Sunday, December 26, 2010

Becky's Miss America Send-off!


"An Evening with Miss Ohio, Becky Minger" was held December 18th in Sylvania. 175 guests were welcomed by Mayor, Craig Stough; Maumee's Mayor Tim Wagener also spoke and Ohio Congresswoman Barbara Sears, Sylvania Counsilwoman Mary Westphal, Chamber President Kevin Lent, sponsors, friends, family and Miss Ohio Board members and local E.D.s were in attendance. Miss Ohio's booking manager and Board member Holly Campbell-Bradley emceed the evening, with performances by 3rd Runner-up Marisa Buccheit, 2nd Runner-up Ellen Bryan and 1st Runner-up Shannon O'Neill.



Former Miss Ohio, Roberta Camp-Albert dedicated her Miss America talent, "Blessed" to Becky, followed by Leslie Minger singing her sister Katy Perry's "Firework."

The talented siblings then entertained the audience with "Sisters" from White Christmas.

Becky closed the evening with several of her favorite holiday songs.


Usually send-offs include the modeling of some competition wardrobe peices and sometimes the performance of the competition talent selection. I have no idea if either of these things happened at Becky's send-off. Leave a comment if you know!

The evening was sponsored by Sylvania Orthodontics. Special thanks to the MOSP for sending me the events press release and these photos, most of which were taken by Miss Lake Festival's Jerry Deitsch, seen on the right.




Visiting Titleholders:
Miss All*American City Meggie Wittman, Miss Clayland Ellen Bryan, Maumee Valley's Outstanding Teen Sarah Eash, Former Miss Ohio Roberta Albert-Camp, unidentified man, Miss Ohio Becky Minger, Miss Crystal Lake Shannon O'Neill, Miss Central Ohio Sarah Hider, Miss Greater Cleveland Marisa Buccheit and Miss West Central Ohio Cayla Hellwarth

Miss Crystal Lake Shannon O'Neill, Miss Greater Cleveland Marisa Buccheit and Miss Clayland Ellen Bryan with Board member Ami Boley's daughter, Logan.

Miss West Central Ohio Cayla Hellwarth, Miss Lima Square Fair Elissa McCracken, Miss Crystal Lake Shannon O'Neill and their mothers!

Becky leaves for Las Vegas on January 3rd; festivities begin on the 6th with her first competition, the private interview taking place January 8th. On Tuesday night she will compete in preliminary Swimsuit and Evening Gown, Talent Wednesday and On-stage Question Thursday before the Finale Saturday January 15th. The pageant airs live on ABC at 8 p.m.!

In addition to Miss America preparations and platform work, Becky has been partnering with Cincinnati's The Thank You Foundation. They believe that "the words “thank you” could transcend political, religious, and ideological differences and could provide an opportunity so that every citizen could express their appreciation for those that serve. As the National Spokesman and Honorary Board Member of the Thank You Foundation, Becky appreciates every opportunity she has to serve our troops, active duty and retired, their families and especially their children."

Sunday, December 19, 2010

More Miss Mansfield Photos!

Be sure to check out Timothy Russell's photos of Miss Mansfield, North Central Ohio and Teen and Ohio's Outstanding Teen on the following sites:

Also, pictures from their Dial-a-Santa charity event, featuring the new Miss North Central Ohio, Heather Waterman are HERE!



Monday, December 13, 2010

VOTE FOR BECKY!

This year at the finale of Miss America one contestant will be "America's Choice!" She is determined by votes on her YouTube video; here's Miss Ohio, Becky Mingers:


You can vote for Becky four different ways:

* Go to http://missamerica.org/videocontest/, select Becky's picture and vote for her!

* Using your cell phone, text message "MAOH" to 24470. (Charges may apply.)

* If you have a YouTube account, sign in and "like" this video on YouTube.

* If you have Facebook, sign in and "like" this video at http://www.facebook.com/MissAmericaOrganization.

You may vote for one contestant per voting method; but actually... you can vote once per YouTube and Facebook account you have access to and endlessly at Miss America's website just by hopping on a different computer! It's also one text message per phone number, so ask everyone you know to text. Voting ends at 11:59 PST on January 13th.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

BREAKING NEWS: Waterman Assumes Miss North Central Ohio

I received an email from a pageant official tonight confirming that Courtney Crain relinquished the title, Miss North Central Ohio, which she won last weekend at a double crown pageant in Mansfield. Crain instead accepted a marriage proposal from her boyfriend and plans to wed in Cancun, Mexico.

It is MY assumption that the nuptials will be happening soon, as there is no rule against engaged women competing. In fact, the woman now taking the title announced her engagement to Facebook on November 27th. Heather Waterman is a vocalist who has competed at Miss Ohio 3 times; she was 2nd Runner-up at Miss Mansfield/NCO.

Why didn't 1st Runner-up Amber Bussa take the title? Because she was Miss North Central Ohio last year... Had she been one of the top two at last weekends pageant, she would had to have been crowned Miss Mansfield. If the reigning Miss Mansfield would resign she could take that title, but she can not be Miss North Central Ohio two years in a row. If I were her I'd probably be pretty irritated, but she was one of my favorites at Miss Ohio and I have no doubt she will win another local pageant.

Just to be clear, at multi-crown pageants, one title isn't better than another. A value of highest, second highest and third highest score is not supposed to be assigned to the titles. For example, earlier this fall Shannon O'Neill was not given Miss Crystal Lake because of how her score compared to the other two winners; rather, she'd already held the other two titles so Miss Crystal Lake was the only option. Becky Minger as Miss All*American City is the exact same.

While this situation certainly is uncommon and a bit sorted, congratulations are still in order for both the new Miss North Central Ohio, Heather Waterman as well as Courtney Crain on her upcoming ceremony in Cancun!

*Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone*

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Miss Mansfield, NCO and Teen Results

* Update - Courtney Crain relinquished her title a few days after the pageant. 2nd Runner-up, Heather Waterman became Miss North Central Ohio, as 1st Runner-up, Amber Bussa, held that title last year and could have only been named Miss Mansfield.

Miss Mansfield - Ashley Warholic
Miss North Central Ohio - Courtney Crain

1st RU - Amber Bussa
2nd RU - Heather Waterman
3rd RU - Katie Jackson

Interview - Ashley Warholic
Talent - Amber Bussa
Evening Gown - Ashley Warholic
Swimsuit - Amber Bussa

Congeniality - Alyssa Phillips

Miss Mansfield's Outstanding Teen - Morgan Kindred

1st RU - Brittany Adams
2nd RU - Melanie Dress

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Best of Luck to the Miss Mansfield, North Central Ohio & Teen Program!


Tonight at the Mansfield High School, three local crowns will be given! The reigning Miss Mansfield is pageant veteran, Heather Wells. This vivacious dancer won a non-semifinalist Talent Award at Miss Ohio and has already secured her fourth title, Miss Maumee Valley. Her sister-titlholder, Miss North Central Ohio, Amber Bussa, was a Top 10 finalist at her second attempt at the Miss Ohio crown; she was also a favorite in my Missy Awards. Rather than giving up her title, Amber is competing tonight!

A Teen will also be crowned. The outgoing Miss Mansfield's Outstanding Teen, Chelsi Howman, has advanced to the Miss division and won Miss North Coast this fall.

Best of luck to the following contestants who will compete in this order:

McKenna Armstrong
Education: Ontario High School
Platform:
Talent:
Pageant Past:



Jessica Burdette
Education: Ontario High School
Platform:
Talent:
Pageant Past: Miss Ontario 2010 (non-MAO)


Priya Sharma
Education: Cleveland State / Health Sciences
Talent: dance
Platform: Promoting Cancer Research & Awareness
Pageant Past: 3rd RU at North Coast



Courtney Fraley
Education:
Ontario High School
Talent: dance? drums?
Platform: Make Life Your Natural High
Pageant Past: 1st RU to Miss Mansfield's Outstanding Teen last year; Miss Ontario 2009 (non-MAO)


Caity Jackson
Education:
Fairmont East High School
Talent: vocal ?
Platform: Cancer Prevention ?
Pageant Past: Top 5 in both 2010 and 2009 at Miss Ohio Teen USA; competed at Ohio's Outstanding Teen in 2009 at Miami Valley's Teen

Rebecca Ribley
Education: Ashland University / Theatre & Journalism
Talent: vocal
Platform: Raising Awareness of Hunger in America
Pageant Past: 3rd RU at Miss GC/CC; competed at North Coast

Alyssa Phillips
Age: 19
Education: Bowling Green State University / Apparel Merchandising
Talent: jazz dance "My New Philosophy"
Platform: Ending Domestic Violence
Pageant Past: 1st RU recently at Miss NWO; competed at Miss MV/AAC/FT


Allison Goodwin
Education: Ohio University
Talent: lyrical dance
Platform: Prevention of Childhood Obesity
Pageant Past: competed recently at Miss MV/AAC/FT, Miss Central Ohio and Miss Clayland; 1st RU this season at Miss GC/CC


Ashleigh Jarzenski
Eduction: Ashland University / Broadcast & Political Science
Talent: dance
Platform: REACH: The Benefits of Volunteering
Pageant Past: competed at Miss GC/CC & NC

Education: Baldwin-Wallace University / PR & Marketing
Talent: dance
Platform: FCCLA
Pageant Past: Awarded CMN Miracle-Maker, Non-Semifinalist Interview, Community Service and other awards as Miss Greater Cleveland at Miss Ohio 2010; Miss Heart of Ohio 2009

Courtney Crain
Education: Indiana Wesleyan University / Business & Health Care Administration
Talent: vocal
Platform: Preventing Child Abuse
Pageant Past: competed recently at Miss Miami Valley & Clayland; Miss Ohio International 2010

Amber Bussa
Education: Graduate of Ohio State University
Talent: vocal
Platform: Get in Gear to Volunteer
Pageant Past: 2nd RU & T at Miss Central Ohio; Top 10 at Miss Ohio 2010 as Miss North Central; Non-Semifinalist Talent as Miss Portsmouth in 09

Heather Waterman
Education: Graduate of Wright State University / Marketing
Talent: Vocal
Platform: Ready, Set, Motivate
Pageant Past: Miss Clayland 2009; Preliminary Swimsuit and Non-semifinalist Interview awards at Miss Ohio 2009 as Miss Northwestern Ohio; Miss Lake Festival 2008

Elizabeth Wong
Age: 20
Education: Oberlin College / Law & Society
Talent: dance
Platform: Cardiac Awareness
Pageant Past:
3rd RU recently at Miss NWO; competed at Miss North Coast; competed at Miss Ohio 2010 as Miss Huron County; Rhode Island's Junior Miss 2008


Teens
Brittany Abrams
Melanie Davis
Morgan Kindred