Pageant Mom Recap----------------- Miss USA 2013

One of the things I LOVE is guest bloggers!!!  I REALLY love it, when it's from a mom, one of my favorite pageant moms!   Jennifer Horvath is the quintessential pageant mom.

Her daughter, Kailee, has competed in pageants for years!!  When I first met Kailee, she was the sweetest, happy, little, blond preteen I'd ever met!

Now, she's just as sweet, happy and blond - but not so little!  She's a 5'10" dancing force to be reckoned with - I suggest the ladies in Virginia's MAOT look out (but then again, I am biased)!  She's held the titles of National American Miss Virginia Junior Preteen 2009, Miss Preteen Virginia International 2010, International Junior Miss Preteen Virginia 2011, Miss Preteen Winter Snow Queen 2011 and National American Miss Virginia Preteen 2012

So when it comes to "watching", Jennifer knows EXACTLY what she's talking about.  Have fun reading her recap of Miss USA 2013!  I did!!

Watching the 2013 Miss USA pageant in a room full of seasoned pageant friends is sort of like watching the Superbowl with ex-football players.   While our food and drink choices were more in line with a trendy cocktail party than the traditional beer and wings, the rest of the night was just as rowdie as any major televised sporting event. We had score sheets, we knew our stats and had experts from every pageant system imaginable - and we had our hometown favorites.  

   

The evening was kicked off by each contestant modeling an outfit of their choice, rather than a procession with each contestant in  a costume representing their state.  While I can see the merits of trying to steer clear of the stereotypes that are often conveyed with the state costumes, this year's opening number felt awkward, rather than fashion forward.  It did however give the viewers a first look at each contestant's style,  ability to walk, and capture our attention. Fifteen women would advance to the swimsuit round where they danced on stage while being serenaded by the Jonas Brothers.  We thought that was just wrong and waited for a wardrobe malfunction that thankfully never happened.  I am sorry, but no matter how fit you are, dancing in a bikini and heels is just asking too much.  And these girls are fit, some more so than others.  This viewer was not a fan of the string bikini that was chosen, nor the use of the sarong.  Give me a well fitting competition suit on a contestant any day, they do so much more for the body!  At this point Miss Utah was announced as Miss Photogenic and the competition was narrowed further to a Top 10 for evening gown - my personal favorite.  

Giuliana Rancic told the viewers it's not about the design or the price tag, rather how the contestant presents herself.  I couldn't agree more. I have always said you can put an expensive gown on a so-so contestant and it won't help, but you can put an outstanding contestant in any gown and she can make it work.  The gowns this year were above average with Miss Alabama's black mermaid gown paired with emerald earrings being my personal favorite and Miss North Carolina's white gown that had a skirt over a bodysuit being my least favorite.  I also have to say I was not a fan of the nude platform pump many of the contestants chose to wear under the gown.  Looking at the stats I did notice that none of the girls in the Top 10 were over 5' 8" and I suppose this shoe choice was to give the appearance of a longer leg.  Our big surprise this year was the ability to Tweet a contestant in to the final round.  We were shown a screen with  #TheNextMissUSA  hashtag followed by a two letter abbreviation for each state to Tweet during the evening gown competition.  Great marketing tool, but next time an advance warning so more viewers can sign up for Twitter might be nice.  Anyhow this lead to a Top 6 where five of the contestants were chosen by the judges and one more was chosen via the most Tweets. 

During the final look we were finally at the "getting to know you" phase of the night where we get to hear how well the contestants communicate.  The first round was just chit chat about things from their bio, it did not get interesting until the dreaded "on stage question".  Much has been said already about Miss Utah's blunder, and in my opinion she had the pageant in the bag up until this point.  Unfortunately, she made the mistake of speaking before gathering her thoughts. Pageant girls are often criticized as being airheads and I can tell you this is far from the truth.  Most pageant girls are bright, intelligent women, but you put anyone on the spot, on national television and ask them to answer a loaded question the result is not going to be pretty.  There were no powder puff questions about  "world peace", they were all well thought out questions, relevant to current events.  In the end Miss Alabama and Miss Connecticut stood out and Miss Connecticut was crowned.  If you had asked me earlier in the evening if I thought either would have made it that far and my answer would have been no.  But then several of us at the party  remembered the "Kyle Haggerty Rule" - if there is a contestant who is not a front runner who continually makes the cut, that contestant is winning over the judges and will win.  So, while Miss Connecticut was never my first choice to win, she did win over the judges.

All in all, it was a fun night.  Spending time with pageant friends, arguing the merits of gowns, hair and all the other pageant stuff was truly the epitome of a great evening.  It was our Superbowl - only the uniforms were cuter, the bodies more buff and instead of a football and yardage - everyone was vying for a sparkly, new crown.

Thanks again Jennifer!!!  I can't wait to read your next review! Feel free to e-mail her, by clicking on her name!

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!!

Thanks alot "People"

Just when you think it's safe to step out again, something happens that can just set you back 30 miles.

Last week, People magazine ran a cover story, primarily focusing on the hit "reality" show 'Toddlers and Tiaras" and how it's most recent episodes are showcasing how pageants are damaging our girls. 

Always remember, Glam or Glitz pageants are not the only events for children to enter. You can often find events that don't require make-up or false hair pieces. This cover story by People magazine really gives pageantry some unfair scrutiny. 

For every one over the top glitz pageant you see on television, I guarantee there are at least three or four out there that are fun, educational and self-esteem building.  Off of the top of my head I can think of Cinderella Pageants, Beary Special and Winter Snow Queen.   

Want more, do a simple Google search.  Just because a young girl has a chance to win a very large crown, doesn't automatically make it an over the top pageant.

Finally, when it's all said and done, who's really to blame, the pageants, the kids or THE PARENTS!?  Children can't purchase this stuff for themselves.  Because OF COURSE, a 4 year old WANTS to dress up like the hooker in Pretty Woman.

Come on People!

So how do we fix it?

Well the past few days have delivered a terrible blow to the pageant industry.  Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you have heard about the truly sad situation involving the Sacramento 8-year old, whose mother was giving the beautiful little girl Botox injections as well as waxing her legs.  According to reports, she's since been removed from the home.   Of course this has started a flurry or comments, blog posts, tweets and Facebook statuses about the dangers and pressures of children in pageantry.  Of course in all of this outrage, no one is looking to find out about and promote the responsible individuals, companies or systems in children's pageantry.  I mean who wants to hear about a bunch of do-gooders!

This argument is decades old and is never ending. For every horrible thing or experience you hear about in pageantry, there are reputable, fun and great pageant systems like National American Miss, American Co-ed Pageants, Pageants R Fun, International Junior Miss and Beary Special/Dixieland Dolls and Darlings. 

 

Equating every children's pageant or pageant mom with crazy Botox lady or "Toddlers & Tiaras" is just like saying everyone who goes into boxing will end up with Parkinson's disease or every football parent is Cam Newton's dad - it just doesn't make any sense and it's a reach.

If you love pageantry the way I do, you are realizing that recent activity has really brought a negative light to something that has provided a valuable outlet, numerous scholarship opportunities and plenty of self-esteem building activities to young girls and women the world over.  My question now is how do we fix it?  How do we turn this positive into a negative, how do we remind girls, moms and dads that pageantry offers the highest payout of scholarship dollars to help women attend college annually!  

How do we remind the world that collectively "pageant girls" probably spend the same amount, if not more, hours on community service each year as the Junior League!

How dear pageant friends, how????

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!