Best of Luck to the Miss Hamilton Scholarship Program!

Last night a new Butler County Outstanding Teen was crowned! I’ve not heard who won, but CLICK HERE to meet the contestants.

This Outstanding Teen program is a sister pageant to the Miss Hamilton Scholarship program and tonight the always sweet Nicole Masters will crown a new Miss Hamilton! Nicole, seen in evening gown on the left at Miss Ohio, holds an Early Education degree from Miami of Ohio, advocated Education as her pageant platform and embodies everything you would expect of an elementary teacher! A long-time pageant contestant, Nicole competed at Miss Ohio for the first time as Miss Hamilton, but unfortunately has now “aged-out.”

I really enjoyed getting to know Nicole; she is one of the most upbeat and positive people I’ve ever met. Painting a Habitat for Humanity House with her at last year's Miss Ohio Community Service day and hearing all about her haunted house is a Miss Ohio experience I’ll always remember!

She will crown one of the following women tonight at 7 p.m. in Hamilton Ohio’s Old Moose Event Center. Miss Ohio Melanie Murphy and Miss Miami Valley Sophia Davis will be on hand to help Nicole emcee and entertain. Click the link above to find more information. Best of luck to everyone! [The photos below were taken by Nick Graham Photography]

Katie Camp, age 20, is majoring in Business Marketing at Wright State University. She is a tap dancer who promotes Mentoring Through the Arts. Katie places in pageants consistently; last year she was Fourth Runner-up at Miss Hamilton.






19 year old Melissa Davish is a Business major at Bowling Green State University (Go Falcons!). She will perform a gymnastics routine to “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend;” Melissa’s platform is Raising a Health Conscience Generation.






Taylor Dobler attends Miami University, Oxford, where she studies Mass Communications; she is 19. Taylor will play the piano for the talent portion and her platform is Coach for Change, After School Sports Mentoring.






Alyssa Hanson, age 18, is a vocalist attending Oakwood High School. Her platform is Embracing Identity Through Personal Achievement. Alyssa was recently First Runner-up at Miss Greater Dayton.







17 year old Rachael Huber attends Hamilton High School. She is a dancer who advocated Volunteerism in America.






University of Cincinnati student Kristen Liguori studies Electronic Media. This 20 year old vocalist advocates Community Service: Give and Grow. Kristen has competed at recent pageants, thus qualifying to compete in Ohio’s Sweetheart pageant.




Heather Lindsay attends Sinclair Community College. She is a 20 year old studying International Business. She will sing “Standup for Love;” Heather’s platform is Big Brothers Big Sisters: Helping Children Reach Their Greatest Potential. She has also qualified to compete in Ohio’s Sweetheart pageant.





Kelly Sirk, age 21, advocates Homelessness Awareness: Breaking Down Stereotypes. She studies Public Relations at Northern Kentucky University; Kelly will perform “Scuba Lessons” a comedic monologue.






18 year old Lauren Sprague is pursuing Musical Theatre at the University of Cincinnati’s Conservatory of Music. She will sing a vocal medley of “Anything Goes”/”Poor Sweet Baby.” This name seems so familiar to me… but I can’t seem to find any other pageants she’s competed in. Leave a comment in you have any info about her pageant history or platform.





Rachael Yokers, age 17, attends Hamilton High School and hopes to pursue Music Education and Performance in college. She will play the flute for the talent competition and her platform is No Artist Left Behind: Keep the Arts in Education.

Pageant Press: Butler County youth and teens compete for pageant crowns

Butler County youth and teens compete for pageant crowns
By Cameron Fullam, The Pulse-Journal
Monday, March 26, 2007

Reigning Miss Hamilton Nicole Masters is ready to pass on her crown and open the door for another young woman to pursue her dream of becoming the next Miss America..."This is really just to focus on getting women prepared financially for when they go on to college," said Jacky Johnson, the Miss Hamilton competition executive director. "It's also a great way to help a person develop."

CLICK HERE for the entire article.

Much Miss America Press

Official Press Release: MAO Seeks New Television Partner & Announces Return of Emmy-Award Winning Producer Don Mischer




Official Press Release: Patriotic Visit with Miss America





Official Press Release: Miss America to be Named Honorary Deputy Sheriff

Bedford Bulletin: Miss America joins local effort to promote Internet safety

March 28, 2007

Seven years ago Lauren Nelson found herself almost the victim of an online predator. Now, the
20-year-old Miss America is helping children, teens and parents learn how to avoid similar situations..."There are tips that I give to kids, there are tips that I give to parents," she said this week. "Kids, don't talk to strangers, don't share personal information and involve an adult if you feel uncomfortable."Parents, be involved with your kids activities, download the available software, and definitely keep the computer in a high-traffic area."

E! News Online: Miss America Homeless Again

CNN.com: Miss America Dumped Again

Breaking Pageant News: Miss America and Miss Teen USA lose TV deals!

Miss America loses TV contract

By Kathleen Hennessey, Associated Press Writer

March 29, 2007

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- The Miss America Pageant has been dropped by Country Music Television, leaving the 86-year-old pageant without a TV outlet for the second time in three years.

The Viacom-owned network, which had rights to air the pageant through 2011, notified the Atlantic City, N.J.-based organization that it will not exercise its option to televise the contest "in 2008 and beyond," the cable network said in a statement issued to The Associated Press on Thursday.

Pageant officials said they've begun the search for a new TV home.

"We are embarking on discussions with potential new television partners to further expand our new marketing efforts and to ultimately broaden our viewership," pageant head Art McMaster said in a statement.

The news is another blow for an American institution that has struggled to find a place in modern popular culture. After 50 years on network television, ABC dropped Miss America in 2004 when ratings fell to a record low. CMT picked up the pageant, moved it to Las Vegas from its home in Atlantic City and updated its look with reality-TV elements.

While this is obviously a huge blow to the pageant, rumor has it Mario Lopez would like to host again in 2008 and Las Vegas’ Aladdin Resort and Casino would still like to host. I’m not a country music fan, so my hope is that the program moves to a network that is less geared toward one theme and demographic.

Similarly, Miss Teen USA is looking for a new TV home.

Not part of the pact: the Miss Teen USA pageant. Peacock has opted to drop its broadcasts of that event, though the Miss Universe Organization will continue to produce it.
Final broadcast of Miss Teen USA on NBC will be this August. No word yet on a new home for that pageant.

CLICK HERE for the entire Variety article written by Josef Adalian yesterday.

A Puppy, For Your Amusement!

I have been SO BUSY lately! I don’t have the mental capacity to write anything intelligent right now, so instead, enjoy pictures of my puppy taken a few weeks ago at my parent's house. :)

In the first two pictures on the left Hanz, the Great Dane, is only 7 weeks old; in the last he's about 9 weeks. In all the pictures on the right he is 18 and a half weeks!
And my dad's age...? How rude of you to ask! CLICK EACH TO ENLARGE.

Congratulations to the New Miss USA, Miss Tennessee!

Tennessee was knocked out of the NCAA Championship last night, but they’re at the top of their pageant game tonight! I am elated with the crowing of Rachel Smith as the new Miss USA! She is gorgeous, exudes personality and was incredibly articulate and accomplished, having volunteered at Oprah's new leadership school for girls in South Africa!



Miss USA: Miss Tennesse, Rachel Smith
First Runner-up: Miss Rhode Island, Danielle Lacourse

Second Runner-up: Miss Kansas, Cara Renee Gorges
Third Runner-up: Miss California, Meagan Yvonne Tandy
Fourth Runner- up: Miss Nevada, Helen Salas

The Top 15: Miss Virginia, Miss Rhode Island, Miss South Carolina, Miss Utah, Miss Hawaii, Miss Texas, Miss Kansas, Miss Missouri, Miss California, Miss Nevada, Miss Michigan, Miss Louisiana, Miss North Carolina, Miss Tennessee and Miss Wisconsin

Miss Congeniality was awarded to Stephanie Ann Trudeau, Miss Montana. [Above left.] Viewers selected Rebecca Moore, Miss Alabama as Miss Photogenic. [Above right.]

A Reason Why Not Everyone Should Have A Blog… Or A Crown!

I’ve been doing a lot of web surfing about the Miss USA Pageant, the finals of which will air live on NBC this Friday. The “buzz” this year is around Miss Virginia, Miss Texas, Miss Tennessee and Miss South Carolina, but what’s much more interesting is the controversy around Miss Oregon’s blog. Sharitha McKenzie [left], a 23 year old with a B.A. in Journalism, who is representing Oregon, wrote the following:

I was sitting in the airport with my crown and sash on with people starring at me. One guy even said, "Gee, she must be proud of herself wearing that sash everywhere." I hate comments like that…. Rosalin, one of the two people who escorted us to the hotel, cussed a driver out….

We arrived at the hotel and as soon as I got there, they fitted me for swimsuits, my Tadashi dress, and shoes. I did interviews, answered questions for the judges and they gave me free stuff as well.

Some of the girls had already been here for a whole day and were done in two days with what took me one day. I was so exhausted that day and very overwhelmed.

I waited so long for my Fadil shoot, I was the very last person to shoot with him out of all the states. I got so cold waiting I felt myself getting sick. My throat was hurting and my body felt like it was shutting down.

We had a welcome cocktail event in the Wilshire Ballroom. During the party they pretty much forced us to mingle with sponsors, a lot of whom were men who were intoxicated. I got dizzy and had to sit down for about a half an hour. I was running a fever and felt the way I did when I fainted in the Post Office two years ago. The nurse stayed by me for about an hour. I started to feel better and stood up and Esther the PR women for Miss Universe made me dance. It's so funny how "Wagging the Dog" works; everywhere we've gone, we've had to fake like we're having fun to put it on the Internet for people to think we're doing more than we are. Don’t get me wrong we are busy, but it's also a lot of hurry up and wait. One of the waiters…informed that this was something like a D List party that the people we were meeting were nobodys. LOL

...talked with Miss Nebraska USA about not believing in the national system but in the state systems.
Hard Rock Cafe autograph signing- Pageant seeming political.

This week have been feeling like I don't stand out and am just a number. Just need to rip my interview so that they know who the winner should be.

…it was Miss Universe Zuleyka Mendoza Rivera…I don't think I recognized her at first because she gained a lot of weight since she won Miss Universe. Don't get me wrong, she has curves, butt, thighs and I like the look

Most of the kids were black which was weird because the majority of kids in Oregon with Down Syndrome are white. But maybe that's just because, well it is Oregon, for Gods sake.

Tara had a chat with us about Being Miss USA…Before meeting her I was upset about the whole drug and alcohol thing but I realized its all a part of "the game." The game, as Miss Universe 1995 Chelsi Smith would call it, is what the Miss Universe organization is doing. Although many people think that Tara made the organization look bad, it shed light on pageantry and people actually are interested in pageants now.

My personal belief about the situation is that they planned and staged this months ago and maybe Tara does have a problem with addiction but it's not as bad as they make it out to be. They did a good job of "Wagging the Dog," something that most celebrities do. She also gained 10lbs but she said that when you go to rehab they feed you food with steroids in it to make you gain weight. She also mentioned she was engaged when she won but her fiance cheated on her and I guess she has a new man now.

CLICK HERE to read the entire patheitc entry, though I wouldn’t be surprised if it gets taken down soon.

This young woman clearly has no idea who her blog would reach or what it means to be a titleholder! Who is ignorant enough to post this as Miss Titleholder?!?! She lacks class and decorum. As someone who has passionately sought to represent a state, I am utterly disappointing that someone like this has gotten the opportunity and is clearly not appreciating it.

I’m quite sure all the negative experiences she described happened; having competed at state level pageants six times I know they can become utterly overwhelming and frustrating. HOWEVER, you must realize that being a titleholder is a thankless job. Attitude and endurance are critical in successfully making through a national pageant. Every woman has a few bad moments and will no doubt break down at some point during competition week, but you have to be intelligent enough to do it with grace and behind closed doors- not on the internet!

Pageant week is never ideal, nor is it as glamorous as outsiders assume it is, however if you can’t deal with it, you’d never be able to handle the title you’re seeking! I could go on and on about how upsetting it is to read this… I can’t begin to imagine how heartbroken the Miss Oregon USA contestants must be right now!

Best of Luck to Anna Melomud, Miss Ohio USA at Miss USA!

The Miss USA pageant will air live on NBC this Friday at 9 p.m.
CLICK HERE for press releases.
CLICK HERE to meet the judges.

CLICK HERE for videos of Anna Melomud, Miss Ohio USA, in preliminary Evening Gown and Swimsuit competition, as well as an unofficial interview; the photos below are from the same site.

CLICK HERE for more photos of Anna at Miss USA events in LA.
The photos below are floating about the internet...

Miss Central Ohio Photos!

My apologies! I was with limited internet last week while judging a National Forensics tournament and when blogging gets “out of my system” it’s slow to come back… As a result, the Miss Central Ohio pageant did not get the attention I usually give to locals. Allow me to atone for that…


Last Saturday Jodi Green gave up her title, Miss Central Ohio. Jodi holds degrees from Ohio State and Mt. Vernon Nazarene Universities in Early Childhood Education. She worked extremely hard to make it to Miss Ohio, for which she advocated "Together We Can Save a Life" - The Importance of Blood Donation. Jodi is a singer who has unfortunately aged-out. On Saturday Jodi crowned Kasey Wilson the new Miss Central Ohio. In a fun twist, I’m pretty sure they were roommates at Miss Ohio! [Above: Jodi and Kasey at Miss Ohio; photo from Jodi's Facebook account.]

This is Kasey’s third crown, having made the Top 10 the past two years as Miss Licking County and Miss Clayland; she was also in the Top 15 in September at Miss Ohio USA. Kasey is a classical vocalist studying Voice and Theatre at Ohio State. Her pageant platform is MADD- Mother’s Against Drunk Driving. She pretty much swept the Miss Central Ohio pageant winning the Outstanding Interview, Talent and Evening Gown awards.

[The above photo of Kasey is a Miss Central Ohio tradition; below left to right: Miss Ohio Melanie Murphy, 1st RU Katie Camp, Miss Central Ohio '07 Kasey Wilson, 2nd RU Jenna Wilson, 3rd RU Megan Wombacker and Miss Central '06 Jodi Green]

The very determined Katie Camp was named First Runner-up and also won Swimsuit. [Though blurry, I love the reaction shot on the left, copied from Katie’s Facebook.] Katie studies Dance at Wright State University; she performed a tap routine to “Sandman.” Katie’s platform is Promoting the Arts.




The amazing Jenna Wilson was named Second Runner-up; granted, I’m biased! Jenna and I were roommates at Miss Ohio this past year as she represented Miss Southeastern Ohio. She is a Music major at Ohio University and she is a vocalist who works tirelessly with the March of Dimes. CLICK HERE to learn more about Jenna. [On the right, Jenna and I after she won Miss SEO.]




Megan Wombacker was named Third Runner-up. Originally from Pennsylvania, she is a dancer studying Accounting and Marketing at Kent State University. Megan's platform is "Eye Care, You Care, We Care;" CLICK HERE for her website. [On the left she poses after the pageant with Miss Ohio 2005 Marlia Fontaine.]






The very deserving Amy Allen was given the Spirit Award. She is vocalist pursuing her Master in Business at Mt. Vernon Nazeren. For her platform Amy works with Habitat for Humanity. [On the right, Amy and Miss Ohio 2006 Melanie Murphy.]

Below are some more great pictures I found on Facebook, where a lot of photo "sharing" goes on. I snagged these from Jodi Green, Amy Allen, Brandi Herceg, Katie Camp and Courtney Wallace, but I can't be sure from whom they originated. If it matters to you, leave a comment to give photo credit and CLICK TO ENLARGE EACH.










[Above left: the contestants pose with Jodi and Melanie; Right: Jodi crowns Kasey.]

[Above Left: Melanie, Kasey and Jodi with the Wise's; Right: Alyssa Hanson and Brandi Herceg.]















[Above Left: Kristen Liquori and Jackie Adams; Above right: Wow! Carissa Cook, former Miss Ohio Valley, looking fabulous in a new gown!]

[Above Left: Katie Camp, Heather Lindsay, Courtney Wallace, Alyssa Hanson, Brandi Herceg and Kristen Liguori; Right: Jackie Adams, Amy Allen, Krystle Formosa, Carissa Cook, Kasey Wilson and Megan Wombacker.]

Pageant Press: Granville woman crowned Miss Central Ohio

Granville woman crowned Miss Central Ohio

By L.B. WHYDE, Advocate Reporter
Originally published March 13, 2007

NEWARK -- Starting when she was 17 years old, Kasey Wilson has participated in scholarship pageants and earned two titles and two trips to the big show -- the Miss Ohio Scholarship Pageant. Now at age 20, Wilson has another chance at the title. She was crowned Miss Central Ohio on Saturday.... "I am really excited (about Miss Central Ohio), because this is the program I wanted," Wilson said. "The people behind this organization are so supportive. I am especially excited about going back to Miss Ohio with them." The woman behind the local program is Kathy Wise. "This is a growing experience for these women, and the opportunities are amazing through Miss Ohio," Wise said. "We look forward to working with Kasey."

CLICK HERE to read the entire article.

More Miss Ohio News!

Each year everyone wonders whether or not a “sweeps” or “sweetheart” pageant will be held. Today it was announced that the answer is yes!

The pageant will be held on Sunday, April 15 at the Broadway Street Theatre in Medina at 5 p.m. Only contestants who have previously competed in a local pageant this season are eligible; the application deadline is April 3.

The Miss Ohio website states that two crowns will be given out, but only one title, Miss Buckeye State, is currently listed. Perhaps the other will be Miss Medina.? Last year Miss Buckeye State Allie Krucek [above right] and Miss Circleville Heather Strickland [above left] won this pageant. [Photos above from Courtney Wallace’s Facebook album.]

The first twenty applicants to submit their Contestant Application, 06/07 Local Contestant Contract, Resume per MAO guidelines, Platform Sheet per MAO guidelines, 2 talent CDs and 1 4 x 6 headshot to MOSP SWEEPS Program P.O. Box 1818 Mansfield, Ohio 44901 will be accepted.

Notably, in recent years, the winners of this “last-chance” pageant have done very well at Miss Ohio. In 2002 Tiffany Haas won Miss Ohio as Miss Heart of it All. The Miss Buckeye state title has done especially well; in 2006 Allie Krucek was named Second Runner-up, in 2005 and 2004 Melanie Murphy and Jillian Dansko made the Top 10, respectively, all as Miss Buckeye State.

“Sweeps” is a term reserved for the very last pageant of the season. It is often limited to only women who have placed at previous pageants. Nationally, the "Sweetheart Pageant" refers to a program held by the Hoopeston, Illinois Jaycees, exclusively for the runner-up to the state crowns. While the national Sweetheart pageant does not lead to anything, it offers invaluable experience; about two-thirds of the states participate and Sweetheart contestants often go on to win their state crown and do very well at Miss America. A recent example is Amanda Beagle who placed in the Top 10 at the national Sweetheart pageant and became Miss Ohio 2004 the following year.

According to my records, the following women are eligible this year for Ohio's Sweeps pageant, as listed by the locals they competed in:

Miss Lake Festival
Beth Giere, Sarah Stalder, Lisa Canary, Jessica Bettinger, Tina Hogan,Heather Waterman, Katie Westgerdes, Jessica Rosengarten, Alicia Sneddon, Jodi Moorman, Bridgette Hart, Kaela Gardner, Gwen Scott

Miss Greater Cleveland
Suzanne Bures, Allison Bencar, Ashley Hartman, Catherine Hauser, Ashley Brown, Amy Allen, Allison Sundstrum, Janelle Zindroski, Dana Raponi, Brianna Savoca, Laura Pennington, Jennifer Nageotta, Krystle Formosa, Monica Porostosky

Miss Ohio Valley
Tacy Kirk, Brandi Herceg, Jessica Rush, Sarah Mayher, Kelsey Hitchcock, Aubrey Bodo, Amy Colantoni, Ashley Pesta

Miss West Central Ohio
Amanda Sampson, Kristy Moneysmith, Marisa Minor, Jenelle Fleagle, Ashley Rodabaugh, Grace Caudill, Joy Fleagle, Candace Bryan, Kelly Haeh

Miss North Coast
Janelle Zindroski, Amy Allen, Jennifer Nageotte, Heather Strickland, Allison Bencar, Nicole Buszinski, Ashley Brown, Ashley Hartman, Katie Camp, Jaclyn Hodos, Rachel Maris

Miss Miami Valley
Amee Everman, Ashley Brown, Samantha Maxwell, Amy Allen, Mellissa Marksberry, Ashley Hartman, Nicole Budzinski, Allison Bencar

Miss Clayland
Brittany Zion, Rose Kovach, Brianna Savoca, Katie Camp, Allison Bencar, Brandi Herceg, Amanda Hahn, Amy Allen, Ashley Hartman, Kara Neike

Miss Mansfield
Alyssa Speicher, Amy Allen, Ashley Hartman, Amanda Hahn, Katie Camp

Miss Maumee Valley/Miss All*American City
Alyssa Speicher, Brandi Herceg, Amy Allen, Rachel Maris, Janelle Zindroski, Heather Waterman, Mellissa Marksberry, Jamie Burns, Brianna Savoca

Miss Northwestern Ohio
Mellissa Marksberry, Abigail Goldsmith, Brandy Willoughby, Heather Waterman, Tiffany Westfall, Samantha Pixler, Janelle Zindroski, Hanna Hauman, Rachel Maris, Danielle Bash, Jamie Burns, Cassandra Fruchey

Miss Lake Erie
Alyssa Spiecher, Amy Allen, Megan Wombacker, Brianna Savoca, Katie Camp, Angela Speece, Krystle Formosa, Brandi Herceg, Ashley Hartman

Miss Portsmouth/ Miss Scioto Valley
Ashley Hartman, Cassie Ann Rice, Mellissa Marksberry, Elizabeth Ann Miller, Katie Camp, Amy Allen, Ashley Brown, Holly Sue Harris, Morgan Brooke Allard, Nicole Reidel

Miss Maple City
Rachel Maris, Jackie Adams, Janelle Zindroski, Amy Allen, Jami Kinton, Amanda Culp, Kristen Liguori, Ashley Hartman, Brooke Waddles, Heater Waterman, Katie Camp, Jennifer Nageotte, Angela Fungovits, Alyssa Speicher

Miss Stark County
Amanda Culp, Ashley Hartman, Rachel Maris, Kimberly Cicerchi, Amy Allen, Noelle Lelakus, Krystle Formosa, Jami Kinton, Lauren Shatlock, Alyssa Speicher, Jennifer Nageotte

Miss Greater Dayton
Kristen Liguori, Dashae Johnson, Heather Lindsay, Alyssa Hanson, Katie Camp, Amy Allen, Amanda Culp, Heather Wells, Kyrsten Chambers

Miss Central
Kristen Liguori, Brandi Herceg, Alyssa Hanson, Courtney Wallace, Heather Lindsay, Katie Camp, Jenna Wilson, Jacquelyn Adams, Amy Allen, Krystle Formosa, Carissa Cook, Megan Wombacker

Miss Hamilton- will take place March 31.

Breaking Miss Ohio News: THE MISS OHIO SCHOLARSHIP RETURNS TO STATEWIDE COVERAGE

A very exciting press release was sent out today stating that Miss Ohio will once again return to the television airwaves across the state! When I competed it was on a local Mansfiled channel only, and last year they covered only the final night. The new deal puts it on the Ohio News Network, a state-wide cable news channel. This still doesn't help folks like my parents and grandparents without cable, but then again, Miss America's not on network TV anymore either... Nonetheless, it's an wonderful step in the right direction for our state program. Read more below:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 14, 2007

THE MISS OHIO SCHOLARSHIP RETURNS TO STATEWIDE COVERAGE

Mansfield, Ohio – Steven Oliveri, President of the Miss Ohio Scholarship Program (MOSP) Board of Trustees, and the Miss Ohio Program announced today that they have signed a contract with the Ohio Media Group, Inc (OMGI). The production company, OMGI under the direction of Larry Mitchell and Jeff Baumgartner are happy to be part of such a wonderful program.

With the signing of this contract the Miss Ohio Scholarship Program will return to a statewide broadcast format on the Ohio News Network (ONN). The pageant will have un-televised preliminaries on June 12, 13 and 14 and conclude with the finals and crowning of Miss Ohio 2007 being broadcast statewide from the Renaissance Theatre in Mansfield, Ohio on Saturday, June 16.

Steven Oliveri, Miss Ohio Board President stated, “We are delighted to go back to a statewide broadcast and feel this will open many doors for such a worthy scholarship program. We are also very excited with the growing relationship between the Miss Ohio Scholarship Program, the Ohio News Network and Ohio Media Group, Inc.”

Through an affiliation with OMGI, Buckeye Media Services has also been contracted to assist with Marketing, Advertising, and the new interactive website elements. “We’re honored to be involved with Miss Ohio and look forward to building a stronger presence for the program throughout Ohio” states James Minter, owner of Buckeye Media Services. Anyone interested in receiving general advertising or sponsorship information can contact James Minter at 614- 430-0267x101 or james@buckeyemedia.com

The Miss Ohio Scholarship Program, Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit organization and an affiliate of the Miss America Organization. The program provides young women the opportunity to earn scholarship awards and participate in activities designed to enhance their personal development.This year's scholarships available at the local, state, and national levels are valued at more than 45 million dollars. Miss Ohio Week 2007 will kick off on Friday, June 8 with the Miss Ohio Festival.

For more information, please contact Holly Campbell-Bradley, Media Relations Coordinator for the Miss Ohio Scholarship Program at 937-603-7726 or the Miss Ohio Office at 419-522-6677. Additional information about individual contestants and other relevant information concerning the Miss Ohio Scholarship program can be found on the Miss Ohio web site at http://www.missohio.org.

Note, for the past five years, when I was a contestant, Larry Mitchell was involved in video and running the teleprompter for the production, under the company Mavrick Productions. Also, former Executive Director of the program, John Kunkel was the Executive Producer of the show. This press release does not make clear if Kunkle will continue as the producer, or if OMGI is in conjunction with, or a replacement of Mavrick.

Congratulations to the New Miss Central Ohio, Kasey Wilson!

Having internet didn't quite work out while I was in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan with the Forensics team. (Which, by the way, has no mount and is not at all pleasant.) Anyway....

Congratulations to Kasey Wilson, the new Miss Central Ohio!

Additional results were:

1st Runner-up: Katie Camp
2nd Runner-up: Jenna Wilson
3rd Runner-up: Megan Wombacker

Interview: Kasey Wilson
Talent: Kasey Wilson
Evening Gown: Kasey Wilson
Swimsuit: Katie Camp
Spirit Award: Amy Allen

Check out AMY'S BLOG and ROBERTA'S BLOG for photos and a contestant list.

PKD Bound!

Three years ago I had one of the most amazing and influential experiences of my life at the Pi Kappa Delta National Forensics Conference Tournament. Only myself and two teammates attended, with the hopes of learning from the 80 other schools from around the country. As it turned out, we walked away with three National Championships, one of which I earned. For a time I used this anecdote as my pageant interview introduction because of the confidence it instilled in me.

This morning I’m leaving for this tournament as a coach and judge for our current team. A fellow alumni coach/judge and I have also been working like crazy to establish a PKD Alumni Chapter for BGSU. This weekend on the campus of Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant Michigan we’ll be attending meetings, promoting our candidate for national student council, judging and supporting our team. While I doubt Mount Pleasant will be as appealing as St. Louis was (our first year) and hopefully not as absolutely horrifying of a tourist trap as Gatlinburg was last year, it is nice that it’s only a couple hours away.

I’m told there is free internet access at the hotel, so hopefully my laptop will cooperate and I can blog about this weekend’s Miss Central Ohio pageant.

I’m a Pirate, That Cares!

Pirates of the Competition

Last Saturday I started my day bright and early judging a Forensics tournament hosted by my alma mater, BGSU. My longtime readers know that Forensics is the speech competition thing I did that’s normally very formal and prestigious with business suits and trophies. To mix it up, near the end of the competition season some schools stop taking themselves so seriously and host a “theme tournament.” Last year BG did the possibly offensive “Redneck Round-up.” CLICK HERE for the Redneck blog entry and HERE for pictures.

This year, we hosted “Pirates of the Competition!” Aaarrr!

[Above, I'm with the Sarahs at the ballot table; below I'm in the tab room with Michelle, Amanda and Lew. CLICK HERE for the pre-tournament photo shoot, which I unfortunately could not attend.]

Sadly, I could only judge two rounds of competition because work beckoned. I changed out of my pirate garb, into the dress I wore for interview at Miss Ohio USA and sped up I-75 to Monroe Michigan.

The We Care Telethon

From Monroe County Community College FOX Toledo was broadcasting the St. Michael’s We Care Telethon. We Care provides financial assistance to Monroe County residents with severe medical situations. This was a circumstance in which I could not have been successful without my Forensics and pageant background; I knew little about We Care, was given no cue cards and was in the phone room with fifteen solid on-air minutes to fill at a time! Just like the popular PBS telethons, this one featured entertainment for fifteen minutes, then the phone room for fifteen minutes. FOX Toledo’s chief meteorologist, Mike Morrison, and I were on every-other fifteen minutes for five hours and let me tell you, when I was done I was SO exhausted! CLICK HERE for more.

Monroe County’s Outstanding Teen, Jordan Miller, was on hand to help us with the tally board and when Mike and I were done, Melissa Cousino, Miss Monroe County and two members of the MMC board took over as phone room hosts.

The telethon was on two Michigan cable channels and the internet for its twelve hour duration and on FOX Toledo from 5 to 7 p.m. Melissa also performed her talent (a tap to “All The Jazz”) and chatted about Miss Michigan and her platform (The Make-a-Wish Foundation) during the FOX Toledo time, thus, reaching the maximum viewership. Cousino is a popular last name in the Toledo/southern Michigan area; but Melissa is not related to Ohio’s Miss Mansfield Emily Cousino, who is from the same area.

It was a pleasure meeting Melissa and Jordan, but I have to admit, I was so jealous! Opportunities and exposure like that are what I dreamed of when I was a titleholder! But, they’re just not as easy to come by as some people may expect. Most of the appearances I do as the Face of FOX Toledo are things a titleholder could/should do. Along the way I’m telling the organizations I work with about Miss Maumee Valley, Miss All-American City and Miss Northwestern Ohio so maybe they too could build a “Celebrity Pot” at the Toledo Home and Garden show next year or be a “Celebrity Artist” at the American Diabetes Association Art Gala… etc…

Now that I am no longer a titleholder, it is frustrating to see these things I wish I would have done when I was one… The point is, first, I hope all the current ladies who read this push themselves to find these opportunities and second, congratulations to Melissa and Jordan for representing themselves and the Miss America Organization with such grace!

A Substance Abuse Problem…

Last night I gave Fuzzy catnip for the first time in probably a year. This morning, I woke up to him on the counter, where he is NOT allowed. Believe it or not, the lid was put on tight! Maybe I should send him to rehab with Brit!



I have to admit, he’s my spoiled brat because the things he does wrong are just so cute, I tend to photograph first and discipline second.
[Click to enlarge photos below.]