What's she been up to?

Last July, I made it a  point to highlight the newest Mrs. United States Rachel Juillerat.   As a former state titleholder, this system will always have a special place in my heart.  Imagine my surprise when I took a look through my stats and found that my post about Mrs. Juillerat has been my highest view post over the past two years.  I figured since you obviously like her so much, I owe it to you to tell you a bit about what she's been up too.

I've been following this blond beauty on her blog as well as her Twitter and I must say, she's been quite a busy lady!!!  Most recently, she and her United States sister queens. participated in a Tony Bowls Fashion Show.

Over the holidays, she attended a Firefighters Christmas Party for more than 300 children and their families.

In November, she was Macy's guest at the Thanksgiving Parade in New York City and helped the Arthritis Foundation raise more than $30,000 at their Monster Bash & Dash/5K - 1M run.

 A trip to visit the Children's Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama and modeling in the Johnathan Kayne fashion with Miss United States and Alabama state queens show made for an exciting October !!!

Looks like those Mrs. United States judges may have done a pretty good job with their selection!

Ain't No Stopping Her Now....Ms. America

This was so inspirational and uplifting I had to share.  This partial blog re-post is courtesy of AMS Vans, Inc.

Mother of 2 Crowned Ms. America after 11 Years in Wheelchair

After facing many obstacles in her life, including a hit and run accident in 1996 that left her in a wheelchair for 11 years, 36 year old California mom Tracy Broughton won the 2011 Ms. America title. Broughton will go on a twelve month tour with her crown making personal appearances and promoting awareness for disability rights.

As a busy single mother of twins, Broughton still makes time for her modeling career, heading a legal aid business, and donates her time to charity. Ms. Broughton plans to use her title to bring awareness to disability rights and be a role model for all those who use wheelchairs every day. Disability rights has been an issue close to Ms. Broughton’s heart since she was paralyzed in an accident from which she is still recovering.

Winner of the Miss Black California pageant in 2003 while still confined to a wheelchair, Tracy Broughton hopes to use her new Ms. America crown to target disability rights.   Read the rest..

On Sunday, January 30, 2011 (there's that day again) at the Doubletree Guest Suites Anaheim Resort in Anaheim, CA, finalists from across the United States competed in Interview, Sportswear, Evening Gown and the finalist On-Stage Question.

The Ms. America ® Pageant is for women 26 years of age and up who are single, divorced or married. Over $40,000 in gifts and prizes will be awarded at this year’s pageant which includes a $25,000 crown designed and crafted by Newport Jewelers of Newport Beach, CA.

To make the evening even more special for Tracy Broughton, 36, from Ladera Ranch, California, she can now consider herself positive addition to Black History Month notes as she is the first African American to be crowned Ms. America !!!!!!

 

Pretty Boy Swag

If you're like me, you are one step away from choking someone if you hear that song or Pretty Girl Rock ever again.  However, I PROMISE it has a point today.  There's a VERY BIG misconception that if you're a guy/boy doing pageants, there must be something wrong with you, that you're dare I say...........gay.  Why does that have to be case, gay or straight, why can't guys in pageant just have a little "swag".

Here's the reality.....
        A) every pageant isn't a BEAUTY pageant.
        B) By definition, a pageant can also refer to: 1) a procession or ceremony in elaborate costume, 2) nativity play or 3) a competitive event with multiple categories ending in one definitive titled winner.

In September, the ladies of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. at Shaw University crowned Mr. Alpha Rho. To open up the pageant, contestants presented the ladies of Delta Sigma Theta Incorporated, the audience, and judges with a quote that they apply to their everyday life.  The pageant also included an "Express Yourself" segment, where the contestants had the opportunity to entertain the audience with a talent. To conclude the competition part of the ceremony, contestants randomly choose a question to answer from the questionnaire jar.  After tallying the scores, the new Mr. Alpha Rho 2010-2011, Malik Devoy-Herring, was crowned in the event that raises funds to support the community service mission of the chapter.

 

Contestants pose with two members of Alpha Rho before the opening act.

The Mr. UK Pageant is an annual all men's pageant presented by the Delta Zeta Chapter (Alpha Theta) at the University of Kentucky.  Much like the Mr. Alpha Rho pageant, men from all different organizations on campus compete for the crown by participating in dance, swim wear, talent, and final question rounds.  The pageant raises money for the organization's speech & hearing philanthropy effort, including more than $9,000 in 2009.   

 Marcus Hicks, Mr. UK 2009

And after all, who can forget the most favorite "pageant" man of all - The Terminator, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mr. Universe 1967 & Mr. Olympia 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 & 1975!  

So the next time you hear about a boy/man in a pageant, don't be so quick to judge - it could be for a great cause or the beginning of a multi-million dollar career.

Sunday, January 30th

Perhaps I missed the memo because on this particular day, things were pretty busy for married women in the southeastern corridor of the country!!!  I think the staff at Mrs. America will be very pleased with the representatives who will wear the crown and represent their states at Greenbriar Resort in April.

This blond beauty showed up and captured the crown and title of Mrs. Tennessee America 2011 after two previous tries.  Thankfully, Melody Usdan wasn't afraid to try again after placing 2nd runner up in the 2010 pageant and fourth runner up at the 2007. 

Beautiful Allison Whitstine, an English teacher, won the title of Mrs. Louisiana America 2011.

Third time was a charm for the stunning Tiffany Marshall who practically swept the pageant to become Mrs. Georgia America 2011.   In addition to winning the crown, Tiffany also won Most Photogenic,  Best Evening In Gown and Most Physically Fit at the pageant. 



Mrs. Mississippi .......again! Michelle Cole captured the crown after competing against nine other beauties and representing Warren County.  Answering to the title won't be hard for Michelle as she competed in Las Vegas the summer of 2005 as Mrs. Mississippi United States.




Best of luck Ladies !!!

Grammy Inspired

So as I was looking through the post coverage of last nights Grammy photos, imagine my surprise when I saw that the pageant world is on the tongue of today's hippest, hottest, most in the know and creative photojournalists and commentators.  This photo of singer, Jordin Sparks garnered comments saying, "she needed to return to the pageant.." Nice to know they were thinking about us..

Put a ring on it.....

Beyonce' truly changed the social scene in 2010 with her phenomenal hit, "Put a Ring on it", where she basically proclaimed to a certain gentlemen, don't get mad because someone else wants me, "if you liked it, then you should have put a ring on it."   But really, what happens when a pageant girl gets that ring? Miss America 2009 Katie Stam became a fiancee' on stage, when her boyfriend dropped to one knee and proposed. 

Katie said yes and all is right with the world.  In July 2010, she married Brian Irk in Indianapolis and I can help but wonder if the title Mrs. Indiana America 20xx could be in her future.  Perhaps Mrs. pageants are the new black!!!!

I recently had a chance to catch up with one of my favorite Mrs. titleholders, Rebecca Crosen, Mrs. Virginia International 2011.  In July, she will compete for the Mrs. International crown.  For the past three months she has been out and about promoting her platform "It's Hip to Give" and educating the public about blood donation.  I asked Rebecca  to tell me about her reign so far and this is what she had to say"

"I have had the pleasure of sharing moments with Al Roker of NBC at a Teens With a Purpose Event, meeting women during Go Red events, enjoying the laughter of children at different functions, and taking a lot of time to thank and encourage blood donors.  From spending time with models at a fashion show or athletes in Virginia's Special Olympics, the past three months have been nothing short of amazing.

 Chatting with Al Roker at the Teens With a Purpose Banquet in October 2010 in Portsmouth, VA

While I have the opportunity as Mrs. Virginia International to meet and interact with many new people at an array of activities, my favorite moments to date come from the blood drives where I have an opportunity to say thank you to blood donors.  January was especially busy since it was National Blood Donor Month and I shared my story of living with two forms of Anemia and my need for multiple blood transfusions.   Sharing my message through my platform, "It's Hip 2 Give", and regional blood centers, we are encouraging more people to become blood donors and educating them on the reasons for donation.  Sometimes all it takes for encouragement is to show them the benefits.  Connecting blood donors to the lives they save is integral to continued donation.

 January 24 & 25th found the Crosen family celebrating with the athletes at the Virginia Special Olympics Alpine Championships in Wintergreen, VA.

 I have a small "fun-mission" called the "Traveling Crown" - Virginia has about 95 counties within the Commonwealth. I promised myself that I would make a point to visit each county and so far, I have visited 27, therefore, I have a little more work to do!  I look forward to the next 9 months and I hope to see you on the road with the "Traveling Crown"!

 

My first of 4 visits with WTVR-CBS 6 came in November as I visit the Virginia This Morning show

Go Rebecca, Keep up the GREAT work!!!!! Just because you put a ring on it, doesn't mean everything from your single past should fall by the waist side.  Mrs. pageants - the ageless, timeless gift that keeps on giving.  This from a former Mrs. state titleholder of course!!!