Congratulations........ Miss USA 2013

Congratulations to Erin Brady of Connecticut, the new Miss USA 2013!!!!

Tonight was a wonderful contest and she should be very excited to follow Olivia & Nana!  Off to Russia you go.  This is the first year that a Miss USA from Connecticut has been crowned!

Congratulations to the other top 5 ladies:

Miss Utah - Marissa Powell (3rd runner up)

Miss Alabama - Mary Margaret McCord (1st RU)

Miss Illinois - Stacie Juris (2nd runner up)

Miss South Carolina - Megan Picnkney (5th runner-up)

People's Choice - Top Finalist, Miss Texas - Ali Nugent (4th runner up)

I must admit that I was a little saddened that Miss Maryland, Kasey Staniszewski, didn't make it past top 15!

I mean, hello, she is a former Miss Teen Maryland USA 2009 (3rd runner).

Universally Speaking

Congratulations Leila Luliana da Costa Vieira Lopes, Miss Universe 2011!!!!

 

The 25 year old Cape Verdean beauty, represented her home country of Angola, to win the crown out of more than 80 contestants.

She made her way to the national Miss Angola crown, by winning the Miss Angola UK pageant.

This is the first Miss Universe title for Angola.  1999 was the last year that a beauty from an African nation captured the coveted title - with Miss Botswana winning the crown. 

  Miss Botswana 1999 Mpule Kwelagobe, 19 becomes Miss Universe 1999

Watch Leila's crowning announcement!


More on the Miss Universe pageant tomorrow - "Perspective from a Pageant Mom" !!

Mrs. United States...........Mrs. U.S.A.??

Congratulations to the new Mrs. United States 2011, Shannon Ford (Florida)

From the Mrs. United States Website:

"A graduate of Florida International University with a B.A. in Psychology, Mrs. Florida, Shannon Ford, is the Human Resources Manager for RBC Wealth Management. She also serves as a Miami Dolphins Ambassador (a select group of former Cheerleaders that represent the organization & advocate community service).

Two years ago Shannon was diagnosed with Celiac Disease, an illness that will require her to maintain a gluten-free diet for the rest of her life. Bringing more attention to this illness through her platform, “1 in 133 – Raising Awareness for Celiac Disease” and her website, www.mylifeglutenfree.com, is how Shannon advocates for better labeling of our nation’s food supply.
Last year Shannon married her best friend, Ray, fifteen years after they first met. Mr. & Mrs. Florida enjoy boating, travelling, visiting theme parks, or simply spending the day at the park with their pug, Honey Bear. Both are avid runners and Shannon has completed both a Half & Full Marathon!"

Ironically, Shannon is a former Miss Florida USA (2002). 

 

Does the crowning of a former Miss USA state titleholder as the new Mrs. United States give any validity to the rumors that Mr. Pageants himself - The Donald - will be acquiring the Mrs. US pageant to add it to the Miss Universe/Miss USA franchise?  I guess we will find out in due time.

Fire Engine Red and Emerald Green

Congratulations to the new Miss USA 2011.......{folks on the west coast, close this post now)

..................................................................Allysa Campenella !!!

 

I am so excited and pleasantly surprised, that for a chance, I was wrong :-) !!  Once the top four were announced, I picked Allysa to win, but deduced (based upon the past few years of watching and following Miss USA pageants) that she was too intelligent to win and would instead be first runner up.  However, after her interesting answer to her on-stage question, I figured Miss Texas would move into the first runner-up spot, with the feisty Miss Tennessee capturing the crown, moving Miss CA to a undeserved 2nd Runner Up.  Miss Alabama in the final four was definitely a surprise, she just didn't seem to pop - not Miss Universe ready.

But if you want to talk about irony, I find it hilarious that I was concerned that Miss California was too intelligent to win, yet she and Miss Tennessee gave the WORST on stage answers tonight and were left standing as the final two to vie for the crown. LOL, I guess the phrase "any given Sunday" definitely applied here.

As far as I am concerned, Alyssa and my hometown favorite, Miss Maryland Allyn Rose, totally owned the evening gown competition - a total return to Hollywood glamor.  They were absolutely stunning and I loved seeing the deep, deep color.  In my opinion, Maryland should have been in the finals, but that's neither here nor there now.  The former Miss California is definitely an acceptable choice to were the beautiful crown.

I've always been a fan of red heads and Allysa definitely does them justice.  I am excited to see how they will outfit her for the Miss Universe pageant, how they will highlight her fire engine red hair and beautiful green eyes.  I sure hopes she makes a good showing.   She is definitely in for a fun adventure and year, as she gears up for Brazil!!!  

Now that the pageant is over, maybe someone can explain to us pageant heads, what was with the group announcements moving throughout the finals......that I didn't like!   What happened to the ladies having their moments of walking out after their name is announced.  Donald Trump, that practice should be fired!!!  Let's return to pageant norms next year please.