The Royal Wedding Gown!

Sorry Miss America, Miss Universe and all red carpet starlets, the gown of the decade is now is Kate Middleton's Alexander McQueen Royal Wedding dress!

Mrs. America Results!

The Mrs. America pageant took place Thursday ; congrats to Ohio's Melanie Murphy Miller for a strong showing. Check my facebook wall for a borrowed photo album of Melanie.

The pageant will air May 8th on MyFamilyTV and R&R. Click the link on the pageant's homepage to see if your provider carries these channels.

Mrs. America:

Florida

1st RU: Hawaii

2nd RU: Colorado

Top 10:

Minnesota

Texas

Idaho

Georgia

Michigan

California

Oregon

America's Choice:

Virginia

West Virginia

Staff Choice:

Nebraska

Arkansas

Mrs. Congeniality: Indiana

State Costume winners:

Iowa

Tennessee

Alaska

The new Mrs. America, Florida's April Lufriu, is 41! Seriously!? She looks younger than some mis-styled Miss America contestants.

The results were found in a news article and on Twitter. While the official website and Facebook have tons of great photos and videos, they only list the winner; that baffling, as a lack of information distribution is a pet peeve of mine...

Congrats to the New Miss Ohio International, Jillian Dansko!

Updated!

I knew I needed to catch up on my blogging, but I didn't realize I completely missed the Miss Ohio International, Mrs. and Teen pageants! They were held yesterday in Dayton. Last years Miss was a former competitor in MAO local pageants, Jacquelyn Adams. Six women competed for Jackie's crown, including three former Miss Ohio contestants, [below left to right] Amy Allen, Jillian Dankso and Sophia Davis.

Miss Ohio International: Jillian Dansko

1st Runner-up: Dawn Araujo

2nd Runner-up: Amy Allen

3rd Runner-up: Sophia Davis

Photogenic: Sophia Davis

People's Choice: Liz Vertosick

Mrs. Ohio International: Jenny Lewis

Teen Ohio International: Brianna Bailey

Teen Photogenic: Brianna Bailey

Teen People's Choice: Alyssa Watson

Did you realize... The reigning Miss Ohio, Mrs. Ohio and Miss Ohio International ALL competed at Miss Ohio (America) 2006?! Mrs. Ohio, Melanie Murphy Miller, won Miss Ohio 2006 while the reigning Miss Ohio, Becky Minger, was her 1st Runner-up. The new Miss Ohio International, Jillina Dansko, was in the Top 10!

Jillian will now compete at the national Miss International pageant at the end of July in Chicago. She was a veteran in the Miss Ohio (America) system, competing at several locals before winning a Sweeps title and making the Top 10. She ended up with four local titles, also winning a Swimsuit preliminary along the way in Mansfield. After "aging out" she competed and won Beauties of America's 20's.

The International pageant system focuses heavily on platform work, with 40% of the score coming from the Private Interview. 20% is alloted to each of the following: Fitness Wear, Fun Fashion Wear and Evening Gown. Last years Teen was Calle Logston and Mrs. was Heidi Scheer.

Miss Ohio 2011 Contestant Order

Today and tomorrow the Miss Ohio contestants are at the annual Spring Forum, turned retreat! This morning they selected their contestant order during a lottery; their names were randomly drawn, then they selected their fight/number.

I am so appreciative to the source who emailed me the list! Thank you! I know fans are eager to see where their favorites ended up...

Flight 1 - Buckeyes
Talent * Swimsuit * Gown & Question

1) Heather Waterman*
2) Jessica Nelson
3) Courtney Monk
4) Chelsi Howman
5) Amber Bussa
6) Shannon O'Neill
7) Alyssa Waldman
8) Ellen Bryan*

Flight 2 - Cardinals
Gown & Question * Talent * Swimsuit

9) Meggie Whittman
10) Jane Marie Covel
11) Ashley Warholic
12) Alyssa Phillips
13) Alicia Huyghe
14) Alyssa Hanson
15) Marisa Buchheit
16) Elyssa McCracken
17) Jenna Fowls

Flight 3 - Carnations
Swimsuit * Gown & Question * Talent

18) Ashley Bowman
19) Sarah Hider
20) Allison Goodwin
21) Kylie Johnson
22) Alyssa Brumbaugh
23) Heather Wells
24) Cayla Hellwarth
25) Devon Stansbury
26) Pryia Sharma

*Heather Waterman was the last name drawn; thus, she got the last available spot. Not surprisingly, it was contestant #1. Ellen Bryan sold the most ad pages, which came with the advantage of being able to select her placement at anytime (Instead of waiting for her name to be drawn.) She is not at the forum, but her ED opted to pick her spot first.

The Teen contestants had a slightly less involved, but still random, process of selecting their placement. They simply drew their number from a bowl.

1. Emily Tabar

2. Michelle Goodwin

3. Sarah Eash

4. Matti Chrisman

5. Hannah Tumbusch

6. Grace Stammen

7. Brooklyn Thompson

8. Morgan Kindred

9. Kelsey Barrett

Congrats to the Winners of Miss Ohio Sweeps Pageants!

[Seven new titleholders with Miss Ohio!
Left to right: Alyssa W., Alyssa P., Jenna F., Priya S., Miss Ohio Becky M., Miss CC Jessica N.,
Alicia H. and Ashley B.]

Sweeps Two Winners!

Miss Mohican Valley: Jenna Fowls

Miss Huron County: Priya Sharma

Miss Heart of Ohio: Alicia Huyghe

1st RU: Liz Wong

2nd RU: Nina Haaskivi

Sweeps One Winners!

Miss Buckeye State: Ashley Bowman

Miss Ohio River: Alyssa Phillips

Miss Willard: Alyssa Waldman

1st RU: Alicia Huyghe

2nd RU: Rebecca Ribley

Congrats to the New Miss Cuyahoga County, Jessica Nelson!

I'm excited to announced that new opportunities have opened up for three local competitors!

Jillian Bumpas won the first local she tried, Miss Cuyahoga County, back in July. She is a Musical Theatre major at Baldwin-Wallace college and has been given a huge theatrical opportunity that has caused her to resign her title. 1st Runner-up at the pageant, Allison Goodwin, was crowned Miss Vacationland so the new Miss Cuyahoga County is original 2nd Runner-up, Jessica Nelson!

Jessica has been a dedicated contestants for a couple years, also placing this season at North Coast and Northwestern Ohio. She is a Pre-Veterinary student at the University of Toledo and member of the Rockets Marching Band. For pageants, she dances and is an active volunteer with the Humane Society. Her platform blog.

I think it's very likely that Jessica would have won a Sweeps title today, meaning another crown has been opened up for someone else! Congratulations to Jessica and best of luck to Jillian!

Best of Luck to the Miss Ohio Sweeps Program!

Tomorrow 16 women will compete for six Sweeps crowns at Willard High School. Like last year, the titles will be Miss Willard, Miss Huron County, Miss Buckeye State, Miss Heart Of Ohio, Miss Mohican Valley and Miss Ohio River. Per Miss America rules only three crowns can be given at a time, so two separate pageants will take place in one day. The first pageant begins at 4 p.m. and the second at 7 p.m.; tickets are $10 or $15 for both shows.

Contestants will give two interviews for two separate panels of judges. The first panel is Kasi Collins, Fremont; Charlie Vallance, Columbus; John Aiello, Norwalk; Angela Thomas, Tiffin; Blythe Gresser, Columbus; and Bonnie Gregory, New London. The second judging panel is Tom Dunlap, Liz Truxell and Tina Beier, Norwalk; Brian McIntyre, Cleveland; Alex Thompson, Sandusky and Jeana Jones, Akron. The Judges Chair will be Nanci Keinath, with Jan Moll and Dolly Ruffing auditing.

Last year two Sweeps winners made the Top 10 at Miss Ohio, Tera Coleman and Whitney Fricke. Whitney did not compete again this year; Tera competed in one local but is not trying for another Sweeps title. 2010 Sweeps winners Devon Stansbury and Stephanie Betlz were Non-Semifinalist at Miss Ohio, but were among the highest scholarship recipients. Devon is the only of last years six to already be headed back to Miss Ohio (as Miss Lake Festival). Stephanie competed twice, recently placing at Muskingum Valley, thus her absense from the contestant list is extremely surprising. Finally, Rebeka Zoz did not competed again this season, making Liz Wong the only 2010 Sweeps winner to be competing there again this year.

Miss Ohio, Becky Minger, and Miss Ohio's Outstanding Teen, Cecili Weber, will emcee and entertain at both pageants. Six of the following contestants will be rewarded with a trip to Miss Ohio and $500 scholarship!

Ashley Bowman

Age: 21

Education: Kent State University

Talent: vocal

Platform: “Get Up! Get Out! Get Going!”

Pageant Past: competed – Clayland; competed - CO; 2nd RU - MC

Jenna Fowls

Age: 21

Education: Mount Vernon Nazarene University

Talent: vocal

Platform: “Dating Violence”

Pageant Past: 1st RU, I, Prelim T, SS & EG - Musk. V

Nina Haaskivi

Age: 21

Education: Bowling Green State University

Talent: vocal

Platform: “Real Women, Real Beauty.”

Pageant Past: 3rd RU - MC; 3rd RU - Musk. V

Alicia Huyghe

Age: 23

Education: Cleveland State University

Talent: tap dance

Platform: “CUE: Children Understanding the Environment”

Pageant Past: competed - Musk. V

Heather Isbell

Age: 20

Education: New York Institute of Photography

Talent: vocal

Platform:“Never Give Up!: Encouraging Youth To Pursue Their Dreams”

Pageant Past: competed - Vacationland; National American Miss and community queen festival experience

Ashliegh Jarzenski

Age: 19

Education: Ashland University

Talent: dance

Platform: “REACH: The Benefits Of Volunteering”

Pageant Past: competed – GC/CC; competed – NC; competed - M/NCO

Maria Minnick

Age: 21

Education: Owens Community College

Talent: dance

Platform: “Celebrate Diversity”

Pageant Past: SS – GC/CC; competed - MV/AAC/FT; 2nd RU - Vacationland; competed - MC

Jessica Nelson was slated to competed, but accepted the title Miss Cuyahoga County the night before.

Erin O'Brien

Age: 18

Education: DePauw University

Talent: vocal

Platform: “Women's Heart Health”

Pageant Past: competed - MV; competed - CO

Alyssa Phillips

Age: 19

Education: Bowling Green State University

Talent: dance

Platform: “Don't Suffer For Love”

Pageant Past: competed – MV/AAC/FT; 1st RU - NWO; Congeniality - M/NCO; 1st RU Vacationland; 1st RU - MC; 2nd RU & Spirit - Musk. V

Rebecca Ribley

Age: 19

Education: Ashland University

Talent: vocal

Platform:“Raising Awareness of Hunger in America”

Pageant Past: 3rd RU – GC/CC; competed - NC; competed - M/NCO; semifinalist - Musk. V

Priya Sharma

Age: 22

Education: Cleveland State University

Talent: dance

Platform: “Creating Positive Attitudes 101: Promoting Healthy and Positive Attitudes For Our Children”

Pageant Past: 3rd RU – NC; competed - M/NCO

Allison Vance

Age: 19

Education: Ashland County West Holmes Career Center

Talent: vocal

Platform: “Suicide Prevention Awareness”

Pageant Past: competed at Maple City

Alyssa Waldman

Education: Otterbein College

Talent: vocal

Platform:“It's Abuse: A Relationship Abuse Awareness Campaign”

Pageant Platform: competed - WCO/LSF/CL; T – MV; 2nd RU & T tie – Clayland; competed – MV/AAC/FT; Non-Semifinalist Talent award at Miss Ohio 2010 as Miss Northwestern Ohio

Shayle Welch

Age: 20

Education: Bowling Green State University

Talent: vocal

Platform: “Supporting And Promoting Diabetes Research.”

Pageant Past: competed – MV/AAC/FT; competed - MC

Veronica Wende

Age: 19

Education: Hillside College

Talent: vocal

Platform: "’Shine On’ Through Tissue and Organ Donation”

Pageant Past: competed at Miami Valley; Miss Ohio's Outstanding Teen 2009

Elizabeth Wong

Age: 20

Education: Oberlin College

Talent: dance

Platform: “Cardiac Awareness”

Pageant Past: competed – NC; 3rd RU - NWO; competed - M/NCO; competed - MC; Semifinaist - Musk. V; Miss Huron County 2010

Although this information was published in today's Norwalk Reflector, it was a bit hard to come by; I greatly appreciate the source who acquired it for me!

Surprising omissions to this list are Anna Reis, Stephanie Betlz, Christina Muha, Jena Sweigart, Abby Daniel and Tera Coleman. Hopefully the found the 2010/2011 season valuable and return next year!

2011 Miss Ohio Sweeps Eligibility

As with every local pageant, message board posters are asking who is competing in Sweeps. I find this sooooo annoying for several reason. No one is going to see that post and say, "oops, I totally forgot I had the list right here in my back pocket..." If contestants get the list at a forum or per email, it'll come out without any baiting. Some pageants are known for getting pre-pageant press or listing their contestants on their website, but past that, any response you get on a message board is pure speculation. Sweeps has neither a forum nor press, so what's the point? To be perfectly honest, I think those posts annoy me mainly because I fear people think maybe it's me; it's not. Most local directors in Ohio know where to find me and if they choose to trust me with their list I greatly appreciate it. If I don't get a list and have extra time, I may see if the usual suspects have posted about competing on Facebook. In the case of Sweeps, the possibilities are so vast, I'll just be waiting for a text message or email the day of (for which I'm also very grateful). How vast? Around 65 ladies are eligible, but the program is usually lucky to get 20 competitors. Here they are, organized by how often they competed this season:

Alyssa Phillips - competed – MV/AAC/FT; 1st RU - NWO; Congeniality - M/NCO; 1st RU Vacationland; 1st RU - MC; 2nd RU & Spirit - Musk. V

Jessica Nelson – 2nd RU – GC/CC; 4th RU – NC; competed – MV/AAC/FT; 4th RU - NWO; competed - Vacationland; competed - MC

***

Christina Muha – competed – GC/CC; competed NC; competed – MV; competed - Vacationland; competed - MC

Elizabeth Wong – competed – NC; 3rd RU - NWO; competed - M/NCO; competed - MC; Semifinaist - Musk. V

***

Alyssa Waldman – competed - WCO/LSF/CL; T – MV; 2nd RU & T tie – Clayland; competed – MV/AAC/FT

Jena Sweigart – 1st RU & I – LF; 2nd RU - WCO/LSF/CL; competed – MV; 1st RU – MV/AAC/FT

Maria Minnick – SS – GC/CC; competed - MV/AAC/FT; 2nd RU - Vacationland; competed - MC

Rebecca Ribley – 3rd RU – GC/CC; competed - NC; competed - M/NCO; semifinalist - Musk. V

***

Abby Daniel - competed - MV; competed - Musk. V; competed - GBC

Anna Reis - competed – MV; 1st RU & I - CO; 1st RU - GBC

Ashleigh Jarzenski – competed – GC/CC; competed – NC; competed - M/NCO

Ashley Bowman - competed – Clayland; competed - CO; 2nd RU - MC

***

Courtney Fraley - competed - M/NCO; competed - Musk. V

Erin O’Brien – competed – MV; competed – CO

Jocelyn Staugler – competed – LF; competed - WCO/LSF/CL

Kirsten Fennig – competed – MV/AAC/FT; competed - NWO

Nina Haaskivi - 3rd RU - MC; 3rd RU - Musk. V

Priya Sharman – 3rd RU – NC; competed - M/NCO

Samantha Hartings – 3rd RU – LF; competed - WCO/LSF/CL

Shayla Welch - competed – MV/AAC/FT; competed - MC

Stephanie Beltz – competed – Clayland; 4th RU - Musk. V

***

Alicia Huyghe - competed - Musk. V

Allison Vance - competed - MC

Amber Galloway - competed - MC

Ashley Lundy – NonF T - NC

Brandi Herceg - competed – Clayland

Caity Jackson - competed - M/NCO

Chelsea Hempfling - 2nd RU - NWO

Christina Marie Drake - competed - NWO

Courtney Drenan - competed - Musk. V

Danielle Williams - competed - MV/AAC/FT

Elizabeth Adamescu - SS - Vacationland

Emily Langenkamp – Excellence award – LF

Emily Moore - competed - NWO

Erica Clouse - competed - Musk. V

Erica Travis - competed - Musk. V

Erin Marie Ralston - competed – MV/AAC/FT

Grace Needler - competed - WCO/LSF/CL

Haley Piper - competed - NWO

Heather Isbell - competed - Vacationland

Jamienne Scott - competed - WCO/LSF/CL

Jenna Fowls - 1st RU, I, Prelim T, SS & EG - Musk. V

Jenna Strickler - competed - Musk. V

Jessica Burdette - competed - M/NCO

Kara Schoenhofer – 1st RU – WCO/LSF/CL

Katie Ulrich - competed - WCO/LSF/CL

Kaitlin Howland - competed - GBC

Kristen Piasecki – competed – GC/CC

Kristy Halderman - competed - GBC

Lauren Gessner – 2nd RU – NC

Lauren Schwab - competed - GBC

Lindsay Davenport - competed - NWO

McKenna Armstrong - competed - M/NCO

Megan Wolery - competed - WCO/LSF/CL

Mindy Fetzer - competed - WCO/LSF/CL

Rachel Hertenstein – 2nd RU & T – LF

Rachel Jones - Talent - Vacationland

Rebecca Brunelle - competed - WCO/LSF/CL

Roxanne Romack – Memorial award - LF

Sierra Moore - competed - Musk. V

Tera Coleman – competed – CO

Tera Hubbard – 2nd RU – MV/AAC/FT

Veronica Wende - competed - MV

Victoria Puthoff – Memorial award – LF

Victoria Petrosky – competed – GC/CC

Pageant Pictures: Miss GBC

The following photos were found on the winners' Facebook pages; most are attributed to Mark Stiver:

Below: Miss Greater Butler County, Jane Covel with outgoing titleholder Nanciann Strosnider and the recently crowned Muskingum Valley's Teen, Matti Chrisman:

Below: Miss Greater Butler County's Outstanding Teen, Brooklyn Thompson, with Miss Ohio, Becky Minger, fellow contestant Reagen Christman and outgoing Teen, Taylor Crowe:

Congrats to the New Miss Greater Butler County, Jane Covel!

Miss Greater Butler County

Jane Covel

1st Runner-up: Anna Reis

Spirit Award: Jane Covel

Miss Greater Butler County's Outstanding Teen

Brooklyn Thompson

Updated: Best of Luck to the Miss Greater Butler County & Teen Program!

Saturday in Oxford two new titleholders will be crowned, Miss Greater Bulter County and Greater Butler County's Outstanding Teen! The pageant will take place at 7 p.m. in Bogan Elementary School. Details are on the Miss GBC website. Nicole Masters, Miss Hamilton 2006, will emcee and both outgoing titleholders will be on hand to crown their successors!

The outgoing Teen is Taylor Crowe. She was one of the youngest contestants at the Miss Ohio's Outstanding Teen pageant, having not yet started high school! On the other hand, Miss Greater Butler County Nanciann Strosnider was a Miss Ohio veteran who has sadly "aged out."

Nanciann, or "Fancypants" as she was nicknamed during my generation of contestants was a FANTASTIC competitor; she was the class clown backstage, but onstage she had a stellar record. She was the stand-out newbie at Miss Ohio her first year, placing 4th Runner-up as Miss South Central Ohio 2005. The next year she made the Top 10 as Miss Portsmouth 2006, then returned to 4th runner-up as Miss Lake Erie 2007. The pattern continued when she was again in the Top 10 as Miss Northern Ohio 2008. As the hometown favorite, Miss Mansfield 2009 Nanciann won a Preliminary Talent award and was named 2nd Runner-up. After rumors of pageant retirement, she competed in one local last year, this, the last regular season pageant and headed to Miss Ohio for a sixth and final time. She won both the Preliminary Talent and Preliminary Swimsuit awards, but ultimately landed in the all too familiar position of 4th Runner-up. (Audible gasps were heard in the auditorium.)

And the Coulda-Shoulda-Woulda

Missy Award goes to...

Nanciann Strosnider

With all due respect to the past six Miss Ohios, she will go down in the Miss Ohio record books as a woman who could have done well at Miss America, would have been a fabulous representative across the state and should have been Miss Ohio. She will surely have much future success but will be missed on the stage in Mansfield...

One of the following six lucky ladies will take over Nanciann's last crown:

Abby Daniel

Education: Wright State University
Talent: jazz dance
Platform: Curing Cancer
Pageant Past: competed this season at Miami Valley and Muskingum Valley

Anna Reis

Education: University of Cincinnati / Marketing & Graphic Design

Talent: dance

Platform: Girl Scouts of America

Pageant Past: 1st RU & Interview at Central Ohio; competed at Miss Miami Valley; Miss Portsmouth 2009

Jane Marie Covel

Education: Cedarville University / Business Finance

Talent: ballet en pointe

Platform: Education as a Means to Achieve Your Dreams

Pageant Past: Top 8 at Muskingum Valley recently; competed at this pageant last year

Kaitlin Howland

Education: Miami University
Talent: vocal
Platform:
Pageant Past: Top 10 at Miss New Hampshire's Outstanding Teen; 1st RU at New Hampshire's Jr. Miss 2010

Kristy Halderman

Education: University of Toledo ?
Talent:
Platform:
Pageant Past:

Lauren Schwab

Education: Miami University
Talent: piano ?
Platform: possibly FAA / Agriculture ?

Pageant Past: 2008 Pork Queen

***
Teen Contestants

Brooklyn Thompson

Miss Portsmouth's Outstanding Teen 2008

Reagen Christman