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" !!

Fairest of the Fair

Well, I don't know about you, but I have had enough of Mother Nature to last a good while.   I was so glad that this weekend was very moderate weather wise.  Sunday was even pleasant enough to enjoy a pre-Labor Day cookout/bar-be-que at a great family friend's home.

 
While sitting there chatting with her and some other friends, I realized that I have met some of my best friends through pageantry!  Who would have thunk it :-)  LOL.  You enter these competitions with one, maybe two things in mind - Do your best and of course WIN!  It's pretty rare that you go into them thinking you'll make lifetime, true friends.

All I can say is I am pretty darn pleased that my pageant journeys have made me cross paths and become intertwined with some pretty cool people.

And on that note, congrats to the new Mrs. Missouri America 2012 Tina York!!!!!  Yep, another great friend I made at the Mrs. United States pageant back in 2005!

Who says the fairest of the fair can't be friends!!!

Hurricanes, Sunshine and Crowns!!!!!

As you can imagine, here in the Mid-Atlantic region, we are bracing for Hurricane Irene.  After an earthquake earlier this week, no one is really looking forward to yet another "mean" act of nature. But in scouring the internet to make sure that I am all prepared - reading about what Floridians do when the threat of hurricanes arise, imagine my surprise this morning when I realized that three of the major Mrs. crowns won in this year have all gone to women from the Sunshine state :-)  Coincidence???

No seriously! Clearly something is going on down there in beautiful Florida, the sun, the water, the beaches.  Look at the list below to see the lovely beauties.

Mrs. America 2011 - April Lufriu from Tampa, crowned at the national pageant in April (the irony right?) at the Greenbriar Resort in West Virginia.

Mrs. United States 2011 - Shannon Ford of Miami/South Florida, crowned August 4 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Mrs. Galaxy International 2012 - Kellie Lightbourn, who competed as Mrs. North America Galaxy in the pageant although she is from Florida, won her title on August 6th in Chicago, Illinois.

I wonder if another state can pick up this dynasty and run with it.  Whatever works, pageant peeps, whatever works!

New Mid Atlantic Queens crowned

On Saturday, August 13th the Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey High School & Collegiate America organization crowned eight new 2012 queens.  The pageant system, which is the official state preliminaries to the national Miss High School America & Miss Collegiate pageants, also held a fundraiser to benefit the national organization’s charity of choice - “Operation Smile”.   Six of the winners crowned at the state level will go on to compete in the national pageants in March 2012 in San Antonio, Texas, the junior high titleholders will reign within their respective state only. 

 Jordyn Goddard, Miss Maryland Collegiate America 2012

The new queens are:  Miss Delaware Junior High America – Bianca Moore (Miss DuPont Middle School), Miss Delaware High School America – Kaitlin Reppella (Miss William Penn High School), Miss Maryland Collegiate America – Jordyn Goddard (Miss College Park), Miss New Jersey High School America – Alexandra Marschall, Miss New Jersey Collegiate America - Rebecca Furman (Miss Oak Ridge), Miss Pennsylvania Junior High America – Chandler Swift (Miss South Brandywine Middle School), Miss Pennsylvania High School America – Camille Schrier (Miss Newton), and Miss Pennsylvania Collegiate America – Amber Smith (Miss St. Francis University).  

 Alexandra Marschall, Miss New Jersey High School  America 2012, (l)

Kaitlin Reppella, Miss Delaware High School America 2012 (c)

Chelsea Spruance, Miss Delaware High School America 2011 (r)

Tracey Jamison, director of the state pageants says “I am quite pleased with the young ladies the judges chose to represent these states in March.  Throughout the weekend, the young ladies exhibited poise, charm and intelligence – everything this pageant system stands for.  I truly believe each of them had a chance to win the national title and the $10,000 scholarship prize.” 

 Chandler Swift, Miss Delaware Jr. High America 2012, Tracey Jamison - Director, 

Amber Smith, Miss Pennsylvania Collegiate 2012 & Camille Schrier, Miss Pennsylvania America 2012

In addition to the opportunity to represent the state, winners will also receive a scholarship of up to $1000. Throughout the weekend’s competition, the delegates were scored in three categories - an individual interview with judges comprises 40% of the score, with the Evening Gown (40%) and fun fashion portions (20%) as the remaining categories scored to determine the winner.

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.