Miss America 2011: Show Us Your Shoes

This morning in Las Vegas the traditional "Show Us Your Shoes" Parade returned to Miss America!

Miss Ohio, Becky Minger, honored both our troops and Ohio's history of aviation:

Her escort is a soldier she met while visiting a veterans hospital; I believe her website will be updated later today with the touching story. Also scroll down Shannon O'Neill's blog to find photos of several other contestants in their parade costumes.

Ohio's Outstanding Teen, Cecili Weber also participated as Miss America 1967, Jane Jayroe's escort!

Miss America 2011: Becky in Competition!

Wednesday night Talent:

Tuesday night Evening Gown:
Tuesday night Swimsuit:

Miss America 2011: Good Luck Miss Ohio at Prelim Night #2!

Tonight Miss Ohio, Becky Minger, will sing

"This House is not at Home" during Talent at the second night of Miss America preliminary competition. There are many versions of this song but in a recent interview she mentioned Burt Bacharach in association with her selection. Julius Tolentino and Bryce Bishop took the following gorgeous photos during this afternoon's rehearsal:

Miss America 2011: Good Luck Miss Ohio at Prelim Night #1!

Tonight Miss Ohio, Becky Minger will grace the stage at the 90th Miss America Pageant in Las Vegas! She's beginning the competition with her favorite phase, Swimsuit! She won the Swimsuit award this summer at Miss Ohio, as well as several previous years. The contestants were given a choice of only two black bikinis from a sponsor; the pumps are also mandated from DSW.

Becky also competes in Evening Gown tonight; she has selected a breathtaking beaded Stephen Yearick creation. The following photos were taken at this afternoons rehearsal by photographer and Miss Ohio volunteer, Bryce Bishop:

Yesterday Becky met with the judges for the private interview wearing this trendy Bebe by Kardashian dress:

I know we say this every year, but I don't think I have ever been so confident that a Miss Ohio will absolutely be a finalist, if not take the Miss America crown! Even when Becky was my competition on the stage in Mansfield I knew she would someday be named Miss Ohio. She is a phenomenal titleholder and has looks confident and ready this week in Las Vegas.

GOOD LUCK BECKY!!!

Miss America 2011: Tuesday Exclusives!

Miss Crystal Lake, Shannon O'Neill is vlogging from Vegas and has posted some videos and photos from todays onstage rehearsal! CLICK HERE!

Roberta has the EXCLUSIVE!

Check out her blog for photos of Miss Ohio, Becky Minger's private interview outfit!

Miss America 2011: Fashion Show

Tonight in Las Vegas the Miss America contestants rocked the runway in a non-competitive fashion show featuring designs by sponsor Joseph Ribkoff. Go to the 15 minute mark to find Miss Ohio, Becky Minger!

After the catwalk, the ladies refueled
at Bucca di Peppo!
See more contestants HERE.

Miss America 2011: On the Red Carpet

On the Red Carpet posted only ten interviews with the 2011 Miss America contestants, including one with Ohio's own Becky Minger!

Pageant Press: Hard at Work

Hard at Work

by Matt Desmond

January 4, 2011

Becky Minger isn’t the typical beauty queen. The Sylvania resident and Bowling Green State University graduate may have been crowned 2010’s Miss Ohio, and be on her way to Las Vegas for the 2011 Miss America Pageant, but she’s more than a stereotypical “beauty queen.” Minger remembers where she came from, and she has a job to do.

...The whirlwind of competition has taken over Minger’s life, for now—she’s already traveled 20,000 miles just in the state of Ohio. “Miss Ohio is my full-time job,” she says. But she wouldn’t trade it. “I’ve had a lot of experiences most people just out of college never would.”

Perhaps nothing has effected Minger more than the people she’s been able to meet and touch. And of those people, no one has been more important than Chris Curtis. Minger met Curtis on a visit to Walter Reed Hospital as a spokesperson for the Thank You Foundation.

“I was there to show support for our wounded warriors, but I was afraid to go in,” she says. “People told me it would be difficult.” But when she met Curtis, an Iraq war veteran badly injured in a plane crash, she was inspired by his courage. “He told me ‘I’m going to walk through the doors of my squadron again,’” she says. “I nicknamed him ‘Rocky,’ which was my nickname growing up.” The two stayed in touch. And a month ago, she found out that Curtis had indeed returned to his unit. “He didn’t even need crutches,” she says. And he’s going to repay her for her support. “He’ll actually be walking me as my escort at Miss America,” she says. “Rocky and Rocky will be there together.”

CLICK HERE to read the entire article.

Miss America 2011: Arrival Ceremony!

This arrival ceremony is a bit amateur, so if you're like me, you'll want to skip ahead to the 20 minute mark to see Miss Ohio, Becky Minger!

The Las Vegas Sun has several fantastic photos from the arrival ceremony:

Click here for all of the LV Sun photos.

I'll also be updating an album on my facebook page (Abby Bollen-blogger) as the week progresses with photos I find all over the internet. Click here!

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."

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.

Support Becky at Miss America in Vegas!

Below you'll find five pages worth of information from the Miss Ohio Scholarship Organization to help you plan your trip to Las Vegas this January to watch the 90th Miss America pageant and support Ohio's Becky Minger! If you would like to sit with the Miss Ohio delegation your order forms and payment must be received by TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9th. Email sues@missohio.org for order forms. You may submit the forms via email or print and snail mail them.

Dear Miss Ohio Supporters:

Becky is hard at work preparing to compete for the title of Miss America 2011! While the final night of competition will be nationally televised on Saturday, January 15, 2011 on ABC, it’s much more exciting to be there in person! The following information will help you with your plans to support Becky at Miss America in Las Vegas!

We have attached forms for you to use to order items such as show tickets, access badges, photo buttons, T-shirts and hotel accommodations if you are planning to stay at Planet Hollywood. Please read everything very carefully and make sure to fill out the necessary forms.

Host Hotel – Planet Hollywood

Once again, Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas is hosting the Miss America Organization and has partnered with MAO to bring you some amazing offers. Planet Hollywood is hip, modern & energetic – and MAO is proud that it is home to the 2011 Miss America Pageant! It is connected to the Theater for the Performing Arts where the pageant is held and the Miracle Mile Shops with over 170 shops and 15 restaurants.

Planet Hollywood special rates when ordering through Miss Ohio/Miss America:

Sunday, January 9, 2011 through Thursday, January 13, 2011:

$ 109.00 per night +12% tax

Friday, January 14, 2011 and Saturday, January 15, 2011:

159.00 per night +12% tax

Sunday, January 16, 2011:

109.00 per night +12% tax

Based on single/double occupancy. For the 3rd & 4th person, there will be a $30 per person per night charge.

Guests staying in the Miss Ohio room block will receive two complementary passes (valued at $50) per room (not per person, not per day) to the Spice Market Buffet that may be used for breakfast, lunch or dinner. This is two passes per stay and NOT two per day. Alcoholic beverages and gratuity are not included with complimentary passes. You must use the included Planet Hollywood Reservation Form to receive these rates and Spice Market Buffet passes. A credit card must be provided to reserve the room.

Miss America Show Tickets

The Miss America on stage preliminary competitions will take place on Tuesday, Wednesday and

Thursday, January 11th, 12th and 13th with the finals taking place on Saturday, January 15th.

Tickets are $75 per night for preliminary competitions and $150 for Saturday’s final night competition.

Season tickets for all four nights may be purchased for $250.

Miss Ohio ticket orders will be grouped together; however the groups will not be seated together. They will be grouped and prioritized in the following order:

Block A – Those staying at Planet Hollywood & purchasing season tickets.

Block B – Those staying at Planet Hollywood & purchasing single night (Saturday) tickets.

Block C – Those NOT-staying at Planet Hollywood & purchasing season tickets.

Block D – Those NOT-staying at Planet Hollywood & purchasing single night (Saturday) tickets.

You may purchase UP TO FOUR(4) PRIORITY SEATING TICKETS per hotel room per day.

For example, if you are staying at Planet Hollywood from Tuesday the 11th through Saturday the 15th, you will be able to purchase up to four season tickets. If you are staying at Planet Hollywood for fewer days, you will only be able to purchase individual nigh tickets, not a season ticket package.

If you are making your own arrangements to stay at Planet Hollywood and are NOT using the included hotel reservation form, you may still qualify for tickets in Block A or Block B. Planet Hollywood’s reservation department can email you a copy of your reservation details. Print the email and include with your Miss America Trip Order form as proof and we will be able to order tickets in Block A or Block B.

Tickets purchases are non-refundable!

Access Badges

Becky will be extremely busy while competing to become Miss America and there are very few opportunities to see her other than from a distance when she is onstage. If you would like to attend the visitation after the show each night (Tue, Wed, Thu & Sat) to see Becky, you must have a Miss America Photo Identification Badge. The Badge will also allow you to attend the open rehearsals in the theater and the Miss America trade show at the hotel.

Badges may be ordered for $35. If a badge is lost, it will cost $50 to have it replaced during Miss America week.

If you had a Badge in the last two years (January 2009 or 2010) Miss America will have your photo on file. If not, you will need to email a photo to info@missohio.org when submitting your “On to Miss America” forms.

When ordering a badge, you will need to indicate one of the following affiliations;

State Committee – For all Miss Ohio state board members and state volunteers, their spouses and their children 21 years of age and older.

Local Committee – For all Miss Ohio local pageant committee members and local volunteers, their spouses and their children 21 years of age and older.

Family & Friends – For Becky Minger’s family, friends and friends of the family, including children 21 years of age and older.

Guest – For sponsors and guests who contribute to any part of the Miss Ohio Program, former Miss Ohio’s, their spouses and their children 21 years of age and older.

Special Guest – For State and Local Contestants currently eligible to compete, children ages six through twenty and Special Guests that may not be permitted to attend certain functions due to age restrictions or possible future judging conflicts.

Children five years of age and under do not require a badged but must be accompanied by an adult wearing a badge at all times.

Badges may NOT be shared at any time. Anyone caught sharing a badge will have it revoked

immediately.

Friday Night Decades of Dreams Event

Miss America is currently planning a ticketed event for Friday Evening, January 14, 2011 called the Decades of Dreams. The details for the event are not available at this time but for the last couple years, the contestants have participated in this event and tickets to attend have ranged between $100 and $500.

We will distribute the information when it becomes available.

T-Shirts & Photo Buttons

Show your Ohio support by ordering a Miss Ohio Photo Button and T-Shirt featuring Becky Minger. We will schedule a time on Friday, January 14th for everyone from Ohio to get together for our traditional group photo.

Deadline

ALL forms and payments MUST be received by Tuesday, November 9, 2010. Incomplete forms or forms received after this deadline will not be processed.

Ordering Instructions

Every person MUST submit a “Miss America Trip Order Form” below (one form per person). This form will be used to gather your contact information, order tickets, badges, photo buttons, T-shirts, etc. All items ordered on this form must be paid by check made out to: MOSP.

If you are staying at Planet Hollywood you will need to complete the Hotel Reservation Form. You must include your credit card information to reserve a room. Your card will probably be charged for one night’s stay sometime in December or early January.

Both forms and payments should be mailed to:

“On To Miss America”, c/o Sue Swinehart, 59 N. 21st Street, Newark, OH 43055

You will receive an email confirming that we have received your forms.

Once we receive additional information from Miss America, we will follow up with an email with the instructions on how to pick up your items, schedule of events, group photo information, etc. We will have “office hours” at Planet Hollywood when you can pick up your items.

If you have any questions, please contact Sue Swinehart at 740-334-7117 or sues@missohio.org.

Thank you for your continuing support of the Miss Ohio / America Organization. We truly hope you will take advantage of the wonderful offers made available for the 2011 Miss America Pageant at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino – Let there be Fame!

We are all looking forward to going to Las Vegas and cheering on Becky as she competes for the title of Miss America 2011 and brings the crown back to Ohio!

PS – PLEASE forward this to all of your family and friends and local committee members.

To review, you'll find the following prices on the order forms:

Miss America Show Tickets

Season ticket (Jan. 11, 12, 13 & 15) - $250.00

Tuesday (January 11) - $75.00

Wednesday (January 12) - $75.00

Thursday (January 13) - $75.00

Saturday (January 15) - $150.00

Access Badge - $35.00

Button of Becky - $5.00

T-Shirt - $15.00

Registration/Processing Fee - $25.00

There is also a form to book your hotel room with the special rates listed above.

Again, email sues@missohio.org to receive your order forms; I tried to post them here as pictures, but they weren't large enough for you to print. Sorry.

Pageant Press: Sylvania native heads to Miss America pageant

The Toledo Free Press is one of the most supportive news organizations I ever experienced when I was competing and representing the northwest Ohio area! This is a fantastic article featuring quotations from Miss Ohio, Becky Minger, her dad Mike, her local ED Eric Wagener and state ED Steven Oliveri, former Miss America Susan Perkins, 1st Runner-up Shannon O'Neill and her chaperon Susie Harlan. This is probably the best pageant article I've ever read:

Cover Story: Sylvania native heads to Miss America pageant

Toledo Free Press

Brandi Barhite

August 26, 2010

For just a second, Mike Minger thought, “Not again.” Then, he felt calm. “I knew it was her time.” And it was.

His daughter, Becky Minger, had finally won Miss Ohio on her fifth trip to the state pageant. She beat out 25 contestants to win the title. She was no longer only so close.

The first time she competed in 2006, she was first runner-up. The next year, she didn’t place at all. In 2008 and 2009, she was again first runner-up.

In the moments before the first runner-up was named, Becky looked out to her family and said, “I love you.” Then, she thought, “Hit me with it.”

As seconds felt like hours, a chant began to run through her mind, “Please don’t say 18; please don’t say 18. I love Shannon, but please don’t say 18.”

CLICK HERE FOR THE ENTIRE ARTICLE!

My, oh my, Miss Minger!!!

Check out Miss Ohio, Becky Minger's official headshot, as posted on the Miss America website:

I think it's HOT! Do you like it?

Also posted:

Becky Minger

Sylvania, Ohio

Age: 22

Education:

Sylvania Northview High School

Bowling Green State University

Platform Issue: "Discovering You, Empowering You"

Scholastic Ambition: To obtain a Juris Doctorate

Talent: Vocal

Scholastic Honors: Dean's List, 4 years on High School Honor Roll, 3 year meber of Ohio All-State Choir

Career Ambition: To become an image consultant specializing in media training and interpersonal communication.

Local Competition Sponsor: Miss All-American City Pageant

State Competition Sponsor: Miss Ohio

Congrats to the New Miss WCO, Cayla Hellwarth, Miss LSF, Elissa McCracken and Miss CL, Shannon O'Neill!

Miss West Central Ohio: Cayla Hellwarth

Miss Lima Square Fair: Elissa McCracken

Miss Crystal Lake: Shannon O'Neill

1st Runner-up: Kara Schoenhofer
2nd Runner-up: Jena Swiegart

Interview: Shannon O'Neill

Talent: Cayla Hellwarth

Swimsuit: Shannon O'Neill

People's Choice: Mindy Fetzer

[Above left to right: Miss Ohio Becky Minger, 2nd RU Jena Swiegart, Miss LSF Elissa McCracken, Miss CL Shannon O'Neill, former Miss America Kirsten Haglund, Miss WCO Cayla Hellwarth, 1st RU

Kara Schoenhofer and outgoing Miss WCO Katie Bowen.]

Miss Fallen Timbers, Courtney Monk was the first to get pictures on the web, but the ones shared here are from Bryce Bishop, second in speed but number one in quality thanks to his big fancy camera!

For MORE PICTURES of visiting titleholders, visit my new companion blog: MISScellanea Press & Pics. CLICK HERE!!!

The Miss Ohio 2010 MISScellanea Awards: Favorites Headshot RESULTS!

In the category Favorite Headshot, I nominated Amber Bussa, Becky Minger, Cayla Hellwarth, Elizabeth Wong, Heidi Negron, Katie Camp, Meggie Wittman and Whitney Fricke.

There were 71 votes and honorable mention goes to Cayla Hellwarth with 10% of them.

Tied for third place, Whitney Fricke and Amber Bussa each received 17%.

With 18.3%, second place belongs to Katie Camp.

And the Missy for Favorite Headshot goes to...

Our new Miss Ohio, Becky Minger!

25.3% of voters loved her headshot, which she said was "taken by a friend."

The Miss Ohio 2010 MISSY Awards: Favorite Evening Gown RESULTS!

There were many beautiful gowns at Miss Ohio 2010, but I nominated Amber Bussa, Ashley Warholic, Becky Minger, Heather Waterman, Jacquilyn Nichols, Katie Camp, Meggie Wittman, Nanciann Strosnider, Stephanie Betlz and Whitney Fricke as my favorites.

84 votes were cast and honorable mention goes to Nanciann Strosnider and Whitney Fricke;
each had 11.9% of the vote.

Ashley Warholic came in third with 14.3%.

Amber Bussa was second with 15.5% of the votes.

And the Missy goes to...

Our new Miss Ohio, Becky Minger!

20% of you agreed her gown was your favorite!

There were also a few talent gowns that I have to say, were stunning! The gown Nanciann sang in was to die for and Kristy's talent gown is what pushed her into my
Best Overall Wardrobe category.
I am also a huge fan of the dark teal gown Marissa sang in, which Ashley also wore as a walk-on!

Pageant Pictures: Miss Ohio by CWN

On her BLOG Christine Walsh Newton writes, "Shortly after the Miss Ohio Pageant, I was granted the honor of photographing the newly crowned Miss Ohio 2010, Becky Minger. It’s always an honor to be trusted to photograph someone who must appear at her best in finished photographs. Here’s a few of my favorite shots from the session:"

July 4th - Pageant Style

Miss Ohio, Becky Minger, and several local titleholders at a festival in Onterio:

Check out more photos HERE.

Miss America, Caressa Cameron, in Philadelphia:

RIGHT NOW: Miss Ohio's Homecoming!

Tonight from 5 to 9 p.m. the city of Sylvania is welcoming both the LPGA golfers of the Jamie Farr Classic as well as their very own Becky Minger, Miss Ohio 2010! During "Taking it to the Streets" businesses will stay open late and there will be events for the whole family.

Becky will receive a proclamation from the mayor and town crier at 6 p.m. at Maplewood Park downtown!