Pageant Press and Pictures: Updates Galore!

Local Ladies in the News

Pageant vet to compete in Miss Ohio
By Sarah Boswell

As sophomore Kristy Moneysmith prepares to give the Miss Ohio pageant another shot, her mentor believes her charismatic and dynamic personality make her a strong candidate. Moneysmith is a veteran of nearly 20 pageant competitions. Winning the Miss Mohican Valley competition in Ohio earlier in the year qualified her to compete in the Miss Ohio pageant in June. Moneysmith lives in Union City, Ohio.

She said she enjoyed the talent portion of competitions, but the prospect of scholarships and a chance to compete for Miss America were her motivation. Last year she was one of the youngest contestants in the Miss Ohio competition.

Contestants in Miss America can range from 17 to 24 years old, Moneysmith said. "One of the reasons I started doing these pageants is that I love to sing," Moneysmith said, "and talent is the biggest portion." She said the talent portion is worth 35 percent of a contestant's total score. She said she competed for American Idol and recorded a CD of her songs.

"The interview portion has helped me in everyday life and given me confidence," Moneysmith said. "I used to think it was the hardest category, especially because I was one of the youngest girls."

Moneysmith said each contestant will represent their platform throughout the entire competition season. Her platform this year is "Mentoring Through Leadership and Role Modeling." "I am thankful that my parents taught me good morals, but I know there are children who are never taught about that," Moneysmith said. "This is an opportunity to speak publicly and to be a mentor for children."

Moneysmith said she will get what she puts in to pageants.

Kim Kanary, a previous Miss Ohio contestant, has been mentoring her for the last month and a half. "We work on anything she wants to improve or practice on," Kanary said. "I've helped her practice walking in high heels and things like that."

Moneysmith said she hopes to improve her chances in the Miss Ohio competition this year by making different wardrobe choices and giving more mature answers during the interview section. She practices mock interviews with Kanary and she works out so she can improve her score in the swimsuit competition. "I try to work out at Ball Gym almost every day," Moneysmith said. "I'm sure they all know me there."

People do not usually realize that there is a difference between the Miss America and Miss USA pageants, Moneysmith said. Miss America has a longer interview section, is more focused on the girls' well-roundedness and how well they represent themselves and takes into consideration their need for scholarship money.

Kanary said Moneysmith has a good chance of winning the contest. "She has a genuine personality, but yet she has a strong presence when she enters a room," Kanary said.

Moneysmith plans to keep trying for the Miss America title until she is too old to continue competing. As a veteran of the Miss Ohio contest last year, she is confident about the upcoming competition. "I'm excited," Moneysmith said. "My goal is to win either the talent portion or Top 10. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't expecting to make Top 10. I'm very hopeful."

Ontario woman could be next Miss Ohio
By Lou Whitmire

ONTARIO -- Ashley Warholic will be the only local contestant at the Miss Ohio Scholarship Program in June.

Warholic, 20, of Ontario, won her sixth and final preliminary -- the Miss Heart of Ohio pageant -- on April 5 in Medina, landing her a spot on the Miss Ohio stage at the Renaissance Theatre from June 17 to 20.

The 2007 Ontario High School graduate is a sophomore majoring in public relations at Baldwin-Wallace College.

Her career goals include working in public relations or marketing at a ski resort. Warholic said she loves to snowboard and is an instructor at Snow Trails in Mansfield.

Taking part in the Miss Ohio competition fulfills a longtime goal for Warholic.

"I've volunteered for the Miss Ohio program since about age 7," she said. "I went to all the shows and saw all the girls. I'm so excited to finally be up there myself."

Warholic will continue to hone her jazz dance routine for the talent competition.

"I'm most worried about talent," she said. "I'm getting a new dance, and nervous to get the new dance routine down."

She's also working out in preparation for the swimsuit competition.

"I believe so strongly in the Miss America Scholarship Program. It's a great provider of scholarship money and creates great role models," she said.

Her platform -- the area she will focus on as Miss Heart of Ohio -- is "Creating Strong Leaders for Tomorrow."

At Ontario schools, Warholic was involved with Family, Career and Community Leaders of America.

"It helped me already with Miss Ohio. I had interview skills because of the skills learned by competing with FCCLA," Warholic said. "It gives me a chance to show my personality and show my knowledge of current events."

Warholic said she had placed four times in the six pageants before winning the April 5 preliminary pageant, collecting needed scholarship money.

"That money will definitely go toward my school loans," she said.

Keeping up with Karissa

Huge thanks to Paul Krajnyak for the photo below; Karissa was in his neck of the woods two weeks ago speaking to students at Shadyside High School about her platform. Paul said even without her sash and crown, she turned many heads at a local establishment where they had lunch!

Karissa recently appeared at Union Hospital's second annual Run for Home benefit for Habitat for Humanity:

Princesses fill Colony Square Mall By Audry Kensicki

A pack of princess poured into the Colony Square Mall for a tea party with a special guest.

Miss Ohio 2008 taught the girls manners and etiquette all to support the new Miss Muskingum Valley Scholarship Program.

"They were so excited," said Karissa Martin, Miss Ohio 2008. "It was amazing to watch them. My station was manners with Miss Ohio. I had a lot of fun there; they were little ladies. They seem to be enjoying themselves so much."

Martin also sang the princess song "Part of Your World" from "The Little Mermaid for the girls. She said she hopes some of the girls will compete for Miss Muskingum Valley in the future.

"The Miss Muskingum Valley is one of the locals for the Miss America Scholarship Program," said Martin. "It is an open pageant. Whoever can compete and whoever wins the title can move on to the state pageant to miss Ohio. Then Miss Ohio goes on to compete at Miss America. It's one of the locals and it has been a great program."

Martin says she will be giving her Miss Ohio crown away in a little over two months when she crowns the new Miss Ohio.

From the Wheeling News Register... I believe this event will be this coming Saturday...

The new branding campaign and book release are part of West Liberty's University Week, which runs until Sunday. Celebrations culminate Saturday on "University Eve," which will feature an opening ceremony by West Liberty student and Miss Ohio Karissa Martin, a car show and appearances by the Marsh Wheeling String Band, Katie Orloske, the Train Jumpers, Sons of Liberty, Fabulous Bender Boys, magician Craig Karges, Jimmy Beaumont & The Skyliners, Dr. Zoot and SHOUT featuring The Legends of Soul. Fireworks will be held at midnight.

Ohio Beauties at Miss USA

Left to right: Allie LaForce (former Ohio Teen USA and Miss Teen USA), Chelsea Folden (former Ohio Teen USA), Amanda Stevens (former Ohio Teen USA and current Miss Ohio International), Kelsey Stevens (reigning Miss Ohio Teen USA) and Chelsea Cooley (former Miss USA, not an Ohioan).

Ohio's Perfect Miss and Teen

I don't know much about this program, but Alexis was twice First Runner-up to Miss Ohio USA.


Miss America, Katie Stam

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - MAY 04: Miss America 2009 Katie Stam attends a celebration honoring author and former Head of Television at William Morris Agency Sam Haskell and the publication of his memoir 'Promises I Made My Mother' at The Paley Center on May 4, 2009 in Beverly Hills, California.

Left: Katie with driver Tony Stewart at Talladega Superspeedway.

Below: In New York City for the Great American Cleanup.















Right: Katie at a Pacer's game. Obviously.





Upcoming events:

Miss America 2009, Katie Stam, will travel abroad to visit America's heroes in Germany from May 7 -11. This trip will mark the first time a current Miss America has visited Germany in nearly 30 years!

During this patriotic trip, Katie, whose family is of German ancestry, will be participating in special events that show our support of these brave men and women and their families serving abroad. Katie will participate in an Equal Employment Opportunity Conference May 7 in Stuttgart, as a part of Women's History Month, on the subject of "Breaking Through the Glass Ceiling."

On May 8, she will be speaking to students at the Patch Elementary School and High School at Patch Barracks, in Stuttgart, about her personal platform, “Promoting Community Service and Involvement.” She will also sing the National Anthem during a military ceremony.

Miss America will continue her trip as she visits troops at Storck Barracks May 9, in Illesheim Germany. Illesheim, is located 45 minutes from Nuernberg. At the base, she will participate in a charity 5K Run, a plaque dedication ceremony, and she will help military families make “Welcome Home” banners for redeployed troops. Later that day, she will participate in a family day and a barbecue with military personnel who will soon be deployed to Iraq.

A special celebration and tribute for Mother's Day is planned for Miss America, who will visit wounded troops at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, The Fisher House and the USO Wounded Warrior program.

On the last day of her visit, Miss America will appear at the U.S. European Command (USECUOM) Commander's Interagency Engagement Group Speaker's Series to discuss her visit to the White House where she met President Obama. In addition, she will speak on her platform of promoting community service.

Before departing Germany, Katie will meet with the Lord Mayor of Stuttgart, visit with students at a German elementary school, visit historical sights and join Vice Adm. Richard Gallagher, USEUCOM Deputy Commander, for the opening of a German-American Art Exhibit.

Katie is incredibly excited about her trip to Germany and is anxious to visit the U.S. troops to show our support and our appreciation for their true commitment and service to our country!

Miss USA, Kristen Dalton












Above: The Breast Cancer Foundation bash "Hot Pink Party" with actress Elizabeth Hurley and Estée Lauder spokesmodel, Hilary Rhoda.

Right: Kristen's first day on the job.