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Miss Universe
MISS VENEZUELA, DAYANA MENDOZA
CROWNED MISS UNIVERSE® 2008
For the fifth time in history, Venezuela has claimed the Miss Universe title as Dayana Mendoza overcame the worldly field of 79 other beauties in Nha trang, Vietnam. In front of a global audience Dayana, once a kidnapping victim in her home country, was one of four Top 5 finalists from Latin American origins, as she was joined by Miss Mexico Elisa Najera, Miss Dominican Republic Marianna Cruz Gonzalez and first runner-up Miss Colombia Taliana Vargas. Miss Moscow Vera Krasova rounded out the finalists. Dayana told reporters that she plans on making a brief stop in New York City as part of her new Miss Universe duties, but then she plans on heading home to Venezuela and spending time with her family.
Ms. Mendoza is 22 years-old and her career ambition is to become an Interior Designer. She also enjoys photography and is interested in advertising.
The judging panel for the 2008 Miss Universe Pageant included: Donald Trump Jr., Executive Vice President of the Trump Organization; fashion designer and entrepreneur Roberto Cavalli; Nadine Velazquez, international cover girl and star of NBC's "My Name Is Earl"; Jennifer Hawkins, television presenter and Miss Universe 2004; Louis Licari, celebrity colorist and "Today Show" ambush makeover expert; Joe Cinque, President of the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences; Bollywood film & TV star, dancer, model Eesha Koppikhar; Nguyen Cong Khe, Editor in Chief of Thanh Nien newspaper and international shoe designer Taryn Rose. Jerry Springer and Mel B hosted the telecast of the 57th Annual Miss Universe competition where Lady GaGa performed her hit "Just Dance".
Throughout the two-hour event, contestants from 80 countries and territories around the world competed in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown and personality interview. Riyo Mori, Miss Universe 2007, crowned her successor at the conclusion of the two-hour primetime telecast, before an estimated worldwide viewing audience of more than 1 billion viewers.
Final Results:
First Runner Up: Miss Colombia, Taliana Vargas; will assume the duties of MISS UNIVERSE 2008 if the titleholder for some reason cannot fulfill her responsibilities.
Second Runner Up: Miss Dominican Republic, Marianne Cruz Gonzale.
Rest of Top Five: Miss Mexico, Elisa Najera; and Miss Russia, Vera Krasova.
Rest of Top Ten: Miss Kosovo, Zana Krasniqi; Miss Australia, Laura Dundovic; Miss Spain, Claudia Moro; Miss USA, Crystle Stewart; and Miss Italy, Claudia Ferraris.
Rest of Top Fifteen: Miss Vietnam, Lam Thuy Nguyen; Miss South Africa, Tansey Coetzee; Miss Japan, Hiroko Mima;; Miss Hungary, Jazmin Dammak; and Miss Czech Republic, Eliska Buckova.
National Costume Award: Miss Thailand, Gavintra Photijak. The general public voted on www.nbc.com for the international delegate whose national costume best reflected her country's culture, originality in preparation and the delegate's personal demeanor. She received a $1,000 cash prize and a trophy from Rogaska Crystal.
Miss Congeniality Universe™ Award: Miss El Salvador, Rebeca Moreno. This award reflects the respect and admiration of the delegate's peers, who voted for her as the most congenial, charismatic and inspirational participant. She also received a $1,000 cash prize and a trophy from Rogaska Crystal
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Miss Universe 2008 Dayna Mendoza in her winning momemt |
The MISS UNIVERSE® 2008 prize package includes: the Miss Universe tiara created by CAO Fine Jewelry (a division of PNJ) designed by Mrs. Dang Thi Kim Lien and Rosalina Lydster valued at more than $30,000 dollars; a 2 year scholarship from the New York Film Academy worth more than $100,000 dollars to its acting or film-making programs; eveningwear gowns from Scala, designed by Sherri Hill; a national and international multi-media advertising campaign and a complete denim wardrobe from YMI Jeanswear; a custom swimsuit wardrobe from BSC Swimwear Thailand; a shoe collection from Nina Footwear; a trophy from Rogaska Crystal; year-long supply of Farouk Systems products, makers of CHI, the original Ceramic Technology tools; membership to Gravity Fitness and pampering at John Barrett Salon; fashion portfolio by leading fashion photographer Fadil Berisha; consultations with nutritionist and creator of The F-Factor Diet™ Tanya Zuckerbrot; dermatology and skincare services by Dr. Cheryl Thellman-Karcher; consultations with personal stylist Billie Causieestko and access to an event wardrobe from leading fashion designers; a New York City apartment for the year of her reign including living expenses and professional representation by the Miss Universe Organization to further her personal and professional goals.
Read more in the Pageantry magazine 2008 Winter Edition
[updated 07/14/08]
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Miss America's Outstanding Teen
MISS AMERICA’S OUTSTANDING TEEN
PROGRAM ANNOUNCES
DOLPHIN ENTERTAINMENT AS TALENT SPONSOR
Miss America’s Outstanding Teen (MAOT) organization has announced that Dolphin Entertainment, one of the world's leading entertainment companies specializing in children’s and young adult live-action programming, has been selected as their official national talent sponsor. In addition to the Emmy-nominated and top U.S.-rated Zoey 101, Dolphin’s other recent Executive Producer credits include the hit Nickelodeon series Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide and Nickelodeon’s first-ever TV movies Shredderman Rules!, Last Day of Summer and the Roxy Hunter television movie franchise. Dolphin will work closely with MAOT to educate young performers competing in the national competition about the entertainment industry.
Kim Parrish (pictured above), President of Miss America’s Outstanding Teen stated that “so many of our contestants dream about going into show business. I’m thrilled that Dolphin Entertainment is interested in helping these young women by providing information necessary for the girls and their families to learn more about the entertainment industry.”
“We consider it a great honor to be a part of the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen family. We share so many of the values that make MAOT unique and hope that our partnership helps the intelligent and talented young women who are participating achieve their dreams. As producers of children's entertainment we are sensitive to how important it is to have good role models, the kind of role models that MAOT celebrates and supports year after year," said Bill O’Dowd, President of Dolphin Entertainment.
[updated 07/14/08]
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Survivor: Micronesia - Fan vs Favorites
Congratulations Amanda Kimmel!
Congratulations to Pageantry cover model Amanda Kimmel who, despite all odds, finished 2nd in a record breaking performance on the latest season of Survivor: Micronesia - Fans vs Favorites.
For the first time since Survivor: Panama, the final Tribal Council featured a Final Two rather than a Final Three. In the end, Parvati Shallow defeated Amanda Kimmel by an upset vote of 5-3 to become the Sole Survivor. Amanda secured votes from Ozzy Lusth, James Clement, and Erik Reichenbach.
Amanda was a fan favorite amongst fan favorites from the beginning, after just having competed and dominating in Survivor: China the previous season. On the reunion show, it was revealed that James beat out fellow fan favorites Amanda and Ozzy, and once again was the viewer's choice in winning $100,000.
Amanda was one of ten returning favorites on the Malakal tribe. Jeff Probst once gave this assessment of the former Pageantry Fashion Showcase model, "Amanda knows how to play Survivor. She knows how to build an alliance, how long to keep it, when to get rid of it. She's very good at looking at odds, she's very good at assessing if [she's] better off against this person, or with this person. [...]" Amanda found the immunity idol, and she is the only female to find one, after Jason got voted out and played it during episode 12, blindsiding Alexis.
Besides being the only female to find and play the immunity idol, Amanda has broken several other Survivor records: Amanda currently has the distinction of participating the most days of any castaway with 78 days. She is the first person since Jenna Morasca to play the game twice and never be voted out, the first to do so without quitting the game, as well as the first player to win two Final Immunity challenges and the first player to ever face the jury twice.
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Spring 2006 Cover Model- Amanda Kimmel |
In the end, Amanda became the runner-up of Survivor: Micronesia, falling in a 5-3 vote to Parvati Shallow. Fans widely agree that Amanda has played the best and strongest game in both her campaigns but has been unable to convince the jury of her worthiness. Perhaps it is her unwillingness to flaunt her strategy or a sense of modesty that has hindered her at the end of the game, none of that seems to matter to the viewers that have made her a fan favorite. Amanda will always be our favorite, and Pageantry will always be her #1 fan!
[updated 05/12/08]
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Miss USA
MISS TEXAS USA CROWNED MISS USA® 2008
Las Vegas, NV - April 11, 2008 - during one of the year's most exciting live television events, a star-studded panel of judges chose Miss Texas USA, Crystle Stewart, as MISS USA® 2008. Donny and Marie Osmond hosted the 57th Annual MISS USA Pageant from the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in one of the world's most electrifying cities, Las Vegas.
Ms. Stewart completed her degree in Consumer Science and Merchandising at the University of Houston. She founded and runs her business "Inside/Out" which aids young women in building self-esteem and volunteers with many organizations in the community. She won a silver medal in the relay at Jr. Olympics and is a fourth generation educator.
Throughout the two-hour event, the contestants competed in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown and interview. During these competitions, the "Top Five" finalists were selected before the crowning. Rachel Smith, MISS USA 2007, crowned her successor at the conclusion of the two-hour primetime telecast, where rock band Finger Eleven performed their hit song "Paralyzer" before an estimated worldwide viewing audience of more than 250 million.
Final Results:
First Runner Up:
Miss Mississippi USA, Leah Laviano will assume the duties of MISS USA 2008 if the titleholder is named MISS UNIVERSE 2008 or for some reason cannot fulfill her duties.
Second Runner Up:
Miss New Jersey USA, Tiffany Andrade
Rest of Top Five:
Miss Pennsylvania USA, LauRen Merola
Miss Oklahoma USA, Lindsey Jo Harrington
Rest of Top Ten:
Miss Massachusetts USA, Jackie Bruno
Miss Missouri USA, Candice Crawford
Miss Tennessee USA, Hailey Laine Brown
Miss Indiana USA, Brittany Mason
Miss Florida USA, Jessica Rafalowski
Rest of Top Fifteen:
Miss Minnesota USA, Kaylee Unverzagt
Miss Rhode Island USA, Amy Diaz
Miss South Carolina USA, Jamie Hill
Miss California USA, Raquel Roxanne Beezley
Miss Utah USA, Julia Bachison
MISS PHOTOGENIC USA™ "Hot Shots" Award:
Miss Alaska USA, Courtney Erin Carroll. The general public voted on www.nbc.com for the delegate who exemplifies beauty through the lens of a camera. She was awarded a $1,000 cash prize.
MISS CONGENIALITY USA™Award:
Miss Ohio USA, Monica Day was awarded a $1,000 cash award. The award reflects the respect and admiration of the delegateÕs peers, who voted for her as the most congenial, charismatic and inspirational participant. She was awarded a $1,000 cash prize.
The MISS USA® 2008 prize package includes: the official Miss USA Mikimoto pearl tiara; 2 Year Scholarship from The New York Film Academy; custom evening wear wardrobe by Scala, designed by Sherri Hill; national multi-media advertising campaign and a complete denim wardrobe from YMI Jeanswear; a 4 day / 3 night all-inclusive vacation at any of the 28 Westgate Resorts located in the U.S. including the Planet Hollywood Towers in Las Vegas; make-up from Kett Cosmetics; shoe wardrobe from Nina Footwear; year supply of hair care products and tools from Farouk Systems; swimsuit wardrobe from Syrup Swimwear; a New York City apartment for the year of her reign, including living expenses; personal appearance wardrobe and stylist consultation throughout her reign and the opportunity to represent the USA at the 2008 Miss Universe pageant in Vietnam.
[updated 04/14/08]
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Miss USA
Congratulations Amy Diaz!
Congratulations to Miss USA Top 15 finisher Miss Rhode Island, Amy Diaz
In addition to winning the Miss Rhode Island USA title and placing in the top 15 of the Miss USA competition, Amy is a former cover and Fashion Showcase model for Pageantry & PromTime magazines.
Amy was born on August 6, 1984 in New York, grew up in Providence, and now calls North Providence her home. A former Miss Rhode Island Teen USA 2001, she is a proud 2001 graduate of Classical High School . At the age of 19, Amy graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast Communication with a Minor in Psychology from Barry University, Miami Shores, FL. In May of 2007, Amy continued on at Barry University earning dual Master degrees in Business Administration and Sport Management. Throughout her undergraduate and graduate studies at Barry University, Amy always earned academic honors and was a recognized student leader on campus.
Amy describes herself as a zealous young lady with versatile interests including digital photography, scrap booking, kickboxing, fishing, and cooking. She is currently an orange belt in martial arts and is diligently training to become a black belt. Amy is bilingual, speaks and writes fluent Spanish, was a trained dancer for over 12 years, and for the past 8 years has been a national commercial actress and model for English and Spanish markets. She also enjoys traveling, and recently she traveled to China to learn about business practices and trends in several industries.
[updated 04/14/08]
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Halle Berry
Birth Announcement
Two time Pageantry magazine cover model Halle Berry became a mother for the first time Sunday, March 16th, as she gave birth to a baby girl with her boyfriend of more than two years, Gabriel Aubry. The 41-year-old actress has named her newborn daughter Nahla Ariela Aubry. Nahla is the Arabic word for 'drink of water,' Ariela is related to the Hebrew Ariel, which means 'lion of god.'
In addition to winning the Best Actress Oscar in 2001 for Monster’s Ball and an Emmy and Golden Globe in 1999 for Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, Berry was also Miss Teen All-American in 1985 and Miss Ohio USA in 1986, when she finished as first runner-up in the Miss USA pageant.
[updated 03/27/08]
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Miss Teen All-American
Crown Productions to Produce
Miss Teen All-American® Pageant
New York, NY – During a gathering of friends at Strada 57 in mid-town Manhattan, Frank Sweeney, chairman of the Sweeny Group, was pleased to announce that Crown Productions of New Castle, DE has acquired the rights to produce the Miss Teen All American® Pageant. Teen All American®, one of the country’s most popular and celebrated pageants for young women, was founded in 1977 by pageant industry legend, Frank Sweeney.
Fred Wright, president of Crown Productions, Inc., will take over as President and CEO of the pageant. Sweeney will remain as chairman of the board. Wright has a rich pageant history with Crown Productions since 1990, having served as the director of state-level preliminaries to Miss USA®, Miss Teen USA®, and Mrs. America in Delaware, Connecticut, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Wright’s diverse experience and impeccable reputation made him an ideal candidate to take over the national pageant organization. “We are thrilled to continue the tradition of pure pageantry,” Wright said.
In announcing the transition, Sweeney remarked that he had been waiting to find just the right person to whom he could pass the torch. “Fred is the kind of guy who will do the job right,” Sweeney said. “We are delighted that he and the Crown Productions team will continue the hallmark of excellence that has been the Teen All American tradition since 1977.”
Miss Teen All American® is a unique pageant competition, because contestants, in many cases, represent population centers rather than state boundaries. The pageant was created to emphasize poise, personality and God-given beauty. Contestants will be evaluated in three categories: interview, swimsuit, evening gown.
Miss Teen All American® is open to young women all across the country between the ages of 13 and 19. Many national winners have a history of going on to success in modeling, acting and other major pageants. Some famous Teen All American winners include:
Oscar Winner Halle Berry (1985)
Reality Show Star and former Miss USA Shana Moakler (1993)
Soap Opera Actress Susan Walters (1981)
Soap Opera Actress Tonja Walker (1979)
“Queen for a Day” is the official charity of the Teen All American Pageant. Founded by Jenna Edwards, who wore the Miss Teen All American crown in 1999, “Queen for a Day” is dedicated to making life a little bit easier for seriously ill children.
Teen All American® state pageants will begin in September 2008, with the national competition planned for August 2009. For more information on the Miss Teen All American® Pageant, please contact Fred Wright, 302-221-5587.
[updated 02/12/08]
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Miss America Organization
KIM PARRISH NAMED PRESIDENT OF
MISS AMERICA’S OUTSTANDING TEEN
Orlando, FL – January 31, 2008 – Miss America’s Outstanding Teen, Inc., a little sister to the Miss America Organization that promotes scholastic achievement, creative accomplishment, healthy living and community involvement for America's teens, has named TV fashion commentator and entrepreneur Kim Parrish as president. A former Miss West Virginia (1992), Kim is the creator of The Kim Parrish Collection clothing line on HSN and HSN.com. (see www.kimparrishcollection.com and www.maoteen.org)
Miss America's Outstanding Teen is a scholarship-based program offering accomplished teens the opportunity to be awarded funds for college, thanks to the efforts of thousands of volunteers across the country. The first Miss America’s Outstanding Teen competition for girls 13 to 17 was held in 2005, and the current titleholder is Caitlin Brunell of Great Falls, VA. The 2008 competition will take place August 12 – 16, 2008 in Orlando, FL.
Kim Parrish has volunteered with the Miss America Organization for the past 15 years, including directing the Miss West Virginia’s Outstanding Teen competition and serving as a judge for the national finals in Orlando.
“I intend to help develop a strong financial foundation and expand national recognition for this outstanding organization and its participants,” says Kim. “In today’s fast-paced world, teens can’t afford to look to young Hollywood for role models. They need to find inspiration within themselves, their families, schools and community. Through its exceptional mentoring program, Miss America’s Outstanding Teen provides leadership and scholarship opportunities for teens, that will help them prepare for successful futures.”
As a result of spending eight years as a popular TV shopping host on QVC, she is a familiar face to millions of viewers across the country, and has been featured in dozens of articles from TV Guide to the New York Times. Her TV assignments have taken her to Ireland, Italy and across the USA, including to Salt Lake City, where she reported on the 2002 Winter Olympics. She also has appeared in hundreds of television, theatre and off-Broadway productions. In 2005 she launched the Kim Parrish Collection, a designer-inspired clothing line, on HSN.
A graduate of West Virginia University with a Bachelor’s degree in fine arts, and a native of Parkersburg, West Virginia, Kim resides in the Tampa Bay area with her husband and their son.
[updated 02/08/08]
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Scoops
The Newest Sweet Baby James!
Congratulations to pageant emcee impresario Jim Gibson and his lovely wife Dr. Chiann Gibson Mrs. United States 2005, on the birth of their son, James Keith Gibson III. Arriving on the world's stage at 8.9 pounds and standing 21" in length, baby James made his debut on January 31, 2008.
[updated 02/01/08] |
Miss America Organization
2008 "MISS AMERICA LIVE" There she is ...
Kirsten Haglund, the 19-year-old Miss Michigan and aspiring Broadway star, was crowned Miss America 2008 on Saturday night in a live and completely revamped production aimed at updating the pageant's style and appeal.
To show off her talent, Kristen sang “Over The Rainbow”, and her outstanding silver sequins and sheer gown dazzled the judges enough to place in front of first runner up, Miss Indiana Nicole Rash, and the second runner up, Miss Washington Elyse Umemoto, for the $50,000 scholarship and year of non-stop travel that comes with the crown.
As her very personal platform issue, she promised to promote awareness of eating disorders, an illness from which she has recovered from only 3 short years ago.
From Farmington Hills, Michigan, Haglund studies music at the University of Cincinnati. She stopped pursuing her dream to become a professional ballerina to escape an industry that Haglund said sweeps concerns about eating disorders under the rug.
Haglund is no stranger to pageants as her mother is a volunteer, and her grandmother, Iora Hunt, competed in the 1944 Miss Michigan pageant. She is looking forward to beginning a year of promotion for the Miss America Pageant, and representing her platform issue along with pageant partner - the Children’s Miracle Network.
[updated 01/24/08] |
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