Miss USA at the Miss Universe Presentation Show

Miss USA, Kristen Dalton, at the Presentation Show (preliminary competition) in her national costume and swimsuit:

And her video interview:

More Miss WCO & Miss LSF Photos

Miss West Central Ohio, Katie Bowen

Education: Ohio Northern/ Clinical Laboratory Science
Talent: flute "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring"
Platform: Special Olympics: Disability Doesn't Mean Inability
Awards: Interview
Pageant Past: competed at Miss Ohio in '09 as Miss All*American City

Below: 1st Runner-up and Talent winner, Stephanie Spitnale

Below left: 2nd Runner-up and People's Choice winner Katie Ulrich; right: 3rd Runner Up, Courtney Monk












Swimsuit winner,
Devon Stansbury

Miss Lima Square Fair, Shannon O'Neill

Education: Fordham University/ Communication & Middle East Studies
Talent: vocal
Platform: T.O.N.E. our Children: teaching about obesity, nutrition & exercise
Awards: Talent and Interview
Pageant Past: Top 11 at Miss Ohio in '08 at Miss WCO and Top 10 at Miss Ohio in '09 at Miss Maumee Valley

Below: 1st Runner-up and Swimsuit winner, Kristy Moneysmith











CLICK HERE for 21 pages of Miss WCO / Miss LSF photos, by Ross Clark!

Just across the river...

Last weekend four former Ohio contestants crossed the boarder for the Miss Northern West Virginia pageant.

Miss Ohio 2008, Karissa Martin, crowned the winner,
Cali Young.

Former Miss Ohio Valley Allison West was in attendance while former Ohio local contestants Aubrey Bodo and April O’Brien. April won the Interview and Smile awards!

Above left to right: Allison, Aubrey, Karissa and April.

Huge thanks to Paul Krajnyak for emailing these photos;
more can be found HERE.

Pageant Pictures: Buckeyes and Beauties Bowling for Books

Last Friday Miss Ohio partnered with OSU athletes for "Buckeyes and Beauties Bowling for Books." The event raised money and collected books for the 2nd and 7 Foundation and Reach Out and Read; it appears to have been a great success!

Above: The Buckeyes and the beauties!
Front row, left to right: Miss North Coast, Sarah Hider, Miss Cuyahoga County, Meggie Whitman, Miss Northwestern Ohio, Heather Waterman, former Miss Lake Festival, Ellen Bryan, Miss Ohio Erica Gelhaus, former Miss Ohio, Renee Autherson Brown, Miss Ohio River, Heather Wells, Miss Greater Cleveland, Ashley Warholic, Miss Lake Festival, Cayla Hellwarth and former Miss Cuyahoga County, Whitney Fricke.

Above: Clayland ED, Martha Campbell and the boys!

Above: current and former Miss Lake Festivals,
Cayla Hellwarth and Ellen Bryan.

Above: Miss Ohio, Erica Gelhaus with former Miss Ohio,
Renee Autherson Brown.

Above: former Miss Ohio, Renee Autherson Brown, signs former Miss Cuyahoga County, Whitney Fricke's shirt.

Above left to right: Miss Cuyahoga County, Meggie Whitman,
Miss Ohio River, Heather Wells
and Miss Greater Cleveland, Ashley Warholic.

These photos are from Christine Walsh Newton's Facebook album; CLICK HERE for all of them. Also, check out Ashley's blog and Heather's blog for more bowling pictures and Allie's blog for all things Erica.

Pageant Pictures: Miss WCO & Miss LSF

Miss Lima Square Fair, Shannon O'Neill
and Miss West Central Ohio, Katie Bowen.

All of these pictures were found on Facebook; specifically the four above were taken by Ross Clark.

Above left to right: Outgoing Miss WCO, Victoria Miller, 3rd RU Courtney Monk, 1st RU Stephanie Spitnale, 2nd RU Katie Ulrich, former Miss America Kaye Lani Ray Rafko
and new Miss WCO Katie Bowen.

Congrats to the New Miss WCO and Miss SF

Miss West Central Ohio: Katie Bowen

First Runner Up: Stephanie Spitnale
Second Runner Up: Katie Ulrich
Third Runner Up: Courtney Monk

Interview: Katie Bowen
Talent: Stephanie Spitnale
Swimsuit: Devon Stansbury

Miss Square Fair: Shannon O’Neill

First runner up: Kristy Moneysmith

Interview: Shannon O'Neill
Talent: Shannon O'Neill
Swimsuit: Kristy Moneysmith

People’s Choice winner: Katie Ulrich

For an article and the only way to enlarge a few pictures, CLICK HERE; if you know the special award winners, please comment.

How funny that Shannon and Katie will be "sister titleholders" for a second year! Last year they also shared an ED as Miss Maumee Valley and Miss All*American City. Also ironic, Katie makes the second of only six Miss WCOs (since the title was brought back from hiatus in 2004) to be a flutist, a less common talent. And if that's not enough, Shannon's first title (in 2007) was Miss WCO, thus last year she crowned Victoria, and tonight Victoria put a crown back on Shannon's head.

Best of Luck to Miss West Central Ohio & Lima Square Fair

Tonight at the Lima Civic Center, former Miss America, Kaye Lani Ray Rafko, will host the 4th local pageant of the year. The outgoing Miss is the always charming Victoria Miller. She is a dancer who advocates skin cancer awareness. Victoria attends Baruch College in New York for Broadcast Journalism. Miss West Central Ohio was her second MOA title; she will not only crown a new Miss WCO, but also the inaugural Miss Square Fair.

Two separate groups of women will compete simultaneously. In many multiple crown pageants the two or three highest scoring women are crowned; in this case, 11 women are eligible for the "closed" title of Miss West Central Ohio and only 4 women are competing for the "open" Miss Square Fair crown.

Miss West Central Ohio is closed only to women who live, work or attend school in Allen, Auglaize, Defiance, Henry, Hardin, Logan, Mercer, Paulding, Putnam and Van Wert or Wood counties.
They are:

1. Katie Bowen+
2. Megan Wolery*
3. Jamienne Scott
4. Courtney Monk+
5. Nicole Callibari*
6. Laura Powell
7. Mindy Fetzer
8. Katie Ulrich
9. Stephanie Spitnale*
10. Alyssa Linet*
11. Devon Stansbury*

Three Runners-up to Miss WCO will be named, as well as Talent, Swimsuit and Interview award winners.

The Miss Square Fair contestants are:

12. Jessica Nelson*
13. Kristy Moneysmith+
14. Brandi Herceg+
15. Shannon O'Neill+

In addition to the crowning of Miss LSF, a First Runner-up will be awarded as well as Talent, Swimsuit and Interview winners.

This pageant will be broadcasted on WLIO-NBC Lima on August 22nd at 7 p.m. and on FOX-Lima on August 29 at 8 p.m.

Unfortunately, I don't have time to add pictures and all my usual information for these contestants; however (*) denotes pageant experience and (+) means they've been to Miss Ohio. This is sure to be a great show, with amazing scholarships and strong contestants! Best of luck to everyone!

Gearing Up for Miss Universe

Contestants from around the globe have all arrived in the Bahamas for the August 23rd pageant.



The Miss Universe website hasn't worked well today because they're constantly adding photos and videos. I'm sure it'll be fixed soon; tons of photos can always be found at this site though.

Miss USA, Kristen Dalton Many have commented that Kristens look is much different in the Bahamas than at Miss USA. I don't mind the natural makeup, but I can not stand her hair straight; her locks aren't thick enough to make it work.

The following are RUMORED to be judging:

Shandi Finnessey

She is an American beauty queen, model and television hostess. She is best known for winning the Miss USA title in 2004 as Miss Missouri USA. At Miss Universe 2004 became the first runner up. Finnessey was also a commentator on the 2006 Miss Universe Pageant and a sideline reporter for the CBS tournament blackjack series Ultimate Blackjack Tour. She has also appeared on the NBC reality show The Apprentice, in the 20 Sexiest Men and 20 Sexiest Women specials on CMT. On March 19, 2007, Finnessey debuted on the fourth season of Dancing with the Stars.

Adel Chabbi
This France-born man has over 23 years of experience as a hair dresser and has worked with the likes of Alicia Silverstone, Lauren Hutton and Jessica Lange. Adel is expert in hair extensions and is also a television celebrity. He has participated in TV shows like ‘Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,’ and ‘Today Show’ of NBC. He has also styled models for a number of major fashion and beauty magazines, including French Vogue, Glamour, Elle, and the like.

Zuleyka Jerrís Rivera Mendoza
She is a Puerto Rican beauty queen who held the titles Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2006 and Miss Universe 2006. She made her debut as a telenovela actress in Telemundo's soap opera Dame Chocolate. She is studying acting in Mexico City to become a successful actress. She is a famous and international model. Well known for an international campaing for a prestigious shoe company.

Dean Mcflicker
Mcflicker, the Vice President of NBC Primetime Special Projects, has many other jobs to do. He also handles production, direction and choreography. So far, he has promoted ‘The Biggest Loser,’ ‘ER,’ ‘Law & Order,’ ‘Grease: You're The One That I Want,’ ‘The Apprentice,’ ‘America's Got Talent, ‘American Dreams,’ ‘American Gladiators,’ ‘Deal or No Deal’ and ‘The Singing Bee’. He has also done choreography for ‘Upfront’ (Radio City Music Hall), ‘Sha Bang’ (Lincoln Center), ‘Gypsy of the Year’ (Virginia Theater), etc. Along with these, he has coordinated with Tina Turner, Kool & the Gang, Ray Charles, etc.

Sol Kerzner
Chairman of the Board of Kerzner International based on Paradise Island, Bahamas.
As a result of the success of the Sun City resort, he got involved in international hotel and gambling resorts; most notable is his role as the innovative developer behind the well-known Atlantis resort in the Bahamas. He is also the owner of a new project called new Atlantis on the Palm in Dubai. Sol Kerzner's luxury management company, One&Only Resorts, also manages eight five-star luxury resorts in Cape Town, The Bahamas, Mexico, Mauritius, Dubai and the Maldives.

María Antonieta Collins
She is a Mexican journalist , TV host and best seller author of six books and winner of four EMMY awards, (two of them National EMMYS) and the Edward Murrow Award. She also write a weekly editorial column for "El Sol de Mexico" network and it sixty newspapers in the country of Mexico.
Maria Antonieta Collins and Maria Celeste Araras are both animal rights activists.

Angel Sanchez
From Venezuela, he is renowned worldwide for both bridal and evening wear designs that reflect his architectural discipline and structure while creating new shapes and proportions that hold true to the timeless perfection of traditional couture dressmaking. He is member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America. In 2005, Angel designed Sandra Bullock's wedding gown and Eva Longoria's Emmy Awards dress for which she received a best dressed nod. In 2006 Sandra wore an Angel Sanchez gown to the Oscars and in 2007 Angel designed Eva Longoria's wedding gown.Angel's talent and jovial personality has won over celebrities on the red carpet and socialites on the international party circuit. His devotees also include Salma Hayek, Giselle Bundchen, Beyonce, America Ferrara, Iman, Elizabeth Hurley, Bridget Moynahan, Thalia, and Gayle King.

Ivanka Marie Trump
She is an American businesswoman, socialite, heiress, and fashion model. She is the daughter of Ivana and Donald Trump, and is currently Vice President of Real Estate Development and Acquisitions at the Trump Organization. Before working for her father, she worked for Forest City Enterprises. Trump joined forces with Dynamic Diamond Corp., a diamond trading company sightholder, to design and introduce a line of jewelry at the brand's first flagship retail store called 'Ivanka Trump' on Madison Avenue.

Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace
Minister of Tourism & Aviation of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. He has had a long and distinguished career in tourism in both the public and private sector of The Bahamas and in the Caribbean Region. Highly regarded in tourism circles both at home and abroad, Vincent, last month, completed a three-year stint as Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO).

The Final "State" Winner - Puerto Rico

Well, the U.S. Territory, Puerto Rico, has rejoined the Miss America pageant; you can tell it's official, as just like the national and most state websites, the official Puerto Rico site has nothing but generic information! Not surprisingly, you can find all you need to know about the first Puerto Rican delegate since 1961 on Facebook and the message boards...

Miss Puerto Rico
Miriam "MiMi" Pabon

Education: University of Puerto Rico / Drama
Talent: Dress flipping... I mean Dance
Platform:
Pageant Past: Semifinalist in Miss International 2008
Awards: Community Service


Miss Puerto Rico Pageant in 16 minutes:

Miss Puerto Rico America "Miriam Pabon" from Jose Acevedo on Vimeo.

Miss America, Katie Stam, looked amazing! That was the best I've ever heard her sing; that being said she had no business trying to belt out a Mariah song.

Welcome to the Blogosphere... Ashley Warholic!

Miss Great Cleveland, Ashley Warholic

Pageant Pictures: A Few from Miss North Coast

[Above: First Runner-up and Swimsuit winner, Heather Wells, and Miss North Coast 2009, Sarah Hider.]

[Above left to right: Brandi Herceg, Jessica Nelson, Alicia Huyghe, Heather Wells and Sarah Hider.]


All North Coast photos, both here and below,
were found on Facebook.

Congrats to the New Miss North Coast, Sarah Hider!

Miss North Coast - Sarah Hider
1st RU - Heather Wells

Talent - Alicia Huyghe
Swimsuit - Heather Wells

[In the photo above: outgoing Miss North Coast Sasha Eby, the newly crowned Sarah Hider
and Miss Greater Cleveland, Ashley Warholic.]

Best of Luck to the Miss North Coast Program!

Tonight in Brunswick, the adorable Sasha Eby will crown a new Miss North Coast. Sasha, a Neuroscience student at Muskingum College, placed in the Top 10 this summer during her first attempt at the Miss Ohio title. She is a vocalist who promotes teen abstinence. I thought she was young, fresh and fabulous; she has oodles of potential if she keeps competing!

The pageant begins at 7 p.m. at the Brunswick High School Performing Arts Center. Check this Twitter page for updates. To the best of my knowledge, these woman are competing, in this approximate order:

Brandi Herceg

Education: Franciscan University / Early Childhood Education
Talent: Dance or vocal
Platform: Healthy Hearts are Happy Hearts
Pageant Past: competed at Miss Ohio in '08 as Miss Ohio Valley



Jessica Nelson

Education: University of Toledo / Pre-Veterinary
Talent: Vocal
Platform: ABCs of Owning a Pet
Pageant Past: competed last weekend at Greater Cleveland and consistently last year


Alicia Huyghe

Education: Cleveland State University / Exercise Science & Dance
Talent: Tap Dance
Platform: Going Green
Pageant Past: competed at Greater Cleveland last weekend and placed consistently in locals last year


Sarah Hider

Education: Ohio University / Journalism Talent: Vocal
Platform: HIV / AIDS Awareness
Pageant Past: Ohio's Outstanding Teen 2008; 1st RU at Greater Cleveland last weekend



Heather Wells

Education: Kent State University / Broadcast Journalist & Mass Communication
Talent: Dance / Lyrical or jazz
Platform: "Groomed 4 Success" raising 4-H awareness among youth
Pageant Past: Top 10 at Miss Ohio '09 as Miss Ohio River and competed in '08 as Miss Maple City; Top 5 at Miss Ohio Teen USA

It's a new year, so email me updated info and headshots!