MISS KANSAS

Each year, there's a contestant who captures American's hearts.

This year, America was captivated by a blond, tattooed, deer hunting, Chinese speaking army sergeant from Kansas, named Theresa Vail.  

Now admittedly, Theresa might not have been the most 'politically correct' choice within the pageant world, however - we believe she resonated with America, not only because she was 'defying stereotypes' - but because she was completely at ease with herself (who needs to hide tattoos anyway?).  And after spending time with Theresa during Miss America, the Junkies can absolutely attest to the fact that the Theresa you saw on stage - was the EXACT SAME girl that we saw on our way back to the hotel room Sunday night.

She was THE LAST contestant to leave Boardwalk Hall after Miss America was over (because so many people were approaching her offering their congratulations) - the security team actually shut off the lights in order to get people to leave the room (we were there - lol!). :)  Then, she graciously posed for photos numerous times as she made her way back to her hotel room - no matter if the pictures were for little girls in awe or semi-intoxicated men at the blackjack table!  Overall, she still carried a 'wonder and amazement' in her eyes as she reflected on the evening as a whole.  Finishing as America's Choice and a Top 10 at Miss America finalist can do that to a girl. :)

In short, she took it ALL IN - and while we're guessing she would've loved to have won the title of "Miss America", Theresa was more than happy to receive the title of "America's Choice" and forever be remembered as the first to 'bare her tattoos' on stage at Miss America :)

We think Theresa's message is a great reminder for everyone - whether you're involved in pageants or not... Be yourself.  Be comfortable, be confident.  And walk away from anyone who expects you to be anything other than that.

Theresa's world only continues to expand - she's accepted an opportunity to host a TV show on The Outdoor Channel called "Limitless".  According to Vail, half the show is about hunting while the other half involves a personal challenge for her to overcome.  Theresa has also been hired by the clothing brand "SHE" - and she'll wear the clothing on the show as well (available at Bass Pro Shops).  No doubt, Theresa will always be an example to strong women - there's no need to conform when you're confident in who you are and what you want.

And now - who will follow in Theresa's footsteps?  Great question!  There are a LOT of newbies at Miss Kansas this year... But - there are also A LOT of girls who have pageant experience through other systems. :)  Kudos to Theresa and the Miss Kansas Organization for capitalizing on a great year at Miss America and motivating young women throughout the state to compete for the title of Miss Kansas!

Junkies Say Here's Who to Watch:

Amanda Sasek - Poly Sci grad student at KU, Miss Greater Wichita, Top 10 Miss MO '13
Alyssa Marsh - 2nd runner up '13
Callie Hobkirk - NAM KS Teen '12
Annika Wooton - Top 10 '13
Jennifer Salva - Miss Czeck-Slovac US National Winner - '12/13
Lauren Coston - Top 10 in '10
Savannah Kelley - Top 10 KS Teen USA '10, Sister to Miss KS '11 Carissa Kelley, attends Oklahoma City University
Shannon Livengood - Nat. Champ. College Baton Twirler

BIG HUGS TO EVERYONE IN KANSAS!  JUNKIES LOVE YA!!!

MAJ

MISS MISSOURI

Shelby Ringdahl is awesome.  Not only does she have a mad set of pipes... Not only is a she a huge advocate for CASA and neglected children... She also told America how little time she had to get into her swimsuit during a commercial break stating, all she had "time for was hairspray and butt glue."  LOL!

Now - nearly all of us in Miss America Junkie-land know what butt glue is...  but we only WISH we knew how many people googled the term 'butt glue' after hearing this story!!! LOL!!! :)

Shelby was the first Miss Missouri in 10 years to be named a Top 15 finalist - and ended up finishing in the Top 12 (just missing the cut of performing her talent on TV).  We also loved her full and thorough breakdown of her 2 weeks in Miss America (complete with photos) on her blog... which you can find here.  Our favorite line?  From her dad... When he stated, "This is the dumbest thing I have ever cared so much about."  Precisely how we feel :)

Now - Junkies Say Here's Who to Watch in 2014:

Jessica Hartman - CO USA '10, 3rd runner up Miss USA, Miss US Intercontinental and International Winner '11
Mary Bauer - 1st runner up '13, 2nd runner up '11, 4th runner up '12, MO OT '07
Jenny Zweifel - 1st runner up '12
Jeni Dixon - 1st runner up '12, Top 10 '13, MO Teen USA '08
Maiketa Brantley - 4th runner up '13
Brittany Sears - NAM MO Jr-Teen '09, 1st runner up MO OT '12

GOOD LUCK MISS MO GIRLS!!!  ALL THE BEST!!!

MAJ

MISS OKLAHOMA

During her 'welcome home' ceremony hosted by the Oklahoma City University administration, Miss Oklahoma 2013 Kelsey Griswold expressed her gratitude for their support - but also assured them, "...the second I was named the 2nd runner up, I heard God and the Holy Spirit speak to me and say this would be the way of the ultimate plan.  It's not that I wasn't qualified for the job; Nina was meant to be Miss America."

It's a great reminder for everyone who competes in pageants... Just because you weren't chosen, it doesn't mean you weren't qualified... It doesn't mean you wouldn't have done a fabulous job...  It doesn't even mean you weren't good enough (especially after winning Preliminary Swimsuit, killing your Talent on national television and finishing as the 2nd runner up).  All it means is, the crown may not have 'meant for you'.  In fact - what's 'meant for you' might be more than the crown could've ever brought.  Kudos to Kelsey for her maturity and contentment regarding everything that took place during her Miss America competition.

And speaking of competition - THEY JUST KEEP COMING at Miss Oklahoma!  Junkies might say that Oklahoma is currently the toughest state competition in the nation... It's flat out FIERCE!!!  With tons of returning contestants year after year, OK always has a 'stacked bench' - which means they get their pick of the best of the best!

This year, there are 8!  Count 'em, 8 GIRLS RETURNING from last year's Top 10!!!  PLUS - there are 3 former OK Outstanding Teen winners competing this year as well!  Who will follow in the footsteps of Emoly West (4th runner up/Prelim SS '10), Betty Thompson (1st runner up/Prelim Talent '11), Alicia Clifton (2nd runner up/Prelim Talent '12) and Kelsey Griswold (2nd runner up/Prelim SS '13)???

Truthfully - ANY of these ladies listed below could win the state title in, dare I say, 40 of our 53 state pageants.  But these ladies know - if you're good enough to win Miss Oklahoma - you're good enough to win Miss America.  And we can't wait to see who the next winner is!

Junkies Say Here's Who to Watch:

Alex Eppler - 1st runner up '13, 4th runner up '11 and '10
Aly Akers - prelim talent winner '12 and '13, Top 10 '12 and '13, Top 15 '11
Georgia Frazier - 2nd runner up '13, Top 10 '12, Top 15 in '11, OKOT '09
Sarah Klein - 3rd runner up '13, 4th runner up '12, Top 10 '11
Veronica Wisniewski - 2nd runner up '12, Top 10 '13 and '11 
Tawnie Goodwin - 4th runner up '13, Rookie Prelim Talent Winner '11
Jamie Butemeyer - Top 10 '13, Top 10 '11, OK OT '07
Clytee Burchett - OK OT '11
Kristyn Baker - Top 10 '13, Miss AR International and 4th runner up at Nationals

There are several other girls who could easily break into the Top 10 this year - and that's the first step to becoming Miss Oklahoma one day...

ALL THE BEST TO EVERYONE AT MISS OKLAHOMA!!!!  Looking forward to meeting the new Miss OK 2014!!!

MAJ

MISS ALABAMA

Miss Alabama 2013 Chandler Champion and Miss Alabama 1943 Toula Fulford have something in common (besides being named Miss Alabama)...  What is it?  Well - click this video link right here and prepare to smile!

Isn't that the sweetest thing???  And to think - the lovely Toula Fulford was named Miss Congeniality at Miss America and never had a proper crown!  Seriously - You can't make stuff like that up!  Chandler - you and the entire Miss Alabama Organization are class acts!  Love it!!!

Chandler earned a non-finalist talent award for her ballet en pointe performance at Miss America - and dare we say, Chandler seems to be one of the friendliest girls who made long-lasting friendships with multiple contestants at Miss America.  She's still keeping in touch with several other ladies and appears to enjoy every minute of her year.

Who will follow in her footsteps?  It's not easy to predict - Alabama ALWAYS brings their 'A' game to the stage (haha)... And this year is no different!

Junkies Say Here's Who to Watch:

Caitlin Brunell - MAOT Winner '08 (from VA), 1st runner up '13, 3rd runner up '12,
Haley Barber - 4th runner up '13
Kaleigh Edwards - 1st runner up '11
Mi'a Callens - AL OT '11, 2nd runner up at Nationals
Danielle DuBose - AL DYW (Jr. Miss) '11, 1st runner up at Nationals
Boni Yraguen - DYW of Oregon '12 (Jr. Miss), Top 10 at Nationals
Megan Smith - Top 10 '13 - baton twirler at Alabama, 1st runner up AL DYW (Jr. Miss) '12
Katie Malone - Top 10 '13, 4th time at Miss AL
Brianna Kinsey - 2nd runner up AL OT '09, NAM contestant
Chassidy Sumler - former Miss Mississippi competitor Teen and Miss
Junkies' Sentimental Favorite continues to be - Elisabeth Chramer :)

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE AT MISS ALABAMA!!! :)

MAJ

MISS VIRGIN ISLANDS

 

Ashley Massiah has been a wonderful representative for the Virgin Islands - and has finished her year out strong!  Most recently, she's been featured on News Channel 8 in the Virgin Islands giving the weekly crime stoppers report - as well as assisting in events that help feed the poor in her community.  Junkies wish Ashley all the best as she gives up her title this week!

Now, regarding this year's competition... One of our favorite ways to conduct research on Miss State contestants is through VIDEOS!  Big thanks to Miss VI for having each of their contestants produce a video this year - Just check out the Miss Virgin Islands Facebook page here at this link to see all 4 contestants for yourself!   PS - Did we mention, Junkies LOVE contestant videos? ;) 

All the best to each of this year's contestants!

LLuvia Arrendell
Chelsea Herman
Ashley Gabriel
Isabella Sylvester

GOOD LUCK LADIES!  JUNKIES LOVE THE ISLANDS!!! :)

MAJ

MISS NEVADA

Junkies are big fans of "genuine"...  And Diana Sweeney's work with the Special Olympics leads us to believe she's got 'genuine' all over her! :)

From the Polar Plunge Profile of Diana - as she prepared to take the frigid jump into the icy waters of Lake Tahoe to benefit Special Olympics - Diana says,

"The Special Olympics is an extremely important program to me. I have worked with special needs students from a very young age, and I couldn’t imagine my life without my involvement with the Special Olympics. I look forward to every single event, and I cannot wait to see all of my friends and spend time with the best people I know."

In Atlantic City, Diana was named a finalist for the new S.T.E.M. scholarship - given to Miss America contestants who are pursing careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.  Diana's goal is to become a Math Professor - and let me just say... If Diana were my math professor in college, she would've smelled a whole lot better than the guy I had to learn from!  LOL!  It's a wonder I made it through that class!

All the best to Diana as she continues her super special work with Special Olympics and pursues her career :)

Now - Regarding this year's Miss Nevada --- There are 3 former Miss Nevada Outstanding Teens competing this year ('08, '11 and '12) - But that doesn't mean one of them will take it - Let's just say, this weekend's pageant is one to watch! 

Junkies Say Here's Who to Watch:

Angelica Bustos - National American Miss - Miss Nevada Teen Winner 2012
Alexis Hilts - NV OT '08, 3rd runner up NV Teen USA '11, NV DYW (Jr. Miss) '13
Bailey Gumm - 4th runner up in '13, NV OT '11
Ellie Smith - NV OT '12
Elisa Merino - Photogenic and Persistent :)

ALL THE BEST TO THE LADIES OF THE SILVER STATE!!! :)

MAJ

MISS WYOMING

We tend to post a lot of blogs from the contestants who give us their full experience AFTER Miss America was complete... Well, today we're giving you a taste of what the FIRST day of Miss America is like - courtesy of Miss Wyoming, 2013 Rebecca Podio!  Check out her full blogpost here!

Rebecca won the title of Miss Wyoming during her final year of eligibility and after several years in the program.  Her persistence and perseverance are an inspiration to everyone who still has something inside of them saying, "I've got to give this one more shot."

Junkies wish Rebecca all the best in her future plans... She's currently a Production Engineer in the Oil and Gas industry and we know she has a bright future ahead of her!

And when it comes to this year's Miss Wyoming pageant - it's certainly shaping up to be quite an interesting evening!  In fact, this might be the most competitive state pageant Wyoming has seen in quite a few years!  We're excited to see who will earn the crown on Saturday Night!

Junkies Say Here's Who to Watch:

Jessica Dyk - SD OT '09 (middle left) - Attending Auburn on full MAOT scholarship
Caitlin Bush - 2nd runner up '13 (top left)
Jessie Allen - 2nd runner up WY USA '13, sister was WY USA '12 (bottom left)
Julia Kendrix - Top 8 SD '12 (bottom middle)
Jordyn Hall - contestant at Miss Washington in '13 (top right)

GOOD LUCK LADIES!!!  ALL THE BEST!!! :)

MAJ