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Miss Minnesota, Teen Minnesota USA crowned

BURNSVILLE, Minn. - The 2015 Miss Minnesota USA and Miss Minnesota Teen USA winners were crowned Sunday night.

A panel of judges selected Jessica Scheu of Prior Lake as Miss Minnesota USA, and Hayden Hammond of Maple Grove as Miss Teen Minnesota. A capacity crowd filled the theater at the Ames Center in Burnsville for the finals. The annual competition consists of three categories in which they are judged: Evening gown, swimwear, and an interview. Eligible young women must be between the ages of 14 and 26 and be unmarried residents of Minnesota in order to compete in the pageant. Both Scheu and Hammond will now advance and compete next year at the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA national pageants.

Miss Vermont USA & Miss Vermont Teen USA are Crowned

BURLINGTON, Vt. - We have our winners!

Judged by a panel, including our own Brittney Hibbs, two young ladies have been crowned. Jackie Croft took Miss Vermont USA and Alexandra Marek took Miss Vermont Teen USA. The ladies competed on Sunday in the finals. They were judged on evening gowns, interviews, and swimsuits.
The judges narrowed down the Top 5, and then voted for the two winners. "I've worked so hard for this, years and years of preparation and hard work has gone into this," said Jackie Croft, Miss Vermont USA. "I've been training for this for so long, I can't believe it came to life, it's so amazing," said Alexandra Marek, Miss Vermont Teen USA.

Watch Local 22 and Local 44 News Monday morning. Both Jackie and Alexandra will be live on the shows to talk with Brittney Hibbs and Mike Curkov about their wins.

Miss USA 2013 Wants to Help You Learn to Code

BY ZOE HENRY

What's next for media starlet, Miss USA 2013? Contrary to popular belief, she won't be heading for Hollywood. Rather, she's tackling the gender discrepancy in math and science.

The national pageant winner, along with the founder of LearnToProgram Media, Mark Lassoff, just launched a Kickstarter campaign yesterday to raise money for their upcoming web series. Dubbed Code Café, the webinar will feature Erin Brady learning how to code right along with viewers, in 9 episodes spanning two separate seasons. Lassoff and Brady hope to raise a total of $15,000 in crowdfunding, which will go towards production, editing, media costs and equipment. The series itself will be free of charge, thus attracting both individuals and schools.

"Over the course of my year as Miss USA, I had the opportunity to meet impactful women in the STEM industries," says Brady. This, she adds, alerted her to some pretty harsh realities: While 74 percent of girls in middle school express interest in pursuing STEM, less than 1 percent of high school girls opt to major in computer science in college. Only 14 percent of all engineers worldwide are women, and in the U.S., women are estimated to make just 77 centsfor every male dollar earned.

Incidentally, studies show that many of the women who do pursue jobs in the tech world end up leaving for other fields. Generally speaking, it's not for lack of interest: Rampant sexism, which translates into an unsupportive work environment, is one commonly cited factor. And it's not just women getting the short end of the stick: Many argue that the field itself suffers from the gender imbalance. "When you limit yourself to half of the population...we lose some of the best and the brightest," Lassoff told Inc. The best way to tackle the issue, he says, is to get women interested in coding early. After all, coding has become a big part of "modern literacy...[It's the] sheer power to crunch numbers and solve really big problems." Indeed, everyone from politicians to NBA stars to venture capitalists seem to agree that coding is the one, sure-fire career booster in almost any industry. And with Miss USA at this project's helm, Lassoff hopes to attract plenty of young female talent.

Code Café isn't the only initiative aiming to make Tech more egalitarian--just look at startups like GoldieBlox, a toymaker that gets girls interested in engineering. The company landed a SuperBowl commercial earlier this year, and also won the "Educational Toy of the Year" award for a product that helps girls build belt-drive machines. Such projects suggest that an uptick for women in STEM may certainly be in our future. But if the persistent pay gap--and high-profile sexist work conditions--are any indication, society still has a long way to go if we want to get them (and keep them) there.

Two UVA Law Students to Compete for Miss Virginia USA Crown

Source: http://www.law.virginia.edu/

The first time University of Virginia School of Law students Kiara Williams and Erika Baldwin met wasn't at the Law School, or even elsewhere on Grounds. They were participating in last year's Miss Virginia USA pageant. "One of the other contestants asked me if I had met the other UVA law student," Williams said. "I told her that I thought she was mistaken, because there couldn't possibly be another UVA law student competing for the title of Miss Virginia USA. Then, I met Erika."


Now in their third year of studying law, the two friends will compete again for the title of Miss Virginia USA on Nov. 29-30 in Charlottesville. The pair are finding that the valuable experience they've gained through UVA Law — in classes, during job interviews and in professional settings — gives them an advantage on the stage.It's lucky for us that Kiara and I excel in public speaking  because we get that experience in our everyday life," Baldwin said. Williams was fourth runner-up as Miss Manassas USA in last year's finals, and is this year's Miss Roanoke. Baldwin, who was last year's Miss Charlottesville USA, is this year's Miss Southern Virginia USA. The pageant system allows eligible women to choose the qualifying location that's most convenient for them. The law students will vie for the state title at the Paramount Theater against about 20 other women in interview, swimsuit and evening-wear rounds. The pageant will culminate on Nov. 30 at 4 p.m. before a live audience. The competition will also include the Miss Virginia Teen USA pageant, and advertises more than $500,000 in scholarships for the winners, finalists and semifinalists. Williams said she started competing in pageants at first for the scholarship money. "But then I realized there are few organizations that will let a young woman, [age] 18 to 27, get in front of a crowd and talk to people," Williams said.

She found that pageants teach young women how to speak well, carry themselves and command attention — all of which are useful skills for lawyers. Williams' father is Sanford Williams, a 1996 graduate of the Law School who works in D.C. as special counsel for the Federal Communications Commission. She grew up in Charlottesville and Manassas, but chose to compete in Roanoke this time because it was the only pageant that didn't conflict with her work as a summer legal intern for the Disney ABC Television Group in Los Angeles. Her goal is to become an entertainment lawyer. 
"Disney had over a thousand applicants, and they chose one." Williams said. "That's going to help me a lot in my future." Baldwin, who said she hopes to work for a public defender's office after law school, chose Bristol, Virginia, as this year's pageant entry point. The location was closer to her hometown of Greenville, South Carolina, where she returned for a few weeks over the summer. She spent the other part of her summer working for the UVA Office of General Counsel and investigating the validity of a murder conviction for the South Carolina Office of Indigent Defense.

Both women are working in Washington, D.C., this semester through the Law School's externship program. Baldwin works for the Environmental Enforcement Section of the Department of Justice. Williams is with the Student Press Law Center. Their pageant platforms also tie into their interests as law students. Williams speaks to school-age children about the value of setting goals in order to accomplish dreams, while Baldwin talks to children about preventing global climate change through measures they can take at home. The women have other talents, too — Williams sings and Baldwin is a competitive weightlifter — but the Miss USA pageants don't feature a talent round. Nevertheless, Baldwin said her supporters will be wearing T-shirts that feature a muscle holding a crown and the hashtags "#teamerika" and "#loadedguns."

The women said having pageants in common has made them close friends, and they are looking forward to competing not against each other, but with each other. "A lot of times the final question of the pageant is: If you could pick one girl to win, and it isn't you, who would you pick?" Baldwin said. "In class recently Kiara said, 'I would say you.' And I said, 'I would say you.' "I don't know if I would be any less happy if we were the final two standing, and she was the one who took the crown."

Miss Indiana USA 2015 Results

Source: http://www.thepageantnetwork.com/

Gretchen Reece (23-5'8") was crowned Miss Indiana USA 2015 at the conclusion of the state pageant held on November 2nd, 2014 at the Renaissance lndianapolis Resort Hotel in Indianapolis. She will represent the state of Indiana in the upcoming Miss USA 2015 pageant, in the summer of 2015.

Gretchen Reece is the daughter of Doug and Sue Reece of North Vernon, Indiana. She is a graduate of Jennings County High School and Butler University. Gretchen is a motivational speaker in schools for Preventing Destructive Decisions and is the Vice President of Students Against Destructive Decisions. She is also a member of the National Speech/Language/Hearing Association and the Director of the Music at Epsilon Beta Chapter of Alpha Phi. She enjoys showing horses, fitness and wellness, spending time with friends and family, and reading historical non-fiction. As a career-oriented woman her dream is to work in a pediatric healthcare facility as a speech-language pathologist specializing in fluency disorders. She wants to balance a career with the comfort and support of a family, and continue to be involved in pageants as a volunteer. Gretchen describes herself as charismatic, passionate, and ambitious.

Official Results

Miss Indiana USA 2015 - Gretechen Reece

1st runner-up - Alexis Irene Ginn

2nd runner-up -  Morgan Abel

3rd runner-up - Destiny Dever

4th runner-up - Brittany Winchester

Julia Dalton is Miss North Carolina USA 2015

Source: Miss Universe

She is the sister of Miss USA 2009 Kristen Dalton and she won the crown of Miss North Carolina USA 2015! Julia Dalton will represent her state at Miss USA 2015 next summer, the winner will represent the USA in the Miss Universe 2015 competition. Congratulations to her! She was previously Miss North Carolina Teen USA 2008 (2nd runner-up at Miss Teen USA) and 3rd runner-up Miss NC Teen USA 2007. By the way, Julia’s mother was Miss North Carolina USA 1982. Dalton is of English and German ancestry.

Julia’s sister, Kristen Dalton represented North Carolina in the Miss USA 2009 pageant broadcast live from Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, Nevada where she became the 2nd Miss North Carolina USA to win the Miss USA title; the state’s only prior winner was Chelsea Cooley, Miss USA 2005.

Miss USA Nia Sanchez Is Engaged

BY KELLI BENDER

This is a winning year for Nia Sanchez. The 24-year-old was crowned Miss USA in June and now, she is newly engaged. On Saturday night, 21 & Overactor Daniel Booko, 30, proposed to Sanchez on a private terrace in New York City, Rumor Fi reports.

The couple first met a year and a half ago at an engagement party but didn't start dating until three months later, when Booko saw Sanchez again at church.Booko told Rumor Fix that from the first moment he met his now fiancée, he thought she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.
For the proposal, Booko secretly flew out to New York City, where Sanchez is currently living, and rented out the Suite Royale at the NoMad Hotel, which comes complete with a 700-square-foot terrace. The actor decorated this outdoor space with flowers and candles before inviting Sanchez over for the big surprise."She's thinking she's going to an event with friends … [and] I will be there looking all dapper in a suit decorated with candles and flowers and the whole thing and have her come over – just her and I to have an intimate moment – then get down on one knee and propose, then pop champagne and celebrate," he said.

Booko proposed to Sanchez, who happily said "yes," with a platinum, two-carat diamond ring. Booko also had a red, white and blue stone added inside the band to commemorate Sanchez's Miss USA title.

Miss Michigan USA crowned

by Bob Gross

Rashontae Wawrzyniak, representing St. Clair Lake, was crowned Miss Michigan USA 2015 on Saturday at McMorran Theater in Port Huron. Maria Rendina, of Monroe, is the new Miss Michigan Teen USA. The pageant featured 83 young women competing for the title of Miss Michigan USA; 44 teens competed for Miss Michigan Teen USA.

Wawrzyniak, who was first runner-up in last year's pageant, also was selected most photogenic.
Miss Port Huron USA Kayla Sesi was selected Miss Congeniality by the pageant contestants.
And the competitors brought their cheering sections with them. Lilly Santiago, of Dearborn Heights, was there to watch her daughter, Taylor Sherman. Santiago had about 20 people with her — children and grandchildren. She said Sherman was Miss Michigan Teen USA in 2011. "If the double whammy happens, call the EMS," she said.

The experience, Santiago said, wasn't new. "I love pageants," she said. "She's been doing them since she was six." It was a new experience for Katrina and Kyle Fellenbaum, of Fenton. Their daughter, Faith Weier, 20, was competing as Miss Fenton. "She has never done this before; this is her very first time," her mom said. "I think it's great," she said. "Very energetic and everybody looks great.
"It's gone very well. I'm very happy." She said her daughter plays basketball at Alma College, so a pageant is something different. "This is one of the greatest moments of her life," she said. "She's learned a lot about herself. This has been a very good thing for her."

Marci Fogal, president of the Blue Water Convention and Visitors Bureau, said such events are good for Port Huron. "Look around," she said in a crowded theater lobby. "It's a good opportunity to showcase our community. "It drives our economy — these people have been out in our restaurants, shopping, having a good time." She said she's heard many positive comments about Port Huron from people visiting for the pageant.

"It's nice to hear that," she said. "It's just a great opportunity." Pam Keller and her daughters, Addison and Pamela, had signs supporting her daughter and their sister, Kaci Keller. She was representing Decatur in the Miss Teen Michigan USA competition. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience for her," Pam Keller said. "She just turned 18 in July." The signs read "Good Luck Kaci" and "We Love Kaci." Addison Keller said they would have made more signs, but "we ran out of duct tape."

THE RESULTS

MISS MICHIGAN USA 2015

• Winner: Rashontae Wawrzyniak, Miss St. Clair Lake USA

• First runner-up: Sarah Gerberding, Miss Boyne City USA

• Second runner-up: Elizabeth Johnson, Miss Plymouth USA

• Third runner-up: April Strong, Miss Swartz Creek USA

• Fourth runner-up: Laura Esqueda, Miss Northville USA

MISS MICHIGAN TEEN USA 2015

• Winner: Maria Rendina, Miss Monroe Teen USA

• First runner-up: Maria Smith, Miss Shelby Township Teen USA

• Second runner-up: Ujaneé Wells, Miss Lake State Teen USA

• Third runner-up: Stephanie Staurov, Miss Chesterfield Township Teen USA

• Fourth runner-up: Amanda St. Germain, Miss Marquette USA

A Letter From Texas State Guard Soldier to Miss Texas USA

By Capt. Esperanza Meza

LAREDO, Texas – As members of the Texas State Guard, soldiers take an oath to serve Texas and often sacrifice a great deal to do so. For TXSG Sgt. Lauren Guzman, she wears two hats for Texas – her ACU patterned patrol cap and a crown. Guzman was crowned Miss Texas USA 2014 on Sept. 1, 2013, representing the Lone Star State and serving the citizens of Texas as both Sgt. Guzman and as Miss Texas all year.

"In the community, being a role model with high standards is expected when being in and out of uniform," Guzman said, speaking of the TXSG contributing to her success in the pageants. "The TXSG taught me to be on time for events, meetings, and how to network, but it also takes a lot of discipline, commitment and self-motivation when there is no monetary compensation involved."
Guzman is currently assigned to 1st Regiment, TXSG, in the operations section in San Antonio and served with the regiment's Quick Reaction Team before it disbanded. “We've given her the latitude to attend required Miss Texas USA functions without penalty or adverse perception for not being able to attend scheduled unit training assemblies,” stated State Guard Col. Vincent Carag, 1st Regiment commander. "We, the Soldiers of the 1st Regiment, stand behind her efforts 100 percent."

Guzman agreed, stating the troops and command, her “extended second family,” have been very supportive. Guzman joined the TXSG in 2007 and holds a bachelor’s degree in forensic science from St. Mary’s University, which she earned while serving in the Guard and is looking to the future. As her reign comes to an end, she is considering several career options and looking to attend Officer Candidate School. "She was a soldier before she became Miss Texas USA, and I could tell she was a ‘squared away soldier' when I first came on board," said 1st Regiment Command Sgt. Maj. Mario Zuniga, giving accolades to Guzman. "As a leader, she is a coach and mentor and is not afraid to get dirty or ask questions," he said, "and when she won Miss Texas USA, both the colonel and I thought she'd be a great spokesperson and recruiter for the TXSG."

A pageant veteran, Guzman started in 2005, where she won the Miss Laredo Top Model Pageant. In 2006, she was first runner-up in the Miss Laredo Teen USA but claimed the title in 2008. Persevering, she competed for Miss Texas USA, being third runner-up in 2011, first runner-up in 2012 and fourth runner-up in 2013 before winning the title in 2014. Guzman followed her father’s and grandfather's footsteps into the TXSG. Both served several years with 1st Regiment; her father, a major in the medical corps, and her grandfather, an education professor posthumously promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. Guzman looks to her family for inspiration to do well and set an example for others.

“My mom has always been there and pushed me to do well while I also try to do right to be a role model for my sister,” she said. As Miss Texas USA, Guzman traveled throughout the state and nation addressing issues such as breast and ovarian cancer awareness, attended charity events, parades and visited hospitals and schools to help educate children regarding the dangers of drugs and the importance of education. She also volunteers with numerous nonprofit organizations on top of her work with the Guard. As Guzman relinquishes her crown to the next Miss Texas USA, she leaves us with this advice: "If you have a goal, push for it and ask yourself why you want it,” said Guzman. “Keep your head up till you achieve what you want and accomplish it. I kept competing till I won Miss Texas USA.”

Donald Trump Completes the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge With the Help of Miss Universe and Miss USA

You know Donald Trump isn't one to back down from a challenge. The business mogul is the latest celeb to take part in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, and did so with the help of the beautiful Miss Universe and Miss USA on top of one of his famous towers.

"I've been called out by everybody for the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge—Homer Simpson, Mike Tyson, Vince McMahon—like everybody is going crazy over this thing," Trump says in the video. "I guess they wanna see if whether or not this is my real hair. Which it is. So here's what I'm gonna do…Miss Universe and Miss USA, I own it, so they're here and they're really gonna do a number on me. I'm challenging President Obama, my son Donald, my son Eric. Let's go ladies."

And that's when two huge buckets of ice (Trump) water gets dumped on Donald's head. And guess what? His hair stayed on his head. Apparently, the 68-year-old didn't get the memo on Barack Obama and the challenge. After being called out by Ethel Kennedy, the oldest living member of the famous political family, the President of the United States opted to pass on getting soaked for the #IceBucketChallenge.

"The President appreciates Mrs. Kennedy thinking of him for the challenge," the White House said in a statement. "The President will be making a donation to an ALS charity this week."

Miss USA Shares Her Go-To Looks

BY: MAE RICE

It’s been two months since Nia Sanchez was crowned Miss USA for 2014, and she’s cheerfully adjusting to her reigning responsibilities. All the parties, charity projects, and meet ‘n’ greets mean that having the title is a full-time job, “but I’m loving every second,” she says. Luckily, she’s also great at dressing for the occasion, whether it’s the swimsuit portion of a national pageant or tae kwon do practice, where, she says, “I try to look as not-fly as possible.” When we got her on the phone, we asked her about her favorite looks for three scenarios she encounters a lot: a night out, a long flight, and a charity appearance.

For a Night Out
Go-to outfit: “Sparkly shorts and a cute blouse, or a romper that looks a little dressy with maybe a gold belt… and then I’ll throw some pumps on.” Her clothes are probably from Zara or Double Zero, the clothing company that sponsored her Miss USA outfits. Go-to beauty product: Fake eyelashes from Flutter Lashes (or Walgreens). “When I apply them, I always use the black glue, so the white stuff isn’t smudged all over your eyes if you mess up.” Nia says that the eyelashes are great for nighttime photo ops, where the flash might otherwise wash out your face. Go-to spot in Las Vegas, Nia’s home city: Brooklyn Bowl, a new venue with two floors of bowling, plus concerts and a restaurant. “It’s huge! You get a variety.”

For a Long Flight
Go-to outfit: “I don’t like skirts and dresses; you can’t get comfortable on the plane in those.” Nia prefers leggings and a chunky wraparound sweater from Double Zero, especially when she’s headed somewhere chilly. Go-to beauty product: Face lotion from Image Skincare. “When I travel, my skin gets really dry, especially [when I’m] going between different climates.” Go-to carry-on item: “A thin but big blanket. I like to fall asleep on a plane. I’m the type of person who can pull my knees up to my chest, put my arms on top of my knees, and just pass out like that.”

For a Charity Appearance
Go-to outfit: Something simple, such as jeans, a blue T-shirt (“blue is one of my favorite colors to wear”), and sneakers. Nia’s especially into wedge sneakers right now. Go-to beauty products: Similarly simple—brown eyeliner, mascara, and a little lip gloss. “Some neutral tones,” she says. “You don’t want to look like a clown when you’re up close, face-to-face with little children.” One of her go-to charities: Project Sunshine. Working with them, she visits hospitalized children and tries to brighten their day with fun projects, such as making maracas and other musical instruments.

Miss USA 2014 to host benefit for The Shade Tree

By Dyuce Woodson

Newly crowed Miss USA Nia Sanchez will host National Lollipop Day benefiting The Shade Tree at Sugar Factory Town Square. The event will be held on Sunday, July 20.

Nevada's first ever beauty queen to win the Miss USA crown will sign autographs and take pictures with fans from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This event is part of Sanchez's official Las Vegas homecoming celebration. Miss Nevada Teen USA 2014 Alexa Taylor will also make an appearance in support of Sanchez.

Sugar Factory will donate 50 percent of all Couture Pops sold both in-store and online on National Lollipop Day to The Shade Tree Las Vegas. Sanchez, who once lived in a woman's shelter with her mother is an advocate for the organization. Sugar Factory signature Couture Pops are priced at $25 each and are endorsed by stars such as Drake, Katy Perry and Sting.

Miss USA 2014 Nia Sanchez on LIVE with Kelly and Michael

Nia Sanchez's First 48 Hours as Miss USA 2014

From a Miss USA: The Difference Between Miss America & Miss USA

by Kristen Dalton Wolfe 

Editor’s Note: This is not a commentary on either winner pictured in the cover photo. This is strictly a commentary of the overall purpose of each organization.

One of the most commonly asked questions during my year as Miss USA was, “What is the difference between Miss USA & Miss America?” My pageant friends, whether competitors, supporters or friends/family in either program have experienced this question too and reasonably so. Over the years, I have noticed that rather than using this innocent question as an opportunity to empower women by highlighting the benefits of each program, it has served as a source of division. A defensive tone is taken while each party tries to prove that one program is better than the other. This past week, I spent 5 days judging the Miss NC America pageant. I competed in the program myself, so I was aware of the invaluable benefits and ideals it affords young women. But, as a former Miss USA that has been heavily involved in the Miss Universe Organization for years, this past week turned on a light switch. We are all in it for the same purpose. Although different, the ultimate goal of each program is to enrich the lives of young women. Why don’t we uplift and support each other?

I was so impressed with the Miss America program, especially how it operates in North Carolina. The calibre of young women blew me away. They are top of their classes, Student Body Presidents, published authors, internationally traveled performers and founders of organizations. I was judging the Teen program and was practically mind-blown by their sharp, intelligent, diplomatic, well-spoken interviews, which are conducted like a press-conference. I had to keep reminding myself that they were teenagers!

Each one of them are truly leaders of their generation and it is largely in part due to the empowering standards & ideals of the Miss America Organization that these women have learned the benefit of rising above the status quo. As I sat there conducting the interviews, I thought to myself, “I hope my daughter will look up to someone like her.”

I was impressed to learn that Miss South Carolina 2012 Ali Rogers, who judged alongside me earned $63,000 in scholarship money. The women who compete in the Miss America program win thousands of dollars in scholarship money, not only at the national and state levels, but at their local levels too. These women are able to further their educations, obtain Masters degrees and have the freedom to start their careers debt-free. Being surrounded primarily by Miss America enthusiasts for the week, many people wanted to know what the Miss Universe Organization is all about and what my experience as Miss USA was like. I excitedly explained that I got to live in New York City for a year, represent our country in the Miss Universe competition, had Donald Trump as my first boss out of college and traveled the nation speaking in schools. I was also privileged to raise awareness and funding for breast and ovarian cancer research and volunteering with the USO.

The prestige of the title led to great relationships and opportunities after the crown as well. A fantastic career has developed with a company I have been with for 5 years. I’ve been in several national commercials, Super Bowl commercials and have been the National LA Fitness Spokesmodel for the past two years. The interpersonal, mental strength and public speaking skills I gained have prepared me for my ultimate career goal, which is operating my own company and motivational speaking. Miss USA may have originated as a swimsuit competition and they may still place an emphasis on beauty in the actual competition, but the life skills gained in the preparation process and in the actual job of a titleholder are immeasurable and enriching. Ultimately, involvement in the organization can cultivate and lead to successful careers and financial independence for young women. Just look at Ali Landry, Shandi Finnessey, Rachel Smith, Susie Castillo and Kimberly Pressler. They are all incredibly intelligent, driven women. A common belief is that USA girls are pretty and America girls are smart. As a matter of fact, when I won Miss NC USA, someone said the answer I should give when asked the difference between the two is this:

“Miss America is the girl who lives next door, Miss USA is the girl you wish lived next door.”

I remember feeling so off-put by that off-putting definition. After this week, I whole-heartedly understand why. It is because at the end of the day, both Miss America and Miss USA are programs that promote and cultivate the empowerment and success of young women. They are both aiming to be relevant and fresh while being good role-models, so that young girls have someone truly honorable to emulate. Yes, each program has a different approach and thank goodness! They both provide an outlet for a wide range of young women to participate with their individual strengths, interests and career goals. Competitors in both organizations are beautiful and smart. Let’s make it black and white. Let’s stop saying beauty defines one and intelligence defines the other. Next time you are asked the difference between Miss America and Miss USA, here is a response that empowers both organizations:

Miss America is the leading provider of scholarships for women in the nation and Miss USA is a salary-based position that represents our nation at the Miss Universe competition. The preparation that goes into each competition fosters self-confidence, excellent communication skills, a resilience in regards to rejection and constructive criticism, drive, goal-setting, poise, self and global awareness.

I’ll end on this note. It was my platform title when I competed at Miss NC America: It was my platform title when I competed at Miss NC America:

United We Stand, Divided We Fall Behind.

Miss USA 2010 says Miss USA 1995 is behind Miss USA 2014's carpetbagging problems

By Hollie McKay

LOS ANGELES – Miss USA 2010 says Miss USA 1995 is behind Miss USA 2014's carpetbagging problems. Let us explain.

Miss USA 2010, Rima Fakih, has come to the defense of Miss USA 2014, Nia Sanchez, who was accused of carpetbagging to win the Miss Nevada pageant. Fakih says the director of the Miss Nevada pageant, Shanna Moakler, who was Miss USA in 1995, is the one who should be getting called out. “Many of the girls that you see competing for state titles have moved around. My problem is the people who are organizing the pageant. Did they pick her? Are they the ones who just want to win the title? Maybe it is not Miss USA’s fault,” Fakih told FOX411 in a video interview. “Maybe it is the person who chose her to come and compete for the state.” “Shanna should be the hot seat,” Fakih added. “We should ask her why she is picking girls to compete for her pageant.”

Shanna Moakler took over the Nevada pageant in 2011 after co-directing the Miss California pageant for years. Moakler has remained tight-lipped on the controversy, and repeated requests to her reps and the Miss Nevada office for comment have not been returned. But according to a pageant insider, Moakler has had her eye on Sanchez since she first competed for Miss California years ago. “Shanna often talked about how beautiful Nia was while she was competing in California,” said the source. A look at this year’s Miss Nevada contestants shows that several other former California competitors – Mary Kate Fitzpatrick, Cierra Jackson, Susan Ramanishin and Brittany McGowan – also competed alongside Sanchez for Miss Nevada 2014. Norm Clarke wrote in the Las Vegas Review-Journal that the day after the pageant at Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall at UNLV, he received an email from a disgruntled pageant follower that “California license plates out-numbered Nevada’s in the parking lot” and that “the ‘hoppers’ have taken over.”

Sanchez has denied allegations of carpetbagging, telling FOX411 she lived in Nevada for almost 18 months before scooping the state title. Later, however, she failed to name the capital of Nevada – Carson City -- in a radio interview. 

Diana Falzone contributed to this report.

Miss USA 2014: Miss Nevada Nia Sanchez Wins -- How'd She Do During the Interview?

BY JUSTIN RAVITZ

It would be wise not to get on the bad side of Miss USA 2014: She holds a fourth degree back belt in taekwondo! At the 63rd annual Miss USA pageant—broadcast live on Sunday, June 9 from the Baton Rouge Civic Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana—Miss Nevada Nia Sanchez walked away with the coveted crown.

The pretty martial artist, 24, defeated 50 other beauty queens to win this year's pageant following swimsuit, evening gown and interview portions. and explained that she took up taekwondo as a means to defend herself and bolster her confidence after spending time as a young girl in a women's shelter with her mom. Today, Sanchez volunteers at similar shelters and teachers women and kids to defend themselves against what she called "stranger danger" "I relate to them on a personal level because I've been there myself," she said.

Sanchez also avoided typical beauty-pageant-embarassment when fielding tricky questions from celeb judges. Judge Rumer Willis asked about the high rate of sexual assault on college campuses. "I believe that some colleges may potentially be afraid of having a bad reputation and that would be a reason it could be swept under the rug, because they don't want that to come out into the public," she said. "But I think more awareness is very important so women can learn how to protect themselves. Myself, as a fourth-degree black belt, I learned from a young age that you need to be confident and be able to defend yourself. And I think that's something that we should start to really implement for a lot of women."

Given the crown by Miss USA 2013 Erin Brady, Sanchez bested first runner-up Audra Mari (Miss North Dakota) plus fellow finalists Miss Georgia, Miss Louisiana, Miss Florida and Miss Iowa. Sanchez will go on to compete in the Miss Universe competition this fall.

Miss America vs. Miss USA: Rival pageants seen as similar

BY EMILY BECK COGBURN

In the longtime rivalry between the Miss USA and Miss America pageants, Miss USA is the flashy upstart while Miss America is the modest one with her head in a book. At least, that’s the way it’s supposed to be. The Miss America pageant started in 1921, the talent competition was added in 1935 and the first scholarship was given in 1945, according to the organization’s website. Miss USA began as a breakaway competition, begun by a swimsuit company in 1952 that had been a sponsor of the older pageant. “Competitors in the Miss America Pageant do it for scholarship money for college. They have diverse career interests,” says Valerie Hayes, who bills herself as the Pageant Coach and hosts an online talk radio program about pageants.

In contrast, Miss USA competitors see the pageant as a stepping stone to careers in the entertainment industry — in acting, modeling or broadcasting, she says. Miss USA is a subset of the Miss Universe contest, a for-profit organization owned by casino mogul Donald Trump and NBCUniverse. For the past six years, the pageant was held in Las Vegas until moving to Baton Rouge for the 2014 event. The Miss America Organization, which moved the pageant back to its historic Atlantic City, New Jersey, home last year, is a nonprofit and has connections to charities such as Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
“Since its inception, Miss USA has been unabashedly a beauty/swimsuit pageant. It hasn’t confused its identity by adding talent, making interview a main scoring component or offering educational scholarships — all of which Miss America did after it began. This has allowed the production to embrace the sex, show the women in skimpier bikinis, etc.,” says sociologist Hilary Levey Friedman, a beauty pageant expert. Do these contrasting approaches to pageantry lead to a different reaction from audiences? Not so much, says Hayes. Actually, viewers tend to confuse the two events.

“If someone tells me they watched a pageant last night, I’ll ask which one. If they don’t know, I’ll ask if it had a talent competition. If it did, then it’s Miss America,” Hayes says. “For most viewers, they’re not that different.” Pageant professionals and more experienced fans can distinguish the two, she added. Not surprisingly, the subtle contrast between the pageants has not resulted in much difference in viewership in recent years. Both are significantly down from Miss America’s heyday in the 1950s, when the show in 1952 drew 39 percent of the TV audience. Last year was an exception. Miss America dashed ahead of Miss USA, capturing around 8 million viewers, its best ratings since 2004, when the pageant last appeared on ABC. Miss USA had 4.6 million viewers on NBC, perhaps because it aired at the same time as the NBA finals, according to website zap2it.com, which analyzes Nielsen ratings. Previously, Miss America had looked to be on the rocks, with poor ratings prompting ABC to drop the show and the organization forced to move on to cable stations. Picked up by CMT in 2004, it faltered even more. “The production was abysmal,” Hayes says.

CMT also moved the pageant from its original home in Atlantic City to Los Angeles. The cable station then dropped the Miss America pageant in 2007, after which TLC decided to air it. While at TLC, the pageant’s ratings climbed back, rising to 4.5 million, up from 2 million to 3 million during its time at CMT. It returned to ABC in 2011.

Miss USA’s Gown Was FedExed to Her, Says Designer: “I Was So Nervous It Wouldn’t Get to Her”

by EMILY POPP

When you think of "pageant dresses," poufy, overworked gowns with a smattering of sequins may come to mind. But that's not how it always has to be. Case in point: Miss USA winner Nia Sanchez. The 24-year-old Miss Nevada blew us away with her red, mermaid-style number designed by Michael Costello that she wore as she was crowned Miss USA 2014. It's everything a pageant dress should be. The crimson curve hugging gown totally gives us some Jessica Rabbit vibes, and it's sofigure flattering—although Nia would look stunning in a bolt of burlap (she's a fourth-degree black belt, people!).

We caught up with the designer himself, Michael Costello, and he exclusively revealed all the behind-the-scenes scoop on Nia's winning look. "We had to keep that dress top secret," explained Michael. Originally Nia tried the dress on in a different color. "I said we have to do this in red, it would be everything, yes we must do this in red." After deciding on the dress, Michael had a few tailoring tweaks to make, so he had to FedEx the dress to Nia to make sure it got to her in time. "We shipped it to Nia in Baton Rouge," said Michael. "I remember walking to FedEx, and I was so nervous it wouldn't get to her. I was so afraid. She texted me when she got it, and said, yay it fits her perfectly!"

And here's the cherry on top of the sundae: You can buy this exact dress! Michael posted a pic of Nia in his dress on Instagram with the caption, "CONGRATULATIONS to my beautiful friend @missnvusa2014 Nia Sanchez who won last night @missusa... I am so happy for you. You deserve it. I had a feeling lol!" And he added, "This dress is available to order by emailing MICHAEL@MTCOSTELLO.COM it is available in every color you can dream of. And we ship worldwide. Yup I had to throw that in :)" So, if you've got a "Gorgeous Dress Fund" that you want to break into, we've got just the gown.