Official Sweetheart Results

Miss Sweetheart: Arizona

1st RU: Florida
2nd RU: South Carolina
3rd RU: Nebraska
4th RU: Virginia

Sweetheart Top 5: A Hoax!

Sorry folks, I (and may others) misinterpreted a prediction on a message board.

Loren's visiting me here in Cali, so I'm out and about, but trying to keep tabs on the pageant...
I will not post further results until I'm 100% sure.

Sweetheart Top 11: Go Becky!

Miss Kentucky
Miss Utah
Miss Virginia
Miss Arizona
Miss South Carolina
Miss Florida
Miss Louisiana
Miss Iowa
Miss Ohio
Miss Tennessee
Miss Nebraska

Best of Luck to Ohio's Sweetheart, Becky Minger!

Miss Ohio's First Runner-up, Becky Minger is competing for the title National Sweetheart! Becky is a perfect pageant mix of beauty, talent and relatability. In my opinion...

Here's a press release:

Becky Minger of Sylvania to Represent Ohio at
Miss National Sweetheart Pageant

Becky Minger of Sylvania, this year's 1st Runner-up at Miss Ohio 2008, will represent Ohio at the Miss National Sweetheart Pageant over the Labor Day weekend in Hoopeston, IL. This pageant is unique in the realm of pageants, and enables the first or second runner-up in their State’s preliminary Miss America Pageant, to compete with representatives from approximately thirty other states. The winner is given the title Miss National Sweetheart, receives a $1,000 Scholarship, a $500 U.S. Savings Bond, plus an assortment of gifts. The pageant begins with two nights of Preliminaries on Friday and Saturday, August 29th and 30th, with Top Ten Finals on Sunday, August 31, 2008. Perhaps no major American pageant is so little known to the public as National Sweetheart, but few pageants are so deserving of attention. It's a durable success story, founded on the unselfishness of one small town.

The friendly farming community of Hoopeston, Illinois, has been the home of the National Sweetcorn Festival since early in the 20th century. For the first few decades of this annual September extravaganza, the highlight was the Miss National Sweetcorn Pageant, for local girls. But in the 1940s, the concept changed. The town decided to invite first runners-up from Miss America state preliminaries to compete, and it changed the pageant's name to Miss National Sweetheart.

It was an inspired idea. Being a 1st runner-up is a uniquely uncertain feeling, somewhere between pride and disappointment. Hoopeston, so far from the bright lights of Atlantic City, and now Las Vegas offers these accomplished young women more honors, more opportunities, and more scholarship money.

National Sweetheart is Miss America's charming country cousin, but the two pageants have no official connection. Unlike Miss America, the pageant in Hoopeston spends little on publicity. And it makes few demands on winners, besides having them preside over the festival.

The town doesn't even ask winners to come back and crown their successors. In fact, often the reigning Miss National Sweetheart wins her state crown the next year, and is already competing at the Miss America Pageant by the time her reign ends. Several Miss Americas and numerous state titleholders have been Sweetheart winners.

Last year's winner of Miss National Sweetheart was Miss Ohio's 1st Runner-up, Eric Gelhause. Erica is from St. Henry, OH, and attends Otterbein University. The first runner up was Miss Michigan Ashlee Baracy; second runner up was Miss Louisiana Jennifer Soileau; third runner up was Miss District of Columbia Michelle Crosby; and fourth runner up was Miss Georgia Caitlin Andrews.

Following the pageant in Hoopeston, Becky will resume classes at Bowling Green State University, where the soon to be 21 year old will begin her 4th year. Later in the fall, she plans to enter another Miss Ohio/Miss America local pageant, in hopes of winning a title and qualifying to compete at next year's Miss Ohio 2009. If successful, it will be her fourth trip to state. In Becky's first year, she was 1st Runner-up to Melaney Murphy, Miss Ohio 2006. She competed as Miss Northwestern Ohio in 2007, and this past June was Miss Maumee Valley 2008 when she was again selected 1st Runner-up. Contestants can compete from ages 17 to 24, but can only win the title of Miss Ohio and compete at Miss America one-time.

For more information on Miss National Sweetheart, or the National Sweetcorn Festival visit the Hoopeston Jaycees website http://www.hoopestonjaycees.com/. For more information on Becky Minger, email missmaumeevalley2008@buckeye-express.com.

FYI: Preliminary winners were as follows...

Friday Night:
Swimsuit: Nebraska and Tennessee
Talent: Utah

Saturday Night:
Swimsuit: South Carolina
Talent: Iowa

Congrats to the New Miss Miami Valley, Katie Camp!

Miss Miami Valley: Katie Camp

First Runner-up: Kristen Haas

Interview: Kristen Haas
Talent: Katie Camp
Swimsuit: Katie Camp

I know Miss Lake Festival 2nd RU Devon Stansbury was competing, as well as former Ohio USA competitor Hope Smalls. Rumor has it Miss Chillocothee Kristy Moneysmith was competing too. If you know the line-up, or have pictures, email me!

Best of Luck to the Miss Miami Valley Program Tonight!

Tonight at the Montgomery County Fair Miss Miami Valley, Alyssa Hanson, will crown a successor! Miss Miami Valley is one of my favorite locals for a few reasons... E.D. Ronda Morris is one of the sweetest people you'll ever meet in pageantry, it's only $4 to get into the fair instead of a usual $10 local pageant ticket, half way through the pageant when your dad gets bored (like mine) he can go wonder through the animal barns, oh, yeah, and it's a title I held! To be really blunt, if you don't want to deal with the county fair and crappy stage aspect of this pageant, I question how you could be Miss Ohio, as many of her appearances are in similar venues.

Anyway, Alyssa is a vocalist and University of Cincinnati student. Miss Miami Valley was her second local title, and I hope to see her back for a third shot at Miss Ohio.

I do know of two women who are competing, but they are both new to the MAO, so I'll refrain from listing them until I find out more contestants. For a list of last years contestants and runners-up, click here.

If you attend, text or leave comments with the contestants and results! Pictures are great too. :)

Miss Wasilla to Ms. Vice President?

The pageant world is a buzz, as Republican presidential nominee, Senator John McCain has named Sarah Heath Palin as his running mate. Palin was First Runner-up to Miss Alaska and Miss Congeniality in 1984! She is the first woman and youngest person to hold the office of Alaskan Governor. Beyond her two years as Governor, her political experience has been local; this is an interesting choice, after Republicans have said Senator Obama lacked experience... Clearly gender played a large factor.

The Miss America Organization released the following:

McCain Names Former Miss Alaska Contestant as Running Mate


We are pleased to announce that former Miss Alaska contestant, Sarah Heath Palin, has just been named as John McCain’s vice-presidential candidate on the Republican ticket. In 1984, Palin was chosen as Miss Wasilla and went on to become the first runner-up in the Miss Alaska Pageant and received the Miss Congeniality award the same year. Her husband, Todd Palin was a judge in the 2008 Miss Alaska Pageant.

Congratulations on this exciting news for the Miss Alaska Organization!

Miss Minnesota Angela McDermott To Perform at the National Republican Convention on September 1st

Millions of people around the world will be watching as the Republican Party convenes its 39th nominating convention in Minneapolis – St. Paul.

The roughly 2,380 delegates and 2,227 alternate delegates elected to represent their states and territories will play a critical role in our nation’s democratic process – and secure a place in political history as will our own Miss Minnesota, Angela McDermott who will perform the national anthem to mark the opening day celebration of the national convention.

Angie was crowned Miss Minnesota in June, where she was the overall interview and talent winner at the Miss Minnesota Scholarship Pageant. She will compete for the title of Miss America in January 2009. She is 24 and is a 2007 graduate of the University of Minnesota. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication, with a Minor in International Studies and we look forward to having Angie perform at this historic event on Labor Day!

We applaud the efforts of Angie and the Miss Minnesota Organization!

###

Local contestants competing in pageants between now and November must be able to answer to the interview question, "Who are you voting for and WHY?" I urge contestants NOT to merely be swayed by her pageant experience, but really research both candidates and have a well thought-out answer. In an election year, this should be as automatic as your chicken cutlets!

Hilarious Pageant News: Nun Pageant Cancelled, Tractor-driving Beauty in Facebook Trouble and Tara Connor Teaches How to be a Lady!

Italian priest cancels nuns' beauty pageant

Wednesday, August 27, 2008
The Associated Press

ROME — An Italian priest backtracked from his idea to organize an online beauty pageant for nuns, saying Tuesday he had been misunderstood and incurred the protests of the faithful and local religious authorities.

The Rev. Antonio Rungi had thought of the beauty contest to give nuns more visibility within the Catholic Church and to fight the stereotype that they are all old and dour. The "Miss Sister 2008" contest was supposed to start in September on a blog run by the priest, who is a theologian and schoolteacher from the Naples area.

But he changed his mind after seeing reports that suggested nuns would be metaphorically put on a catwalk. He said what he had in mind was not just external beauty but what he called "overall beauty."

"I wanted to make a blog on vocations, one where everybody could bring their own experiences," Rungi said by telephone from his town of Mondragone, about 35 miles north of Naples. "I wanted to create a showcase for the pastoral experience of nuns."

"Instead, they made it look like it was a catwalk a la Miss Italy," he said. "I have been misunderstood."

The reverend said attacks against him, phone calls and e-mails prompted him to cancel the plan, as well as reported unease of his religious superiors over the idea.

Still, Rungi said he hopes the idea can be revived in the future, if he can bring on board local religious authorities.

This Canadian article is hilarious! The headline, however, is misleading; the creator of Facebook has nothing to do with it, rather they're challenging a girl who created a group on Facebook:

Creator of Facebook site that questions beauty ideals wins P.E.I. pageant

A young woman from Souris, P.E.I. who began a Facebook group that was against the fashion industry's definition of beauty has won a pageant.

Heather Ross, 18, was crowned "Queen of the Furrows," an annual pageant that takes place at the Dundas Agricultural fair. The contestants sport evening wear and are asked impromptu questions, but in a unique turn they must also exhibit a high degree of skill riding a tractor, and plowing.

"Most of the girls don't know how to ride a tractor until the day before, when we get training. It's the most Island thing possible," said Ross.

Ross started a Facebook group called "Beauty versus Industry" earlier this year, which encourages members to define beauty in their own terms.

There's no contradiction between her fashion industry campaign and being crowned Queen of the Furrows, she said.

And finally:

'Mess USA' Tara Conner Now Teaching Women How to be Ladies

LOS ANGELES - Ever wonder what happened to Tara Conner? It looks as though 2006's troubled Miss USA has come a long way from her days of battling a drug/alcohol addiction to now teaching other young women to act like ladies.

Pop Tarts has confirmed that Conner (who has kept a very low-profile for months now) has signed on to host MTV’s upcoming reality show, which has the working title of "LaDette to Lady."

The self-betterment show is set to start filming in London this fall, and Conner's role will be to transform a bunch of gals from problematic to prim and proper while exposing details of her own tough times.

But the reformed rehabber had a little help scoring the hot hosting gig — her BFF Donald Trump. The mogul (who co-owns the Miss Universe Organization) made headlines in December 2006 when he allowed Conner to keep her crown despite her dangerous habits and even brought her back to Trump Towers to star in last year’s reality television program "Pageant Place." Trump Productions is behind this new show.

"Trump and Tara have a very close relationship," an inside source told Tarts. "She still doesn’t drink at all and rarely ever even goes out."

Keeping-up with Karissa: Ontario's 50th Anniversary Celebration Parade

Special thanks to Roberta for alerting me to the Lou Whitmire article Ontario marks 50 years with parade, party and the photo gallery by Jason J. Moylet.

"Miss Ohio Karissa Martin and Miss Ontario Kayleigh Boyce waved from the back of vehicles."

Pageant Poll: Your Favorite Phase of Competition

Well, since there's not much going on in pageantland,
how about some pageant polls?!

Pageant Pictures a Plenty!

Miss Black Ohio USA

Above in the black dress, Amy Allen, 1st RU and Interview winner!

*As 1st RU, Amy will go on to compete in the American Elegance National Pageant this October in Chicago! Way to go Amy!

Below, Amy and Allie DeSantis
(former Miss Teen International from Ohio.)

Miss America's Outstanding Teen

Miss Teen USA

Congrats Amy Allen!

She was 1st RU to Miss Black Ohio USA!

I'm at work, so more later, or likely on Amy's blog...

Best of Luck to Amy Allen at Miss Black Ohio USA!

I am not a fan of Miss Black Ohio USA's prior unethical practices, but I do wish former Miss Ohio contestant Amy Allen much luck!

Teen Crowning Pictures

Miss America's Outstanding Teen, Taylor Fitch

of South Carolina

Miss Teen USA, Stevi Perry of Arkansas

Wow - blond hair, white dresses, southern states and similar facial features!

Miss America's Outstanding Teen: South Carolina!

MAO Teen: South Carolina

1st RU: PA
2nd RU: AR
3rd RU: MD
4th RU: MO

Miss Teen USA: Arkansas!

Teen USA: Arkansas

1st RU: SC
2nd RU: NC
3rd RU: LA
4th RU: ID

Teen Pageant Semifinalists

MAO Teen Top 10:

CA, PA, AR, MO, SC, DC, TX, OK, MD, VA

Miss Teen USA Top 15:

LA, SC, OK, FL, AR, NH, CO, NC, AL, PA, AZ, ID, MA, CA, VA

Both:

SC, OK, AR, PA, CA, VA

I'm at work today, so depending whether or not I'm out on a tour, I should be able to post the teen pageants semifinalists and results in real time from my phone.

Best of Luck to Ohio's Outstanding Teen Sarah Hider AND Ohio Teen USA Chelsie Folden, as they both compete for National Titles Tonight!

Sarah Hider of Wooster is competing to be Miss America's Outstanding Teen in Orlando.

Neither the competition photos or photo shoot in Tony Bowls gowns on the MAO Teen website are able to be saved; the picture above was copied from a blog about Texas.

Chelsie Folden of Wellston is in the Bahamas competing to become Miss Teen USA. The following pictures are from THIS album, which includes shots of Chelsie's entire prelim group.


























Chelsie is on many anonymous Top 15 lists, however I'm not a fan of the white wedding-type gowns that Ohio has a habit of putting their Teen in: Peyton McCormick '06, Allie LaForce '05 and Nicci Shannon '04.

Autographed Headshots Needed for a Good Cause!

Former Miss Ohio contestant Lexi Boettler Lux needs our help!

She’s putting together an item/package for an online fundraising auction for the MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association) and would like autographed headshots from current AND FORMER “queens.” It’ll be dubbed as a royal autograph package for the auction.

If other formers are anything like me, you have lots of left over pageant pictures that you can’t use for anything else! It'll take all of two seconds to sign a picture and pop it in the mail for this great cause… Okay, maybe for some of us it’ll take a little longer to dig those old headshots out, but I encourage you to do it nonetheless!

Mail your autographed headshot to:

MDA
Attn: Alexis Lux
1655 W. Marker St Suite 340
Akron OH 44313

(They need to be in Akron by Saturday, August 23rd.)