriting workshops.
Working with entertainer Ray Nesbitt, she wrote “Now
You Want Me Back,” which won her first place for the Original Song of the
Year at the North American Country Music Association Awards in 2005 and first
place for Country, Pop and Original Song in the Advanced Arts Academy Young
Artist Competition the same year.
Way back when she was all of 12, Nesbitt said, “Her
songwriting is a natural talent, as well as her singing. She’s just got that
natural ability in every atom of her body.” Jenna thinks her music style is
evolving. “At first, I was more country and pop, but have added Broadway
songs,” she said. Jenna also has added modeling.
She would be a freshman at Lely High School, but chose
to be home schooled through Florida Virtual School because of her busy
schedule. “She may be taking classes online, but it is not an easy way to
go,” Carrie said. “It helps with her crazy schedule, but often she is up
in her room doing homework.”
Jenna said her friends are excited when she wins
awards too. “They support me in everything I do,” she said. “It helps to
keep me grounded. We go to movies, shopping, or just hang out at their
houses.”
Relaxation time for her actually is performing.
“Doing shows keeps me going, I love working,” Jenna said. She also enjoys
performing with her friend, Chloe Friedman, of Naples. The two formed Young
Divas three years ago. They have performed at Naples’ Evening on Fifth and
have graced the stage for Christmas Island Style’s Christmas tree lighting
ceremony. They will be performing as part of the Marco Town Center’s concert
series on May 28.
Jenna will appear with other queen contestants on FOX
4 Rising with Wild Bill from 6 to 9 a.m. on Tuesday, April 29. She admits that
her focus is on the state pageant. Suzi Hosfield, who directed Miss Sarasota,
Miss Fort Myers, Miss Cape Coral and Miss West Coast Florida pageants for Miss
Teen USA and Miss USA advancements is sold on Jenna.
A former Miss Wisconsin USA titlist, Hosfield said she
is always scouting for candidates. “I actually met Jenna in Naples at a
Starbucks,” she said. “Jenna has incredible talent, is a beautiful young
lady and has great poise. Everything the Miss USA system looks for is in
Jenna. She has already been a fabulous queen.”
On April 3, Jenna was at the Starz Complex on Fort
Myers Beach to speak with underprivileged kids on how education and hard work
can pay off. “This kind of competition provides young ladies incredible
opportunities, teaching them poise, confidence and self-control,” Hosfield
explained.
Jenna added the importance of making contacts to that
list of possibilities. “I expect to meet accomplished business people and
learn how to be comfortable talking with them and learning how they
accomplished so much,” she said. “Doing well at state may also open some
doors.”
Her goal is to major in performing arts in college, in
hopes of developing an acting or musical career. Carrie Canfield said there
are expenses that the family has absorbed. The family is responsible for hair,
nails, personal trainer/gym, tanning and appearance dresses. Jenna needs a
competition gown, swimsuit and an interview outfit for state competition.
“We have, so far, paid for everything ourselves,” Carrie said. “Some of
the other local queens have gotten sponsors.”
Hosfield said often a local hair salon and clothing
store may provide those items and some get financial assistance from people
they know. The entry fee in the regional competition was $350. By winning the
Miss Sarasota Teen, the state competition fee of $1,250 is waived, Hosfield
offered. Those interested in helping Canfield can call 250-4093.
»
THIS
WEEKEND ON VIRB:
Going online Sunday night we will post the best of shots from The Miss Emerald Coast USA & Teen USA Pageant as 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!
Here at The Picture of The Week we celebrate the joy and fun that is pageantry. So when the winning picture was submitted we think it captured the moment of euphoria that comes with hearing your name as a new titleholder. Presenting this weeks POTW as Nikki Rhodes celebrates Brittney Castles crowning moment, now they have two titles to brag about!
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