Multi-State Pageants .....a good thing?

Have you ever wondered why, when you're looking for a pageant in your state you'll end up on a site to a competition listing four or five states?

  

Well, welcome to the world of the multi-state pageants !!!  Some directors, primarily on the East Coast and Mid-Atlantic region, find it to be a cost saver or a way to increase their candidate pool.  Unlike the massively large states of California, Texas, or Florida.....tiny states in the East (Maryland, Delaware, Maine, Rhode Island) often have a hard time recruiting contestants.


Virginia & Maryland International Pageants - From L-R: Miss Virginia International 2010 Tamika Mills, Mrs. Virginia International 2010 Heather Thompson, Mrs. Maryland International 2010 Angel McCoy

It's not a bad thing, it's actually pretty fun....especially when you competing in a state preliminary.  What's more fun than heading to a national pageant already knowing someone!!!  Makes roommate selection pretty easy :-)

So the next time you searching for Miss DC Pretty and Smart and you wind up on Miss DC/VA/NH/VA - don't be shocked, it could be a very good thing!


Miss New Jersey Collegiate America & Miss New Jersey High School America 2012

Here are some pretty cool multi-state pageants:

1) Multi State High School America (MD/PA/NJ/NY & DE) - www.multistateschoolpageants.com

2) Tri- State Cinderella Pageants ( MD/DE/NJ) - www.delawarecinderella.com/

Miss America & Championship Football !!!!!

Hello Friends, Happy New Year!!!!

Yes, I know it's been a while, but we're back.....just in time for MISS AMERICA WEEK!!

This Saturday, January 12th, a new Miss America will be crowned!  I know that Laura Kaeppeler has had an amazing, not stop past 12 months!

Who will be next??  Perhaps my home state of Maryland can take the crown?  (Let's go Joanna!!!!)

What are your predictions and who are your favorites for this year?  What talent will we see?

Caressa Cameron, Miss America 2010

 

More importantly will tonight's National Championship Bowl game have ANY bearing on who wins the crown??

Anna Laura Bryan, Miss Alabama 2012

MerrieBeth Cox, Miss Indiana 2013

I don't know about you, but I'm very excited to watch the pageant and see the results!  @MadisonDonovan will be Tweeting live during the pageant, join in!!!

NEVER Forget

This week's blog is dedicated to all those affected by the 9-11-01 tragedies.  The victims, the families, the survivors, the first responders, the military and the numerous citizens who helped their fellow man in any capacity!  Our prayers are continually with those who still suffer and remember the horrible events! 

I still remember hearing the news and trying to get home from my office on 18th & K Streets NW Washington, DC - two blocks from the White House.   At that point, there was no way that any American couldn't be affected - some how.  For 51 beautiful women, it was very trying - worrying about their families and loved ones. 



In September 2001, the Mrs. America pageant was taking place in Honolulu, Hawaii.  One of the contestants was the infamous - now famous, Omarosa Manigault {Stallworth} who competed as Mrs. District of Columbia.

Always a pageant girl,  Omarosa with good friend and Mrs. Galaxy 2008, Darlene Deeben

The winner of that pageant, Nicole Brink of Indiana Mrs. America 2001) went on to win the title of Mrs. World 2002!  

Take THAT world!  You can knock us down, but you'll never count us out!  U-S-A, WE'LL NEVER FORGET

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!!

Truly INTERNATIONAL

Nothing is more gratifying than seeing a title holder live up to her full potential.  I had to the opportunity to do that over the past two months as I watched Miss International Ciji Dodds and her circle of pageant friends and supporters prepare for her trip to Haiti. 

For the next week, Ciji will be hosted by the reigning Miss Haiti Universe Anedie Azael, the founder of Peace. Love. International - an organization she founded to bring betterment to her home country, especially following the devastating 2010 earthquake that destroyed parts of the Carribbean nation.  Miss Azael has promised to show Ciji the Haiti we DON'T see!!!

A dynamic view from Club Indigo in Haiti

Ciji has spent a lot time over the last 60 days requesting and securing donations of pencils, pens, crayons, books, construction paper and other supplies which she will gift to children in orphanages and schools during her one week visit.

Not only will she visit and gift children, she will be a part of a larger delegation including several 2011 Miss Universe contestants: Miss Guatemala, Miss Brazil, Miss Peru, Miss Mexico, Miss Singapore, Miss Netherlands, Miss Ireland, Miss Jamaica, Miss Denmark, Miss New Zealand and Miss Paraguay.

 Shakira Martin, Miss Jamaica Universe 2011

  Alejandra Barillas, Miss Guatemala Universe 2011

They will participate in many activities including helping to select the new Miss Tourism North and Mr. & Miss Carrefour.  I am sure she will have plenty of pictures and videos to share upon her return.

As Miss International, Ciji has promoted the platfrom - "Fighting Illiteracy Begins With Your First Book" throughout the country.  It is TRULY a pleasure to see her take it INTERNATIONALLY!!!