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.

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!