Miss Alexandria (VA-MAO) 2011

Congratulations to Delesia AmandaWatson, the new Miss Alexandria 2011.  Delesia competed against seven amazing beauties in this local preliminary for the Miss Virginia America pageant system.

She is no stranger to the tough competition within the state, having competed in last year's pageant as Miss Greater Springfield 2010.

Quite the pageant queen, Delesia has also held the titles of 2009 Miss Virginia {National American Miss} and 2008 Dogwood Queen of the Charlottesville Dogwood Festival.  She also made it to the top 12 of the 2011 Miss Virginia USA pageant.

Delesia has an exciting few month ahead of her as she prepares for this year's Miss Virginia pageant.  I am positive her directors Angel McCoy, the former Mrs. Maryland International 2010, Miss Chesapeake Bay 2008 & Miss Howard County 2007(MD-MAO), and Kevin Mohorn will fine tune this already polished lady in no time!

It's Snowing........Again!!!!

Yep, it's definitely winter in the Mid-Atlantic region!!!  After spending two days at home with my family, and several hours shoveling and moving about 12 inches of snow (not bad considering last year's fiasco), I returned to work, on a Friday no less, only to look out my window and see that .......it's snowing...AGAIN!    Personally, I find this humorous, but I know there are some that are loosing it!

In any event, I figured this was a great chance to highlight a wonderful children's pageant produced by the ladies at Pageants R Fun.  In full disclosure, I should probably tell you that I am one of those said ladies :-).

The event was the Winter Snow Queen Pageant and it was held at the Black Box Theatre in Ellicott City, Maryland on Saturday, January 15th.  Eight young ladies, between the ages of 2 and 12, competed in categories such as formal wear, talent, winter wear and photogenic to win four divisional titles and one overall Supreme Winter Snow Queen title.

The four divisional titles are based on age on the day of the pageant.  Baby is 3 mos. - 3 years old, Tiny is 4 - 6 years old, Little is 7 - 9 years old and Preteen is 10-12.  There is also a category for girls ages 13-15 - Junior Miss.  The audience was treated to a wide range of entertainment through the talent division.  We heard a violin solo, a monologue, a song and two dances.  What a joy to watch the girls express themselves.

The beauty of the Pageants R Fun productions, is that every child who participates has a chance to pick a prize from the "gift" table after competing their formal wear segment, so no one goes home empty handed.    

Do you think our pageant had any influence with the weather lately???   I didn't think so either.  Stay warm folks!

Self Confidence, Commitment & Passion

What's that old saying...."You can do anything you put your mind too"?  For Laura Vikmanis, the NFL's oldest cheerleader, truer words were never spoken.  At 42, she's also older than most of the League's players.  Her commitment to being and doing the best she can as well as her self-confidence to go out there week after week to live her passion are traits you definitely need in pageantry.

 Laura Vikmanis, Cincinnati Ben-Gal (NFL's Cincinnati Bengal's Cheerleader)

Recently, I heard from a woman who was told by some people that she was too old to compete in a state pageant for a certain Mrs. system.  Now that's just ridiculous, that's why they have AGE ranges:  18 - 50, 22 - 60, etc. for certain pageants.  Are we really to believe that women of a certain age, should only compete in the Ms. Senior America pageant??

The Top Ten Finalists at the 2010 Ms. Senior America Pageant at Harrahs Resorts in Atlantic City. 

Kimberly Moore, Ms US Virgin Islands Senior America, was crowned "Ms Senior America 2010" last October at Harrah's in Atlantic City.

 

I guess you can't win for loosing in some pageant circles.  Our new Miss America is the youngest one ever crowned and folks still aren't happy.  Howard Stern even went as far as to say "she is overly manufactured". (I know what you're thinking, it is after all Howard Stern, but I digress).

 

If you are willing to put in the work, try your best and most of all be prepared to have a good time and enjoy your experience - self confidence, commitment and passion should trump age any time.

Isn't She Pretty in Pink

And so it begins, once again, the start of awards season!!!   Red carpet fashions often spark ideas for pageant season gowns.  With the crowning of Miss America 2011, state pageants will soon be under way to begin selecting the MAO Class of 2012.   On the Golden Globe red carpet last night, pink seemed to be the color of choice in various shades.  Could this be the beginning of a trend for 2011, will pageant contestants move from the traditional "winning" white to a pale pink?

 Miss America 1984, Vanessa L. Williams

Not to be outdone, Catherine Zeta-Jones and others opted against the pale trend and showed up in various shades of beautiful jeweled tone greens.   I love this time of year!!!

There she is.....

Once again, that famous "tune" was sung as Miss America 2010, Caressa Cameron passed the crown to the next distinguished woman.  After a world wind year of excitement and appearances, it was time to say goodbye.  On this 90th anniversary of Miss America, more than 40 past Miss Americas returned to Las Vegas took to various stages to remember highlights of their reigns.

With a welcoming of Pink's "Raise Your Glass" the top 15 were announced:
 1) Miss Oklahoma  2) Miss Nebraska  3)Miss Texas (always a crowd favorite!!!)  4)  Miss Rhode Island (total crown shocker), 5) Miss Utah, 6) Miss Washington, 7) Miss Arizona, 8) Miss Hawai'i  9) Miss Virginia ( I was surprised - so much for prelims) 10) Miss Arkansas (my pick for Miss America - even though the whole racially ambiguous comment let me know you were black) 11) Miss California.  You/America chose the additional semi-finalist:s 12) Miss New York & 13)Miss Delaware. Finally, for the first time in MAO history, the contestants had the opportunity to select finalists, they were (to join the swimsuit competititon) - 14) Miss Kentucky & Miss Oregon.

The competition dwindled down to the top 10, followed by top top 5.  All of the girls looked absolutely lovely during the fitness (formerly swimsuit) competition although I was AMAZED by the big hair and the lack of color in the top 15 but eh- what do I know.

In the end, Teresa Scanlon, the youngest ever at 17 years old, was crowned Miss America 2011.   Congratulations Miss Nebraska 2010!!!!!!  Take the crown and run with it!

Pine Tree State takes the crown!!!!

Congratulations to Shannon Folsom !!!! This beautiful brunette from Maine was recently crowned Miss Collegiate America 2011 at the national pageant in San Antonio, Texas on Saturday,, January 8th!!!

She is a 19 year old college student and dean's list student , currently attending the University of Maine in Orono and pursuing a B.S. in Kinesiology. No stranger to pageantry, Shannon was also the Maine's MAOT (Miss America's Outstanding Teen) in 2008.

Miss Folsom, who is studying kinesiology and pre-med, will receive a $10,000 college scholarship, plus a generous wardrobe and prizes totaling over $25,000 for her year of service traveling the nation promoting healthy lifestyles and the value of education. Folsom, daughter of Ed and Lauren Folsom of Saco, is an accomplished actress and singer. She has performed in more than 20 plays and musicals, sings in three choruses, plays violin and has received many awards from baton-twirling competitions as a child.

With the reigning Mrs. America 2011 hailing from Connecticut, and now Miss Maine winning Collegiate America, can we predict that our next Miss America will greet us from the northeast as well???  On Saturday, Jan. 15th we will find out........stay tuned!

** Thank you to Ms. T.C. Jamison, Pennsylvania High School & Collegiate America Pageant Director for sending me this news!!!!

Out with the Old.......In with the New

Happy New Year!!!!!!!

Can you believe it's really 2011!!!!  Pageants & Pearls hopes you enjoyed your holiday season!  We wer so busy enjoying all the festivities we were too tired to blog :-(   In any event, looking at the calendar we realized it's almost that time again for the Miss America crown to change heads.  

 

Miss Indiana Katie Stam is crowned Miss America 2009 by Miss America 2008 Kirsten Haglund.

 Miss Virginia, Caressa Cameron, is crowned Miss America 2010 by Miss America 2009 Katie Stam

Caressa has done a fabulous job in the role. Her popularity, I'm sure, has done a lot to help bring MAO back to the mainstream!!!!  This year's pageant will return to the ABC Network and is "presented by DSW".  Could a return to Atlantic City be in the near future? She has toured the globe over bringing smiles and excitement where ever she appeared.  Pretty soon, she'll be back to her "regular life".  But let's be honest, how much regular can you get after spending a year as Miss America!
  

On Saturday, Jan 15th - a panel of judges, including Joy Behar of The View, will select our new Miss America!  Who will it be?  I for one will be in front of my tube with my popcorn and strawberry soda rooting for Miss Maryland Lindsay Staniszewski   - GO MARYLAND

Miss Maryland, Miss District of Columbia & Miss Virginia with Miss America at USO Casino Night