NEVER Forget

This week's blog is dedicated to all those affected by the 9-11-01 tragedies.  The victims, the families, the survivors, the first responders, the military and the numerous citizens who helped their fellow man in any capacity!  Our prayers are continually with those who still suffer and remember the horrible events! 

I still remember hearing the news and trying to get home from my office on 18th & K Streets NW Washington, DC - two blocks from the White House.   At that point, there was no way that any American couldn't be affected - some how.  For 51 beautiful women, it was very trying - worrying about their families and loved ones. 



In September 2001, the Mrs. America pageant was taking place in Honolulu, Hawaii.  One of the contestants was the infamous - now famous, Omarosa Manigault {Stallworth} who competed as Mrs. District of Columbia.

Always a pageant girl,  Omarosa with good friend and Mrs. Galaxy 2008, Darlene Deeben

The winner of that pageant, Nicole Brink of Indiana Mrs. America 2001) went on to win the title of Mrs. World 2002!  

Take THAT world!  You can knock us down, but you'll never count us out!  U-S-A, WE'LL NEVER FORGET

The return of class.......y or less. Which one are you?

Hello all!!!!

I know it's been quite some time since you've seen something from Pageants & Pearls and I have to be honest why.  My mom often told me growing up that when something that wasn't mandatory STOPPED BEING FUN, STOP DOING IT!  Let's just say, over the past few months - things I saw, heard and witnessed caused my beloved pageantry to no longer be FUN!  I decided to take a break and regroup, with hopes that it would once again return to it's proper place in my life ;-)

I spent many hours talking with my pageant sisters, friends and pageant business counterparts about my dilemma and they all assured me the zest I once felt would return and they were right!  I made a commitment to myself and to you, my readers, that we would publish again beginning Sept. 1st and happily, here we are.

As luck would have it, something happens that causes me to dedicate my first return post to the classy and classless, with a question - which are you!

So my dear readers, I will first tell you about a true class act!  - Suzanne Duckworth, Mrs. Mississippi America 2009!   I met this beautiful young woman during our time competing at Mrs. America in Tucson - Sept. 2009 and absolutely fell in love with her!   A true Southern belle, she has one of the biggest hearts I've ever known!

Suzanne & Deanna - Aug. 2009

She and her family were visiting our Nation's Capitol over the Labor Day Holiday.  You know, the times when you meet someone and say "if you're ever in my neck of the woods, look me up?"  Well look me up she did, not only did she call when she was close to my job so I could meet her - for a quick hug and chat - she introduced me to her beautiful family who were kind enough to let me crash their lunch to catch up with my friend.  AND, because she is so absolutely kind and thoughtful, she brought ME sweet treats on HER journey north through Hurricane Issac!

 Suzanne & Deanna - Aug. 2012

That's the beauty of pageantry!  We often say "we'll stay in touch" or "I'll come and visit" when we spend a week of more with dynamic women, but it doesn't often happen.  I am glad to say that because of this class act it did, I can't wait to see her again - next time I'll make my way to Mississippi :-)

Now for the CLASSLESS....... I won't go into much detail, but I will say this.  If YOU or anyone you know, associate with or encourage....... in any way shape or form, think it's acceptable at any point in time to BULLY a girl who decides to participate in pageantry you're a total moron.

There is NEVER any reason, for an adult to instigate or initiate a verbal, social media, text or physical confrontation with a minor, especially over a pageant.   I'll let you marinate on that....

Until next week my friends!!

Truly INTERNATIONAL

Nothing is more gratifying than seeing a title holder live up to her full potential.  I had to the opportunity to do that over the past two months as I watched Miss International Ciji Dodds and her circle of pageant friends and supporters prepare for her trip to Haiti. 

For the next week, Ciji will be hosted by the reigning Miss Haiti Universe Anedie Azael, the founder of Peace. Love. International - an organization she founded to bring betterment to her home country, especially following the devastating 2010 earthquake that destroyed parts of the Carribbean nation.  Miss Azael has promised to show Ciji the Haiti we DON'T see!!!

A dynamic view from Club Indigo in Haiti

Ciji has spent a lot time over the last 60 days requesting and securing donations of pencils, pens, crayons, books, construction paper and other supplies which she will gift to children in orphanages and schools during her one week visit.

Not only will she visit and gift children, she will be a part of a larger delegation including several 2011 Miss Universe contestants: Miss Guatemala, Miss Brazil, Miss Peru, Miss Mexico, Miss Singapore, Miss Netherlands, Miss Ireland, Miss Jamaica, Miss Denmark, Miss New Zealand and Miss Paraguay.

 Shakira Martin, Miss Jamaica Universe 2011

  Alejandra Barillas, Miss Guatemala Universe 2011

They will participate in many activities including helping to select the new Miss Tourism North and Mr. & Miss Carrefour.  I am sure she will have plenty of pictures and videos to share upon her return.

As Miss International, Ciji has promoted the platfrom - "Fighting Illiteracy Begins With Your First Book" throughout the country.  It is TRULY a pleasure to see her take it INTERNATIONALLY!!!

Congratulations - The new Miss High School and Collegiate America

On Saturday, March 10th two new national titleholders entered the very select group.  Congratulations to the new 2012 titleholders, Miss Collegiate America, Haley O' Brien & Miss High School America, Bianca Vierra.

Haley, the former Miss Minnesota Collegiate, was also Miss Minnesota Teen USA 2010.

Haley is crowned by Shannon Folsom,  Miss Collegiate America 2011

Haley,  Miss Minnesota Teen USA 2010

Bianca Vierra, ironically came to the pageant as Miss Teenage California  2011, not Miss California High.  However she arrived, I am pleased by the things I've read about this lovely brunette.  

According to the Miss Teenage California website, Bianca is a Sophomore at James Logan High School. She stands 5'8'' tall with brown hair and brown eyes, and is an honors student, Interact Club member, Volunteer coach for the Special Olympics, and has performed as a classical ballerina in the Nutcracker and Cinderella.

Here's to a great year ladies!

Breaking news - The 2013 High School and Collegiate America pageants will be held in Orlando, Florida - that's right Home to Disney World in next August!!!!!

Women's History Month Pageant Fact

A pageant was held in Atlantic City, N.J. in September 1920 as a way to keep tourists in Atlantic City after the Labor Day weekend.   

 

The following year, newspaper sales were hurting due to the advent of radio, so to increase business, newspapers decided to select representatives from their respective cities (from among their readers) and send the winners to Atlantic City as special guests of the Second Annual Atlantic City Pageant. 

 

Their arrival was heralded in the press, and thus a contest was quickly designed to select one contestant from the pool of regional winners. Eventually, the winning contestant became known as "Miss America".

 

Miss America 1921, Margaret Gorman, was from the District of Columbia who was a student at Western High School.  She is the only Miss America to receive a crown at the conclusion of her year.

She remained a life-long resident of Washington D.C. but enjoyed traveling as a favorite hobby.  She passed away in early October 1995 at age 90.

Read more about Miss America 1921 - http://www.missamerica.org/our-miss-americas/1920/1921.aspx 

Source: Official Miss America web site

Platform - Practice What You Preach

Platform ------ the dreaded word!  Thankfully, not all pageants require you to have a platform or cause to support.  However, when you do decide to promote or support a platform, the key is to practice what you preach! 

There is nothing worse that a pageant titleholder who says she's a spokesperson for this or ambassador for that, yet can't tell you anything about a national organization that supports the goal or any statistics or facts about a groups mission.  That's why I was very pleased to see these photographs of Miss International 2011 Ciji Dodds at the Library of Congress this past Presidents' Day, truly supporting her platform of Literacy by reading to children!

Oddly enough, there is even one of her flipping through the ancient......"card catalog".

Just remember - Platforms and Causes - go hard or go home!!!

America's Miss DC

Congratulations to Sarah Hillware, the new America's Miss District of Columbia

She is a junior at The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs where she studies global public health.  After completing her Bachelor of Arts degree in 2013,  she will pursue both a Master of Public Health and a medical degree. She hosts an online radio show every Wednesday evening, highlighting local and global community efforts, entitled The Sarah Hillware Show.

Ambitious, passionate, intelligent and kind are some words that can be used to describe this year’s America’s Miss District of Columbia 2012, Sarah Hillware.

And in other news.....

Happy New Year folks!

I hope my silence on the M.A.O pageant speaks volumes about how I feel about THAT production!  After the wonderful event, in which Caressa Cameron joined the likes of my favorite Miss America - Vanessa Williams (1984) as well as the equally shocking, yet fun, event which brought us the youngest Miss America ever crowned - Teresa Scanlon, the powers that be sought fit to bring us THAT.

Have we not seen a resurgence in this country over the past twelve months about the DANGERS and traumatizing effects of bullying!?  What does the Miss America Organization go and do but BULLY some of the most talented, intelligent and charismatic young women in the country.  To say I was disappointed in their tactics would be an understatement.  On top of the fact that the WORLD knows Miss Florida should have been in the top 5, the sheer cruelty with which they treated those young women will not soon be forgotten.

What's done is done but I sure hope that all of my true pageant purists and fans write everyone they can so we don't have to witness this horror and injustice next year!

And in other news, before heading out to my MAO watch party with my fellow directors and "former" pageant girls, I had the pleasure to accompany some beautiful young women from the International, Black America and Black USA system to "Black Oppulence" - A VIP gifting suite which preceded the glamorous BET Honors taping in Washington.  The event was hosted by BET's 106 & Park Host Rosci Diaz and Minnesota Viking Visanthe Shiancoe  Enjoy the pics!

 Miss International 2011 Ciji Dodds, and BET's 106 & Park Host Rosci Diaz. 

 Miss International hits the red carpet

 Miss Black Washington USA 2012,  BET's 106 & Park Host Rosci Diaz and 

Miss Black America Baltimore 2012, Alexandra Morton

 

 Miss Black America Baltimore 2012 hits the red carpet