Miss Ohio's Outstanding Teen Send-off Photos

Thank you Ashley Warholic for uploading these to Facebook so fast - you're my kind of lady! :)

Miss North Coast Pictures

Left: former contestant Jillian Dansko with judge and fellow former, Heather McDonald. Check out Jill's blog for more photos.

Other photos above are from Jessica Nelson's blog and Katie Bowen and Ashley Warholic's Facebooks.

Congrats to the New Miss North Coast, Sasha Eby!

Miss North Coast - Sasha Eby
1st Runner-up - Katie Bowen
2ndRunner-up - Ashley Warholic

Swimsuit Award - Sasha Eby
Nonfinalist Talent Award - Shannon O'Neill

The Miss North Coast Line-up

Here's the official contestant order, from a texting mom in Brunswick.

#1. Krystle Formosa

#2. Brandi Herceg

#3. Jessica Nelson

#4. Katie Bowen

#5. Megan Wolery

#6. Megan Wombacker

#7. Sasha Eby

#8. Ashley Warholic

#9. Shannon O'Neill

Thanks "Mom!"

Best of Luck to the Miss North Coast Program!

Tonight at the Brunswick High School, Kristen Haas will crown the fifth Miss Ohio 2009 contestant! Kristen is a dancer attending Bowling Green State University; she is a hard working contestant who made the Top 12 as Miss North Coast on her third Miss Ohio attempt!



The pageant will begin at 7 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. Are you going? Leave me a comment with your email and I'll send you my number; I'd love a garunteed text-er from the the pageant!

There are rumored to be five to nine contestants. Some of the names floating around the internet are Miss Ohio 2008 competitors Shannon O'Neill, Megan Wombacker and Krystle Formosa, as well as familiar local contestants Sasha Eby, Alicia Huyghe, Jessica Nelson and Katie Bowen.

"From the cheap seats" - A Miss Greater Cleveland Review - Installment One

When two-time Miss Ohio competitor Meghan Markovich-Olmstead offered to write a recap of Miss Greater Cleveland/ Cuyahoga County, I of course said yes! However, if you were a contestant in that pageant - STOP! This disclaimer and Meghan’s below are meant to protect you. I participated in Miss Greater Cleveland the year judges comments were unexpectedly mailed out; I understand how difficult criticism can be, especially when you didn’t ask for it! So, before you scroll below, as yourself if are truly able to handle some feedback.

Meghan and I both understand how hard it is to be a contestant; maybe you don’t have the money to update your wardrobe, maybe you love something even though everyone else hates it… Maybe you’ve heard the same critique a MILLION times - you get it and you’re trying your hardest to fix it! We do understand how frustrating feedback can be.

On the other hand… When I look back on my pageant career, I can’t believe how long it took just to crack the stupid Top 10 at Miss Ohio! If I could rewind time, I’d seek out and take advice much sooner. I did/wore a lot of things that were great in theory, but horrid in practice; I confused the line “do what makes you feel best” with other more practical advice I received. So even if you love something, be open minded… Most critiques will better you and I can say with 100% certainty that is the purpose of the ones below…

From the cheap seats…

First of all, I’d like to thank Abby for allowing me to be a guest blogger to provide my own recap/thoughts from MGC/MCC last Saturday. I’ve always enjoyed how Abby provides timely pageant news, so maybe a little “constructive criticism” element (READ: not message board bashing) will be a nice added element. However, I preface all of this with a big fat, “Hey! I was a contestant too (at one point, but that was long ago. I am now old and haggard and should just move on with my life… right?). I was once a massive novice train wreck (anyone remember me twirling a flag?) and through hard work, dedication, and taking lots and lots of constructive criticism, I was able to blossom into a moderate pageant fender-bender (just please do not bring up the ‘Candle on the Water’ incident of 2002; I will cry… Again.)” So there! Take everything that follows all with a grain of salt…

#1. Whitney Sue Fricke – She wore a solid skirt suit that was sort of a salmon color. It was a nice selection for her first shot at a local and I’m sure for state she’ll be shopping for something new—hopefully along the lines of the newer, stylish dresses and fashion-forward outfits worn at Miss America.

She looked great physically in SS, and was actually my choice for the swimsuit winner. She was tan, toned and chose an aqua suit—the color looked great against her skin. The only thing for me (being a pageant nitpicker) was that the proportions were off on her top. I’m sure someone will introduce her to “chicken cutlets.” Or maybe I just did. Whatever!

Since she’s news to pageants, I’ll forgive the fact that she sang, “Orange Colored Sky” but seriously, every time I have to hear that song I am tempted to rip the skin off of my face, lurch on to the stage, and smother the contestant in it. Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating... Kinda. Anyway, she wore a red cocktail dress with a silver shimmer to it. I wasn’t into it, but again—not a bad choice for your first local. She knew she needed some glitz and went with what she had (or borrowed or just didn’t pay out the nose!) When she started out the song, I noticed she didn’t have a big voice—really, it’s kind of cutesy. As the song continued and it called for a bigger voice it got kinda rough, but I think that was because this song just wasn’t a good fit for her.

In evening gown, she wore an aqua satin gown that you see in the photos that Abby has already posted. She looked good, but I couldn’t help but notice that her shoes were really loud—but the music didn’t start until ½ way through her walk and even then it was really quiet. But again, not bad for winning her first local, but she will need something new for state. For her OSQ, she was asked about her platform, which involves true beauty and self esteem. She spoke with a lot of passion, did a pretty good job for someone just starting out, but started to ramble toward the end. Again, I know that’s something that comes with practice and knowing your platform in and out.

Both my husband and I had her picked as the MCC title winner. I was a little concerned that being #1 would hurt her, but I was glad to see it did not. However, I think if she would have been later in the show, she would have won swimsuit. She has a lot of potential and with proper guidance she will do well at Miss Ohio.


#2. Kristin Haas – Her interview suit was a burgundy/wine colored skirt suit. It fit her very well – I really liked the cut of it. The color didn’t do much for me, however. Might’ve been just the stage lights, though. Some things look great close up (i.e., an interview room) and not so great onstage.

SS – She wore a really pretty 1 pc. teal SS that had a rhinestone brooch. I liked it well enough, but I will say that it’s odd that she doesn’t wear a 2 pc. when she clearly (physically) should. The swimsuit music that was selected was a little weird, I can’t remember what it was, but it wasn’t anything fun that the girls could play with and model in the “new Miss America” way. As for the “prancing” that I’ve heard a lot of people mention in regards to her modeling, she started out fine, but then by the time she was hitting her poses and exited the stage, she fell right back into it.

Talent – She is a fine dancer, but for some reason it seems like her selections in music never really go anywhere—there’s no build up to some bigger/more difficult elements, so it just ends up becoming sort of boring for me. I would suggest either choosing music that “evolves” a little more or cheat a little by cutting the song short. You don’t want judges thinking to themselves, “Is this over yet? Man, it’s starting to drag!”

EG – She wore a white dress with a slit up the front leg and I thought it looked good. Her presentation was polished, her hair looked great, and she really did seem to enjoy herself onstage. The dress fit her well and she moved in it comfortably. As for her OSQ, she was asked about her fitness/women’s health platform and was asked to explain the Go Red for Women campaign and her role in it. She explained the program very well, but completely missed mentioning her role in it. However, I will say that the OSQ’s were VERY LONG and wordy… she probably just missed it because she forgot it was asked and not because she didn’t have an answer to the question.

Through most of the pageant I had her as one of the winners, but after talent she slipped to 1st RU.

#3. Alicia Huyghe -I’ve heard her name before, but I had never seen her compete. She wore a tangerine orange skirt suit for onstage interview. I wasn’t a fan of it for her skin/hair color. I’m assuming she bought it specifically for competition since this wasn’t her first pageant (anyone can feel free to correct me if I’m wrong), so I do feel comfortable in saying that it just wasn’t a good choice.

SS – She wore a multi colored bikini that again—the colors and fit did not work. I think a few lessons from the pros would help out in how to properly glue bathing suit bottoms and how to shop for a proper fit and color would be of great help to her. Also, continuing to tone (I’m sure her talent rehearsal is a great workout!! Whoa!) will help her in this area.

Talent – She’s a really fun tapper to watch and certainly talented! She was energetic and kept it up through the whole routine. I loved her big finish!! That said, again—an outfit that didn’t work for me. It was black pants with a yellow top with black polka dots with matching headband. I liked the fun of the polka dots, but the pants weren’t flattering—in fact, they looked like they were way too big for her. They kept gapping and you could see what I can only believe was her underwear… And while I enjoyed the performance and thought she gave a pretty solid presentation, she started out with her back to the audience for a long time… I didn’t really like that. It made me feel like I was just staring at her, um, backside. ;-) Then when her routine was over, she just sort of walked offstage – not really a finished ending.

EG – She wore a green mermaid style dress. The top had a embroidered vine design and the bottom mermaid portion was a bunch of layers of knife pleat fabric. Her OSQ answer was typical local talk—sounded a little rehearsed about her platform (environment) and the steps she’s going to take to implement it (plans to talk in elementary schools.) It’s OK when you’re first starting out to say “I plan to…” but anyone who has competed in several locals should start to be able to say, “I am currently…”

Overall, she seems like a nice girl who enjoys the program and can benefit a lot from it. Most of my comments are wardrobe-based, but I think my overarching statement is that she has a strong talent, but the other areas all need some polish. I hope that she sticks with it.

#4. MieLecia Martin – My husband pointed at her during introductions and announced, “I LIKE HER! Mark her down!” so that was good news at the start. For interview, she wore a stylish outfit (not stodgy interview suit) with a white sleeveless top. I agreed—she looked good! Pretty, modern and trendy. Also had good energy and stage presence.

SS – Well, I really wasn’t a fan of her swimsuit at all. It was a black bikini that had a sort of skirt on the bottom with fringy strings hanging off of the sides. While I appreciate it is a modern style-- the fabric, cut (especially at the butt. and the string things hanging made it look like… well, um… let’s leave it at “inappropriate.” It did not project “titleholder” to me and actually bothered me enough that I remembered it for the rest of the competition, which isn’t a good thing. I really liked her shoes, but not for SS competition. They were espadrilles with a green satin wrap around the ankle.

Talent – She did a dance to “The way you make me feel.” While she had good rhythm, I really don’t think she’s a trained dancer. She wore black pants with a multi colored shirt.

EG – I liked her evening gown, a very nice selection for first starting off in pageants. It’s a tan/wine colored satin dress with ruffles on the bottom and a halter on the top. She looked very pretty.

OSQ – She’s very well spoken and her platform involves teens using drugs and alcohol. She answered about making positive changes, being a role model, and trying to bring back DARE programs (and another program that I can’t remember. Whoops!)

Final evaluation: While she had me at hello and finished well with EG/OSQ, she needs talent work and the swimsuit has gotta go. If this is her first pageant, I am very impressed with her stage presence. I like seeing “real” girls get up there on stage and express themselves, so I’m rooting for her to continue competing!

I have a feeling these are going to get progressively shorter as a few days have passed since the pageant and I have to rely on my notes instead of memory.

#5 Caitlin Mann - Did not compete.

#6 Christina Muha – The only notes I have for her interview suit is that she had on white shoes that looked way too big for her, so they looked klunky.

SS—Her walk was way bouncy. She wore a multi-colored swimsuit that didn’t fit right (someone should have introduced all of the new girls to Firm Grip!) and at the end of her walk, she tried to do the little heel kick, but it came across as a weird, contrived almost cheerleader move.

Talent – She played the French horn to “Belle” from Beauty and the Beast. She wore a blue prom style gown with “pickups” (which has been popular in prom and wedding gowns, but not in pageants.) She played with a music stand, which I understand is a no-no in pageants. While she does know how to play the horn, presentation on this really lacked for me, not talent. There’s no opportunity to make eye contact with the judges, entertain, etc. The end seemed kind of odd—there were lots of pauses and it ended abruptly.

Gown – As a new girl, she really should have been given more walking advice at rehearsal—she had a way of swinging her arms all akimbo that seemed very unnatural. She wore a green dress with sort of an empire waist – not a bad selection for her first pageant, but not a competition gown. I also found her rhinestone barrette distracting and more teen, less glamorous.

OSQ – Question on youth making positive choices. First of all, she repeated the question (another no-no in the Miss divisions) and was very fidgety (or as I wrote in my notes, wiggily). It’s one thing to make natural gestures, but it’s another to wiggle all over the place. Her answer was that she could make a difference by being a role model.

Overall, came across as a really sweet girl who has probably watched some pageants in person or on TV, but could really benefit by grabbing a video of MGC/MCC and watching herself compete, practice at home in the mirror, get a little advice and I bet her entire demeanor onstage and walk changes dramatically.

The other half will follow in a day or two... If you would like something written about you removed, please do not hesitate to email me. [All photos from Facebook; competition photos thanks to Ashley Hartman.]

Miss Ohio's Outstanding Teen Send-off!

Special thanks to Miss Ohio News for sending me the following release:

You are cordially invited to a Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Send-off Party for Miss Ohio’s Outstanding Teen 2008, Sarah Hider

Sunday, August 3rd from 2:00-4:00 pm

Westbrook Country Club
1098 Springmill Rd.
Mansfield, OH 44906

Tickets are $10 and are available at the door

Hosted by:
Miss Ohio 2005, Marlia Fontaine-Weisse

Featuring:
Miss Lake Erie, Kasey Wilson
Miss North East Ohio, Jenna Wilson
Miss Maumee Valley, Becky Minger

Light hors d’oevers and beverages
See Sarah’s full competition and travel wardrobe
Hear Sarah perform her talent
Have Sarah sign autographs and pose for pictures

Miss Greater Cleveland and Cuyahoga County Photos

Above: Interview winner and Miss Greater Cleveland '08 Jessica Barrett, outgoing Miss Greater Cleveland Andrea Andryscik and Miss Cuyahoga County '08 Whitney Sue Fricke.

Above, Gown winner and First Runner-up Kristen Haas, Swimsuit winner and Second Runner-up Ashley Warholic, Miss Maumee Valley '07 Becky Minger and the newly crowned Miss Greater Cleveland Jessica Barrett.

[Photos stolen from Jessica's blog and Ashley W.'s Facebook.]

Congrats to the New Titleholders!

Miss Greater Cleveland: Jessica Barrett
Miss Cuyahoga County: Whitney Sue Fricke

1st Runner-up: Kristen Haas
2nd Runner-up: Ashley Warholic
3rd Runner-up: Katie Gregory-Taylor

Interview: Jessica Barrett
Talent: Katie Gregory-Taylor
Evening Gown: Kristen Haas
Swimsuit: Ashley Warholic

Spirit Award: Alicia Hugye
Photogenic Award: Christina Muha

Best of Luck to the Miss Greater Cleveland Program!

Tomorrow night Miss Greater Cleveland will take place in North Royalton.

The contestant order is below; more soon...

#1 Whitney Sue Fricke
#2 Kristen Haas
#3 Alicia Huyghe
#4 Mielecia Martin
#5 Caitlin Mann
#6 Christina Muha
#7 Jessica Nelson
#8 Brittany Sisko
#9 Katie Gregory-Taylor
#10 Megan Wombacher
#11 Ashley Warholic
#12 Jessica Barrett
#13 Hannah VanWormer

Miss Lake Festival Photos and *MY* Take!

Surprise! I’m home for a visit and attended Miss Lake Festival Monday night.

I’ve been in LA for almost 5 months and my parents have been really complaining lately that I need to come home for a visit. Between the fact that beau, Loren, has taken two trips to see me and I have a friend getting married this weekend, it was indeed my turn to take a plane ride.

A couple LA friends have agreed that going home is not at all relaxing because everyone wants a piece of your time, so I decided to tell as few people as possible that I was coming because surprises are fun and hopefully it’ll be less stressful!

I flew in Sunday and knew my parents had tickets to Miss Lake Festival Monday night; on the way from Toledo and Celina Loren and I stopped to pick up my niece. We arrived at the Celina Field House to, luckily, find my parents sitting on the end of their row. I sent my niece to tap on their shoulder and watched from a few feet back. She’s six. It was hilarious to see my parents look at her in confused disbelief asking, “How did you get here?”

My mom moved faster than I’ve ever seen and plowed over my dad to get out of her seat when she turned around and saw us. Their reaction made my stiff neck from the airplane totally worth it!

So as for the pageant…

I considered writing some constructive feedback for each contestant, since I only know one of them and can therefore be completely subjective. However, I don’t think that would serve much of a purpose because most Lake Festival contestants don’t go on to do other pageants and I highly doubt they know of me or my blog.

Rather, here’s the contestant order, a tad more about them and comments of a more general nature.

1. Megan Perkeybile

Megan sang “When I Look at You” from The Scarlett Pimpernel. (That info was not on the website.) She placed last year and I really thought she might again, which supports the theory that you have to do 10% more than your toughest competition when your contestant number one.

2. Eryn Langenkamp

Eryn’s platform had something to do with Youth Physical Fitness.

3, Brittney McGee

Brittney’s going into Nursing at Wright State University. Mercer County readers may remember Kristen Loughridge, a Celina grad who placed the year Katie McMurray won; Brittney really resembled Kristen at certain angles, especially during Evening Gown. Just a random thought…

4. Brook Shinn

Brook’s platform has to do with Mentoring. She is a beautiful young woman with a very perfect Barbie doll type look with her blonde hair. For Evening Gown she wore a puffy white ball gown that makes you think princess or wedding cake topper. It was a strapless beaded bodice with a thick pink ribbon around the waist that led to a butt bow. The skirt was full white tulle. It was very pretty and people sitting around me ooed and awed. However, I can’t help but caution other Miss contestants against gown choices like this. Yes, you’re supposed to wear what make you feel great and this contestant exuded that, but it screamed “Teen pageant.” I think you have to ask yourself, can I be crowned in this? This dress could win a teen or kiddie pageant all day long, but not today’s Miss America.

5. Kelsey Wenning

Kelsey’s platform had to do with Drug and Alcohol Prevention. For talent she played The Little Mermaid theme on a flute; it’s by no means a technically difficult song but the performance was intriguing because she’s a red head, she wore a cute green cocktail dress and started the song sitting on a fake rock decorated with a net and sea shells. When the music picked up she stood and did a few well timed dance moves, playing to the judges and the audience. I know, I know, a red head doing The Little Mermaid and a set piece for an instrumental performance sounds pretty cheesy, but she did it so well, it was the best talent to that point! Throwing a gimmick on top of a weak to average talent usually just makes it worse, but this young lady epitomized part of what they say the judges are scoring in the talent competition, a well rehearsed, cohesive presentation.

6. Devon Stansbury

I can’t give an objective opinion of Devon. Our parents have always known one another (partially inevitable, as her mom runs the local funeral home!) and when I was in junior high and high school singing in all the area talent contests Devon was doing them too as one of the five thousand elementary age dancers! I was the first woman from our high school to win Lake Festival and we always said I’d help Devon become one of the next. The fact that she’s finally pageant age makes me feel so old! Anyway, her platform is Helping Kids Kope: something about children of divorced parents.













She did a lyrical dance, which I obviously didn’t help her with and had never seen; again, I’m biased, but I thought it was amazing. It was a very emotional piece and reminded me of Ashley Hartman’s dance, which I also love. Devon wore my old teal swimsuit. Teal is still a really hot color; there were three other swimsuits in that shade. I was surprised though, that she and the previously described cake topper were the only contestants in white gowns, a usual pageant staple.

Oh, also, Devon wore one of three “trendy” interview outfits. She and her mom found it in Florida; it was fitted black skirt, from the bust up it looked like a cute collared shirt with cap sleeves, but the bodice looked like a white corset-type piece with cute buttons and black pocket flaps. I know “corset” may turn some of you off, but I don’t know how else to describe it, it wasn’t sexy, but rather cute and “trendy professional.” I only saw it from the audience, but my mom saw it on the hanger and didn’t even use the word “corset” when telling me about it. The other two outfits were a high waisted black pin-strip skirt with a skinny black belt and a cute white button down and a simply, classy grey sheath dress with a belt. (Now that I see the photos, I'm happy to point out that it was the winner in the cute grey dress!) I thought those three looked great. There were also two train wrecks, one pants suit and the rest were boring skirt suits.

7. Sarah Pierstorff

Sarah’s platform is Committed to Purity. She had the same fate at Miss Lake Festival two years in a row – First Runner-up and Talent winner. That has to be difficult, but she is an example of someone with a very strong talent but is very stiff in gown and swimsuit. I honestly though Devon would place higher based on consistency, interview not withstanding. I’ve said it before, you should never simply rely on your strongest phase of competition. She rightfully won talent, but I have to comment that her choice to sing the popular “Queen of the Night” aria in English seemed odd to me. When you’re singing that high and in an operatic style, you can’t understand the words anyway, so in my opinion you may as well, more impressively, always sing opera in its native language. I don’t actually recall other pageant versions of this song, but it seemed odd to me that hers did not conclude on one of the crazy high notes. As a student of music I respect and understand that amazing endings are not always true to the original work, but come on, it’s a pageant! Unless it’s only two minutes to begin with, you already desolated the song by cutting it to two minutes, why not end it on a high note? (Literally and figuratively.) FYI, she wore the same evening gown Heather Wells wears, a teal halter with silver stones erupting from the midsection.

8. Megan Gerlach

The website said she’d dance to “It Is You,” but she actually danced to “Here I Come” by Fergi. Isn’t that the CW theme song? At first it energized the audience, but quickly lost steam and I feel maybe it was too ghetto for a pageant… Something for dancers to be careful of, and all contestants for that matter, as you balance finding what the “new, hip Miss America” means for you with that fact that it’s still a pageant!

9. Kyla Metzger

Kyla’s platform is “Ace Your Life,” something about building character. Kyla fell victim to what could be called the Grand Lake diet… She became sick due to a parasite from the water and lost 12 pounds the week before the pageant!

10. Ashley Kanney

Her platform deals with promoting an understanding of O.C.D. The website didn’t list Ashley’s talent, it was a vocal to “Orange Colored Sky.” Ashley and Jodi Green are the only two pageant women I can think of who actually have the right type of voice to pull this song off. That being said, I wish Musical Creations would stop selling it and contestants would STOP SINGING IT! I watched her performance pondering two things: Is that former Miss Lake Festival Pam Roessner-Ranly and then Marissa Minor’s old talent dress? And how does an 18 year old even know of the song “Orange Colored Sky?” It is just one of those songs that is so cliché, outdated and overdone! It doesn’t show your personality – it only shows that you bought the album “Top Ten Two Minute Pageant Hits!”

Anyway… it was Pam/Marissa’s dress; she also looked lovely in Marissa’s teal and white swimsuit and teal and black evening gown.

11. Ellen Bryan

Ellen looked even prettier than her headshot; instead of brown and curled, her hair was shorter, straightened and blond-ish. Overall her stage presence and beauty was striking, and not at all captured in the photographs. Although I was pulling for my girl, Devon, Ellen was the clear winner throughout the pageant. She just had that elusive, indescribable “IT” about her. She was not the best in talent, gown or swimsuit, but she was clearly the winner thanks to her confidence, beauty and height. (Onstage question at this pageant seemed to go faster than normal and took place first, so I wasn’t really keeping track yet. At the end when she was given both the Private and Onstage Interview awards, all bets were off!) I don’t recall, and it’s not in the program, but my dad thought they said she’s a sophomore at Ball State, which explains her maturity over the other contestants, most of whom were recent high school graduates.

As a former Miss Lake Festival, I feel I can speak bluntly – because the pageant is closed to one county, Miss Lake Festivals are often not as polished as other Miss Ohio contestants. I believe Erica Gelhaus was the first Miss Lake Festival to ever make the Top 10 as Miss Lake Festival, let alone be First Runner-up to the State crown. As I have defended on the message board, it is a program with great community support and high scholarship dollars, from which many successful Miss Ohio contestants have come. Erica’s wonderful talent, height and IT quality offset her lack of pageant experience; if she finds the right talent song, I think Ellen’s similar height and IT-ness could get her noticed next summer in Mansfield too!

Another note from the pageant…

Almost all the contestants said “Thank you, Heather” after they answered their onstage question. As a contestant, I know it feels kind of awkward if you don’t say anything and it’s confusing because people adamantly argue both for and against saying it… I’ve always been on the fence, but as of tonight I’m taking a stand! It’s more annoying than “Orange Colored Sky!” Maybe it’s because most of tonight’s contestants sounded like insincere robots, “Thank you, Heather,” “Thank you, Heather,” “Thank you, Heather,” or maybe it’s because when you stop and think about it, it just doesn’t make logical sense. In real life we don’t usually thank someone for thanking us and rarely would someone asking that kind of question respond to your answer by saying “thank you” in the first place! Sure, someone says thanks if they asked you for directions, but not when they ask about your life’s passion, intended career or opinion on abortion! It’s more unnatural than the four inch heels in bikinis! I smell a pageant poll about this topic…

Although there was double the need amount of entertainment and filler, as always, it was a nice show. My mom noted that former Miss Ohio, Sarah (Evans) Tackett is one of the best pageant emcees she's ever seen, with her calm, knowledgeable, likable delivery.

I tried to describe the crowd to Loren, but he agreed you just have to see it... It's comparable to that at Miss Ohio, but in a basketball arena istead of a theatre. Sadly there weren't many "special guests" to be announced onstage. No local E.D.s or titleholders were in attendance; Miss Ohio 2004 Amanda Beagle and Field Director Kim Saunders were introduced, as well as a Miss Lake Festival from the 70s and I; another former, Suzanne Murlin waved from the judges table.

[Photos by Mark Pummell from The Daily Standard.]