Really .....a SNEAKER Ball

Last Tuesday, September 14th, a few titleholders in the Washington Metropolitan area participated as volunteers for Sneaker Ball VII, hosted by the Greater Washington Sports Alliance.

According to its website: "SneakerBall is the only black tie and sneakers gala that annually celebrates the best of sports in the Greater Washington D.C. region. The event is organized to recognize the Greater Washington Sports Collaborative, the non profit foundation of the Sports Alliance that uses the philanthropic generosity of individual and corporate donors to make strategic investments in emerging non profits that use sports to enhance a child’s life."

Ms. Galaxy International 2011-Yolanda Makle, Mrs. Maryland International 2010 - Angel McCoy, Miss Teen DC International 2010 - Alexis Harvey, Miss DC International 2010- Chelsey Rodgers and Mrs. DC All-American 2011 - Deanna James were on hand to help out as "raffle girls".  Throughout the evening, the ladies had a chance to take photos and speak with a few of Washington's professional sports athletes, news anchors, philanthropists and team mascots.  Enjoy the pictoral!!!

The ladies had many admirers throughout the evening.

Mrs. Maryland with a "Hogette"

 Mrs. District of Columbia All-American with Andray Blatche of the Washington Wizards

 

 Another admirer of the ladies

Mrs. Maryland and the "Red Rockers" - Cheerleaders of the DC's beloved NHL Capitals

Mrs. Maryland with WUSA 9's (CBS affiliate) Angie Goff

 Mrs. DC All-American and a mascot 

The ladies showcasing the sneakers for the night.

Special thanks to Mrs. Maryland International 2010, Angel McCoy for sharing her photos with us.

The newest "Keystone" cuties!

 

On Sunday, September 12, new 2010-2011 titleholders we crowned in front of family and friends, thus beginning a new and exciting chapter in their lives.

Kelsey Landy was crowned Miss Pennsylvania Collegiate America.  A sophomore at California University of Pennsylvania, she is a special education major who also serves as a Legislative Intern. In her spare time, this honor student also hosts her own television show “Teen Scene”. She hopes to pursue a career in education administration after receiving her Bachelor’s Degree.   Kelsey is the former Miss Pennsylvania Teen World 2009.   

Julia Belechak is the new Miss Pennsylvania High School America.  A junior at Vincentian Academy, she spends her spare time dancing, modeling and cheerleading.  Striving to make a positive difference in the lives her peers, she also participates in the school’s bullying prevention program .   She hopes to attend college in the fall of 2012 and ultimately become a news anchor or sports broadcaster.  Julia is the former National American Miss Pennsylvania Junior Teen 2009.

12 year-old, 7^th grader, Nicole Carney, is the new Jr. Miss Pennsylvania High School America.  She is a student at Seneca Valley Middle School.  When she is not competing in a local pageant, she spends quality time with her sisters and parents.  

The crowning ceremony, which was held at the Eden Resort in Lancaster, Pennsylvania which included a charity fundraiser for Claire’s House, allowed the new titleholders to showcase their interview and public speaking skills as well as their fun fashion and evening gown presentations.    The new Miss Collegiate America will go on to compete in the national pageant next January in San Antonio, Texas.  The Miss High School America pageant will also be held in San Antonio and coincides with the 175^th anniversary celebration of the Battle of the Alamo next March.  

From Midwest to Northeast - the new Mrs. America 2011

Congratulations are in order to Shelly Carbone, the new Mrs. America 2011.  Representing the beautiful state of Connecticut, this nurse, wife of John and mother of four wowed the audience.  According to reports she was awesome in her on stage question letting the judges know that she is "blessed and grateful" for all she has.     Not only beautiful, but sensible - Shelly competed on the national stage in the very same gown in which she won her state pageant, proving that it doesn't take THOUSANDS to reinvent yourself to capture the national crown.  Way to go Shelly, an inspiration for the frugal queen inside us all and a reminder "that if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

(photos from Mrs. America and Mrs. CT America websites)

Rounding up the 2011 court was 1st Runner Up, Mrs. Maryland Raquel Thomas - mother of two and  a former army captain, turned model, turned photographer.    Raquel, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Jack and Jill of America, Inc., spoke to the judges about the military and life.  As a former Mrs. MD United States, I am QUITE pleased with Raquel's placement ;-).    I can't find any record of Raquel competing prior to the Mrs. MD pageant, but I have a feeling this is not the last we will see of her.

2nd runner up was Illinois newscaster and mother of two, Amy Gregorio.  Amy, is very familiar with the national stage as she competed a few years ago in Vegas as Mrs. Illinois United States 2007.  This beauty is also an Emmy-nominated journalist with a soft spot for advocating for children.

The Mrs. America 2011 pageant also served as a great opportunity for a FB reunion with my class of '09 Mrs. America sisters!  It was so awesome to reminisce and delightfully talk about the 5-20 pounds we've gained since this time last year.   Okay, well it actually started after the top 10 were announced.

(Photo courtesy of Mrs. Oregon America 2009)

Back to my original point, Andrea was from the midwest (MO), Shelly's from the Northeast (CT), but this time next year it could be another region.  Regardless, women from all across the country will, once again get together - in person or virtually to reminisce about their time together - bonded by a special memory regardless of where they are from. And that my friends, in the end, is some of the wonderfulness of pageantry!

I can't wait to reconnect next April in West Virginia!  Carrie (Mrs. MD '09) pack up the ride!!!!!  Mrs. A 2012 here we come!

Show me the money!

I have said it before and I will say it again.  Pageantry is about so much more than just "looking pretty".  Successful competition in a pageant can open doors for a young lady that could lead to endless opportunities.  The confidence built by stepping out on a stage in front of hundreds of people to the people skills learned by spending a week or more with teenagers from all walks of life are skills taught in few places but required in many arenas.  On top of that, the money that can be earned through scholarships and scholastic awards rival any athletic scholarship program.

Lacy Russ, Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2011

Last month, one beautiful and talented young lady from Oklahoma earned a $30,000 scholarship.   Lacy Russ, a rising senior at Cordell High School in Cordell, Oklahoma was crowned Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2011.  Her talent in the competition was piano and she reportedly played an amazing "piece that was a combination of Bach's Prelude XXI  and Beethoven's Sonata Pathetique and spoke of her platform P.U.R.E Excellence". (MAOT website).   

  

Other winners in the pageant including the court (1st - 4th runners up) and top 10 finalists won awards ranging from $1,500 - $15,000.   There were several other cash prizes such as: Scholastics Excellence Award (Highest GPA), Outstanding Achievement in Academic Life (GPA + Resume), B. Don Magness Spirit of America Award (Provided by the MAOT Sorority) and Non-finalist Interview Award $500 to name a few. 

Another opportunity exists for young ladies, high school aged, to earn approximately $10,000 in scholarship funds.   Earlier this year Carlina Romero of Columbia, SC was crowned Miss High School America 2010.  The pageant, which is held in Branson, Missouri offers "exists for the purpose of providing personal and professional opportunities for high school girls. It is our goal to provide outstanding high school girls the opportunity to compete in a pageant system that has the highest of moral values." (Miss High School America website).    Unlike the MAOTeen pageant, there is no talent requirement with contestants instead Miss High School America contestants compete in: Opening Number,” “Fun Fashion,” “Evening Gown,” and the “Interview.” 

Whether it's through main stream channels like Miss America's Outstanding Teen (and it's local and state competitions) & Miss High School America or smaller avenues like Miss Elks Lodge or Little Miss Flower Bed, always remember one benefit of participating and succeeding in pageantry could be "show me the money".  If you're not sure where to start there are goo-gabs of consultants, coaches, make-up artists, directors, etc. that can definitely help put you on the right path, just ask one of them.

DC Pageant Girls in the City

It's always nice to see state and local titleholders out supporting the home team.  On Friday, August 13th Miss Teen District of Columbia International Alexis Harvey and Miss District of Columbia International Chelsey Rodgers helped the Washington Mystics celebrate "Ladies Night".  Even the Mystics' mascot, Lucky the Rabbit, got in on the fun.    They Mystics beat the Minnesota Lynx on their way to the first round of the WNBA playoffs.