MISS MASSACHUSETTS!!!

Often times, a newly crowned queen who's been doing this 'pageant thing' for a while, doesn't give a genuine reaction when finally winning her state crown... Not the case with Taylor Kinzler, Miss Massachusetts...

Taylor was no 'newbie' to the Miss America scene... She was Miss MA OT in '08 (at the age of 15), 2nd runner up in '11, 1st runner up in '10 and Miss MA Sweetheart in '10.  To see this kind of reaction from a girl who's been 'playing the game' for that long, tells you about Taylor's heart.

In addition, Taylor had featured gymnastics during her talent during each of those pageants... but at Miss America, she decided to sing!  Not only did she sing - she sang a song EVERYONE thinks they can sing... "At Last" by Etta James (it's a LOT harder than it looks).  The Junkies heard Taylor sing in the preliminary competition at Miss America - and were shocked she hadn't sung in a pageant before!  The judges agreed and rewarded her with a Non-Finalist Talent award that was well deserved!   

And now - Junkies Say Here's Who to Watch for 2013:

Amanda Narcisco - 1st runner up '11, 3rd Runner up at Miss Sweetheart 
Meagan Fuller - Mass Jr. Miss 2010 = Top 10 Finish at Nationals, 1st runner up Mass OT '09
Nicole Diblasi - 4th runner up '12, 2nd runner up Miss MA Teen USA '11
Marissa Louro - 1st runner up Miss RI '12, Top 10 Miss Mass '10
Kelsey Beck - Soph. at Harvard - Mom was Miss FL '71
Janelle Gruenette - Mass Jr. Nat. Teen '04, 1st Runner up Mass Pre-Teen '07
Jenna Nowlin - Non-Finalist Talent '11


Good Luck to Everyone at Miss Mass this Week!  Junkies Love Ya!!!

MAJ

MISS ALASKA!!!

 Debbe Ebben gained national attention when folks learned the new Miss Alaska had shaved her head!  Debbe gave interview after interview to numerous newspapers across the county; running the gamut between The Huffington Post and John Stossel!  We especially liked this quote we found in The Press-Telegram in Long Beach, CA:
  
          "I wanted to put meaning and emotion behind (shaving my head), and let people know why I'm doing it - for the kids," she said. "I'm not shaving it to get attention. I'm not shaving it for publicity. I'm not shaving it because it's a really easy hairstyle to go with. I'm shaving it for them."

Because of her dedication to her platform, we know Debbe will continue to make an impact on children struggling with Cancer... with or without her hair. :)

And now - Let's talk about Miss Alaska 2013!  We're not super confident about our picks here... Not a whole lot of online research to work with, but we're doing the best we can for the ladies of The Last Frontier!

Junkies Say Here's Who to Watch: 

Veronica Temple - 3rd runner up '11, Miss AK OT '09, Miss AK Teen USA '12
Sarah Cvancara - Won 1st local of the year, lovely voice
Lillian Crayton - Won the same local as Debbe Ebben
Michelle Taylor - Super tall - she stands out!

Looking forward to our new Miss Alaska!  All the Best, Ladies!!! :)

MAJ

MISS KENTUCKY!!!

Miss Kentucky Jessica Casebolt had the 'perfect attitude' when competing for the Miss KY title last summer... From the Ashland Independent Online:

      “They chose a top five and then called off the winners and I couldn’t believe it!” Casebolt said. “This was my second year competing in Miss Kentucky... I knew I’d worked so hard and prepared, but to be honest, I didn’t expect to win. I was ecstatic.”    

It's that 'relaxed but prepared' attitude that causes girls to 'sparkle'.  There's no pressure, no expectation, no need to get so worked up about life.  If you're still headed into your state title, do yourself a favor; prepare like crazy and then 'let go' while your on stage during pageant week.

This year at Miss Kentucky - it could be anyone's crown to win... Should be a great pageant - because look at this list of returning contestants!!!

Junkies Say Here's Who to Watch:

Melissa Cox - non-finalist talent in '12, Sister of Miss IN '12 Merriebeth Cox
Madison McCowan - KY OT '09
Jenna Day - 1st runner up '11 Prelim Talent, semi-finalist '12
Annie Franklin - Prelim SS and 3rd runner up '12, Top 13 in '11
Laura Jones - KY OT '10 and Top 10 at MAOT, non-finalist talent '12
Ashley Ferry - 4th runner up '11 and '12, KY OT '08
Miranda Buchanan - Miss KY Festival Grand Supreme

And - ALL of these ladies were semi-finalists in '12
Ashton Gooch
Ramsey Carpente
Alison Lovely
Claire Butler
Courtney Norvell

JUNKIES WISH EVERYONE AT MISS KENTUCKY GOOD LUCK!!! :)

MAJ

MISS COLORADO!!!

Most of us saw Miss Colorado Hannah Porter talk about joining the high school football team during her People's Choice video for Miss America... But do you know how it happened?  From "OurLittletonNews.com"...

          "Porter, who couldn’t join the pom-pom team because it was only open to sophomores and up, leisurely strolled the student organization meeting with her father, looking for some sort of activity that appealed to her.
         “I never really was a sports person,” said the self-described “girly girl.” “But as my father and I walked past the freshman football booth, he laughed and said, ‘I’d pay money to see you play football.’
          Porter asked, “How much?”

          Her father never really responded with a firm figure, but she signed up on the spot.
          “I had never played football before, but I went though summer camp, completed all the running drills and didn’t miss practice,” explained Porter who was one of only two girls on the 2002 AHS freshman team. “I never was a starter, but I played in every game, we were undefeated and I stuck with it.”

Just like she 'stuck with' Miss CO after being named 1st runner up twice in a row... And we're glad she did!

This year, Miss CO has an interesting mix of contestants... 

Junkies Say Here's Who to Watch:

Stacey Cook - 1st runner up '12, 2rd runner up '11
Kaylah Braun - Top 10, '12, 4th runner up '10
Miranda Mason - 4th runner up '12
Meg Kardos - Top 10 '12, Top 10 at CO USA '13
Michaela Jones - Ms. CO Miss American Co-Ed, CO USA competitor
Kristin Schubert - CO Cinderella Tee '09, Top 10 Nationals
Shannon Patilla - Miss Black History '12 at CSU, strong talent

Good Luck to Everyone at Miss Colorado!!!

MAJ

MISS LOUISIANA!!!

When life closes a door... it usually opens a window... Enter Miss Louisiana 2012, Lauren Vizza...

Back in high school, Lauren was a star soccer player who played on the top LA development team in hopes of trying out for the US Olympic women's soccer team one day. Unfortunately, too many knee injuries kept her from running and forced Lauren to "dream new dreams".  That's when someone talked Lauren into trying pageants...

From The Advocate...  “I learned so much about myself,” she said. “I was, like, this is fun. I never did it for the pageant glory. I loved being a voice for something. I loved learning about myself. I think that’s what drove me into it.

On her second attempt at Miss Louisiana, she walked home with the crown - and a realization that everything happens for a reason.  All the Best, Lauren!  We hope to see you hosting press conferences as the Secretary of State one day. :)


Now - the Junkies are officially at a loss... Why?  Because Miss Louisiana is the MOST STACKED RETURNING CLASS we've seen ALL YEAR!!!  Who's returning?  All 4 runner-ups AND all 5 semi-finalists from 2012 are back!  HOLY SCHMOLY!!!  We have no clue who's gonna win this one... but...

Junkies Say Here's Who to Watch:
Carly McCord - 1st runner up in '12 and '11
Jaden Leach - 2nd runner up '12, semi-finalist '11
Mallory Cox - 3rd runner up '12 Prelim Talent, 3rd runner up '11
Megan Miller - 4th runner up '12 Prelim Talent

All semi-finalists in '12
Chelsi Hefner
Aja Majkrzak
Lauren Ford
Tori Thompson
Jamie Lombardino

Although a 'rookie' could always come out of nowhere - we just think there's way too much experience here not to expect one of these girls above will win.  But - we're not perfect!  We'll just have to see come Saturday night! :)

Good Luck to ALL!!!! :)

MAJ

MISS DELAWARE!!!

As Junkies, Delaware is one of those states we have completely fallen in love with... mainly because in recent years, several Miss Delawares have fared quite well on the Big Stage at Miss America!  Kayla Martell '10 was a Top 10 Finalist and 1st runner up Quality of Life Award... Maria Cahill '11 was a Non-Finalist Talent Winner... And Alyssa Murray '12 was the Non-Finalist Interview Winner this year!

Although we know Delaware always sends a 'Quality' Girl to Miss America, we were thrilled with the 'somewhat quirky' girl they crowned in Alyssa Murray.  Between Alyssa and Maria (Miss DE '11), we feel a little sorry for whoever is crowned Miss DE 2013... Only because she's going to have to stand next to Maria and Alyssa every year on stage as a 'former'!  What we wouldn't give to be a fly on the wall every year those 2 stand on stage together for the next 40 years! :)

Alright - on to this year's competition!  Which is PACKED!!! 

Junkies Say Here's Who to Watch:

Renee Bull - 1st runner up '12, Prelim SS, Miss Congeniality
Victoria Brown-O'Brien - DE OT '11
Amanda Debus - DE OT '08, DE Teen USA '11
Erin Magnin - 2nd runner up '12, 3rd runner up '11, Top 10 in '10
Angelica Nardi - 4th runner up NJ '12
Veronica Townsend - DE DYW (formerly known as Jr. Miss) '10
Rebecca Jackson - 3rd runner up '12
Brittany Lewis - 3rd runner up PA '12

GOOD LUCK LADIES!!!  All the Best!!!

MISS SOUTH DAKOTA!!!

THE JUNKIES ARE HEADED TO HOT SPRINGS, SOUTH DAKOTA!!!

That's Right!  We love all of our "SD Junkies" and can't wait to meet as many of you in person as we can!  We've heard amazing things about your production and look forward to a wonderful show!

Calista Kirby, Miss SD 2012 was one of our favorite 'on-the-bubble' girls in Vegas :)  We watched her shine on stage, loved her evening gown and believe she was 'oh so close' to making that Top 15.  Plus, Calista is a driven, goal-oriented kind of girl.  In nearly every article we found about her, she mentioned goal setting...

          Calista is quoted as saying, "Don’t be afraid to set big goals. Having dreams and setting goals will encourage you to hold yourself to a high standard and be the best version of yourself each and every day." “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” -Les Brown"

With that kind of attitude, we know Calista has a bright future ahead of her! Oh - and All the Best to Calista and her fiancee!  #EMAW! ;)

Now - who will be able to fill Calista's shoes?  Good Question!  Here's our picks...

Junkies Say Here's Who to Watch: 

Autumn Simunek - 2nd runner up in 12 Prelim Talent, 4th runner up in '11, SD OT 07
Tessa Dee - 3rd runner up in '12, rookie of the year in '12
Julia Kendrix - Top 8 in '12
Carrie Wintle - SD OT '08
Jade Possail (returnee from '12)

Item to note:  Maria Anderson, Katie Barrett and Delaney Graves were 1st, 2nd and 4th runner up respectively at Miss SD OT '12

GOOD LUCK LADIES!!!  Can't wait to see you on Saturday Night!!! :)

MAJ