Miss World Australia Erin Holland’s French connection

by ROZ PULLEY

SHE dazzled judges on the world stage – now our talented Miss World Australia will help choose France’s most beautiful young women. Classically trained Cairns-born opera singer, model and current Miss World Oceania, Erin Holland has been invited on to the judging panel for Miss France in June. “Every year, the Miss France organisation invites one international contestant to judge their competition, so it’s exciting they picked me out of everybody in any competitive pageant for 2013,” the 25-year-old said during a surprise Easter visit home to her parents in Freshwater. Ms Holland said the French competition differed from Australia, where the Miss World and Miss Universe contests were run separately.

“Miss France is the country’s most prestigious competition and is actually Miss Universe, Miss World and any other pageant all in one,” she said. It is the latest international jaunt for the busy Sydney-based model and entertainer, whose blonde good looks, easy manner and elegance took her into the top 10 against 130 nations and gave her a global audience of 2.3 billion while singing a trio from Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro with Miss World 2012 and Miss World Indonesia 2013. She has since sung at fundraisers in the US and China, promoted Australia as an education destination in India and Nepal, starred on Channel 9’s Carols by Candlelight and darts around Australia on an almost daily basis for her charity, modelling and singing commitments.

OLIVIA CULPO IN “THE OTHER WOMAN”

Former Miss Universe 2012, Olivia Culpo has a role in “The Other Woman.” After discovering her boyfriend is married, a woman (Cameron Diaz) tries to get her ruined life back on track. But when she accidentally meets the wife he’s been cheating on (Leslie Mann), she realizes they have much in common, and her sworn enemy becomes her greatest friend. When yet another affair is discovered (Kate Upton), all three women team up to plot mutual revenge on their cheating, lying, three-timing SOB. In theaters this Friday.

THE 2014 MISS TEEN USA® COMPETITION RETURNS TO PARADISE ISLAND, BAHAMAS, ON AUGUST 2

The 2014 MISS TEEN USA® Competition will stream LIVE from the Atlantis, Paradise Island Bahamas on Saturday, August 2, 2013 on http://www.missteenusa.com. Cassidy Wolf, Miss Teen USA 2013, will crown her successor at the conclusion of the event. The competition will feature contestants from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Contestants will be judged in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown and interview.

Stacy Ramcharran to represent Guyana at Miss Earth Pageant

In the past, Guyana has been represented at various international pageants by delegates who were either selected or chosen by the franchise holders and with the upcoming Miss Earth Pageant, it is no different.The Guyana Indian Worldwide delegate, Katherina Roshana was selected by Chandini Rambalak to represent Guyana in Malaysia. She was chosen after an audition at the Princess Hotel and Casino.Another delegate that was selected to represent Guyana in the said pageant a few years ago was Renata Rambalak. She too failed to bring home the crown.

Alana Seebarran, sponsored by NEW GPC INC, won the local leg of the competition in 2012, and subsequently won Guyana’s first international title, Miss India Worldwide. Ruqayyah Boyer was in 2013 selected by the Miss World Guyana Committee to represent Guyana at the Miss World Pageant in Indonesia and again, she did not come close to winning the coveted title. This year, Simpli Royal, the franchise holder for the Miss Guyana Earth Pageant, has selected a delegate to represent Guyana at the international pageant to be held in the Philippines. There was no pageant to select the best to represent Guyana, but according to Pageant Coordinator Pamela Dillon, several persons were interviewed and Ramcharan was the best of the lot.

Recently, this newspaper made several attempts to interview the selected queen, but all proved futile.The Earth Pageant is expected to draw scores of beauties from around the world, who will definitely showcase their curvy bodies, as they vie for the title. Due to time, the Committee’s last resort was to select Ramcharan whom they thought was the best. She will be mandated to assist in helping to preserve and restore Mother Earth and to support Guyana’s role of raising awareness of climate change. However, Ramcharan, according to Simpli Royal is a motivated, focused young woman, who will fulfil the ideals of the competition and showcase Guyana’s stance on protection of the planet. She was selected on the basis of being a citizen of Guyana; being between the ages of 18 to 26; being between five feet tall, five inches and six feet tall, with weight in proportion to height; possessing beauty of face; and having an outgoing personality, among others.

The coronation of Miss Stacy Ramcharan was be held at the Umana Yana on Tuesday, April 22.

How to Win Miss Minnesota USA

BY MELISSA AVERY GRANATIREThe Pageant Planet

Haley O’Brien is a household pageant name with multiple state and national titles under her belt! She is a competitor that delivers and remains extremely motivated and determined during competition. She captured a USA state title which means she keeps her body in tip top shape and is currently doing extreme prepping for the prestigious title of Miss USA. I was able to get some of her inside tips for preparing for the stage!


MG: What swimsuit prep workout did you use to target your results?
HO: My favorite exercise that I used to slim down and tone up for the swimsuit portion of competition is called “the triathlon.” My mother introduced it to me after she watched a trainer attempt it in the gym.
It’s an hour long cardio exercise set that moves from the treadmill to the elliptical and then to the stair climber. All three cardio “phases” of the triathlon are interval training, meaning you alternate from high intensity to low intensity about every minute. By the end you are just dying!! But if you push through, you feel amazing once its all over. About two months prior to the pageant, I started doing the triathlon 2-4 times a week. I also did a lot of lifting. I did light weight lifting with 25-30 reps at 3 sets each. I alternate arm day and leg day so I can more accurately target muscle groups, and so each portion of my body gets some semblance of a rest day. It is important to understand that you will not get “huge” from lifting! A lot of my closest girlfriends were really nervous about weight training. They were scared they would turn into huge bricks of muscle. Don’t worry! That’s a myth.

Weight training does so much more for your body than cardio. Not only does it increase your metabolism, but you will see results much faster if you put a bigger emphasis on weight training than you do on cardio. It’s not always my favorite part about going to the gym, but it works like magic!

MG: How did you pick out the perfect gown and swimsuit for competition?
HO: For my gown, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to work with Sherri Hill and Henri’s Cloud 9. I was able to fly to Austin, TX and work with Sherri Hill in her studio. She helped me pick out what beading, coloring and style I wanted my dress to be. She sketched out the design and sent it to the creative studio to be made. I still remember receiving the huge box in the mail!! It was my dream evening gown!! Every detail was perfectly matched to fit my style and body shape! I can’t thank Sherri Hill and Henri’s Cloud 9 enough for the experience. They are both miracle workers when it comes to finding your perfect gown! Finding my swimsuit was a lot less structured. I had some idea of what I wanted, but I had yet to see it in an actual store. I was fortunate enough to walk into a swim shop at Mall of America and find the perfect base shape for my swimsuit. I then took the swimsuit to a tailor and had her create off the shoulder straps for a high fashion twist. I had seen the straps featured in a couture runway show and knew I had to have them on my swimsuit! 

MG: How long before a pageant do you start your diet and exercise prep?
HO: I began training about six months prior to the state pageant. As the state pageant drew nearer, my workouts became more intense. My eating plan also became more rigid. The important thing about preparing for a pageant is making sure you are living a “healthy lifestyle.” I never like to say that I am dieting. Instead, I am focusing on living and maintaining a healthy lifestyle of eating well and going to the gym on a regular basis.

MG: What is one pageant tip that never fails you?
HO: A lot of young women ask me this after they decide to compete in a pageant for the first time. I will always say the same thing: confidence. It takes a lot of confidence to put yourself out there…to walk on a stage in front of an audience…. to sit in a room with a group of strangers and talk about yourself…. to answer an onstage question with poise.

You have to be extremely confident in who you are and what you love. If you are confident, you won’t worry about any of the fine details. Because you won’t be worried, you can just have an absolute blast at the pageant. The judges know which contestants are having fun and they are drawn to those girls! People are naturally drawn to someone who is always smiling and having fun. Confidence allows you to be that person.

Ivana Misura crowned as Miss Universe Croatia 2014

The Zagreb-born Ivana Mišura was crowned the past week by Melita Fabecic (Miss Universe Croatia 2013) as the new queen of Croatia for the next edition of Miss Universe pageant, which will take place further on this year.

The 24 year-old model standing 5’7″ and fluent in Croatian, Italian and English won the crown on April 12th, 2014 at the conclusion of the pageant defeating other 19 contestants fighting for the coveted crown. After being crowned, Mišura said: “This is awesome, a wonderful feeling, I would like to thank everyone for their support”. She concluded with: “In the fashion world you need to watch out with your look, make sure your hair, your dress are all perfect. Posture, attitude, personality, were some aspects part of my preparation”.

Later, on her two days as a queen, she said in an interview: “Smile! It is the most important thing, to laugh a lot, be cheerful, if you are a positive person, people will notice”. The first runner-up of Miss Universe Croatia 2014 was Meri Bencic and the second runner-up was Andrea Generalic. Another prices awarded to other candidates were the Miss Photogenic Award for Mateji Hunjed and Andela Marijanovic won the Miss Congeniality Award.

Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri To participate at The White House Easter Egg Roll

On Monday, April 21st, Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri will be part of the White House's largest annual event, The White House Easter Egg Roll, a 136-year old tradition. This year more than 30,000 people are expected to attend and the theme is "Hop into Healthy, Swing into Shape" in support of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move campaign.

The day-long event will feature egg-rolling, live music, sports, cooking stations and storytelling, where Nina will be one of the featured readers on the Storytime Stage. There she will join other celebrity readers Jim Carrey, former NFL player and NASA astronaut Leland Melvin, DJ Lance Rock, Debby Ryan from the Disney Channel's JESSIE and Sesame Street's Mando, Rosita, Abby Cadabby and Cookie Monster.
Other highlights of the day will include yoga sessions, healthy eating demonstrations as well as appearances by numerous celebrities, world renowned chefs and athletes and of course President Obama and the First Family.

To learn more about the Easter Egg Roll visit www.WhiteHouse.gov/EasterEggRoll. Tune in for live streams from the South Lawn on April 21, 2014 on WhiteHouse.gov/live. You can also join the conversation online using the hashtag #EasterEggRoll and get the latest updates by checking out Let's Move! on Twitter and Facebook.

Source: Miss America Website.

Theresa Vail: From Army to Miss America to the Outdoor Channel

U.S. Army sergeant Theresa Vail had to change her talent from archery to singing when she competed as Miss Kansas in the Miss America pageant in 2013. “I guess the Miss America organization has an insurance clause against projectile objects,” she told FOX411 before she hit the stage. Vail’s new employer has no such qualms. The Outdoor Channel has brought the buff beauty on to host a new show, “Limitless,” where she hunts with her crossbow while tackling other feats of strength and skill.

Vail told the Wichita Eagle that half of each show will be hunting, and the other half a personal challenge.“I told them I didn’t want to do what everybody else was doing and they said they didn’t either,” she said. “We both wanted it to have more than just me on hunts. I was sold from there on.” For example, during a New Mexico elk hunt, she will also hang out with the state’s Smoke Jumper fire fighters. “You have 100 pounds of gear on, and you’re running up and down buildings carrying people in a fireman’s carry,” she said. “It’s going to be pretty tough, but I thrive on things like that.”
Vail, 23, is used to pushing boundaries. In addition to being one of the few serving armed forces members to compete in the Miss America pageant, she was also the first contestant to openly show her tattoos. “We’re placed under certain convictions and we feel we have to stay under them and I want people to know, it doesn’t matter what society says. It doesn’t matter what the quote, unquote rules say,” she told us. “You can do whatever you want, whatever you set your mind to, that’s what I did when I showed my tattoos.” In addition to her new show, Vail remains a sergeant in the Kansas National Guard, having reinlisted in 2013 for six years, and still plans to pursue a graduate degree in dentistry.

Making the rest of us look pretty lazy indeed.

Miss America Will Be Crowned in Tony Bowls

by Laura Pennington (source: The Pageant Planet)

Miss America state winners will be working with Tony to design their dream gown for finals night on the Miss America stage. While each contestant will have the opportunity to select her own gown for preliminary evening gown competition if desired, all state winners will grace the stage in Tony Bowls for the final night of competition. One contestant will walk away with a $50,000 scholarship, a year of travel and service, and her crowning moment forever remembered in a Tony Bowls. This is a sponsorship like no other, putting the creative power of Tony Bowls at the hands of each state queen to design the evening gown of her dreams. We look forward to seeing your unique creations in Atlantic City this fall!

5 Questions Pageant Girls are Done Answering

by Bess Brooks

Being curious is what makes the world go round, but for those of you not in pageants, do us all a favor? Do NOT ask a pageant girl these 5 questions…You might just get these answers:

1. Why are you in pageants? Aren’t they like bad? I thought you were a feminist!
“Why yes, they are the worst thing on Earth, which is exactly why I am doing them. Also, I hate feminism…another reason to do pageants!”

2. Do you know Honey Boo Boo?
“A close cousin actually…I look forward to Thanksgiving together.”

3. Have you seen that show Toddlers and Tiaras?
“What?! Sorry, I can’t hear you from this rock I’ve been living under…”

4. How can you walk in front of all of those people in a swimsuit?
“I don’t know. How do you do it while on the beach? Also, I worked hard for this body.”

5. So is Donald Trump, like your boss?
“Yes, the King of all Pageants, he directly employs me while I compete for Miss America, which is a completely different system with no affiliation with Miss USA, but why am I even trying to get that through to you?”

And just a kind reminder to all the frustrated pageant girls out there- these should be answers said in your head, not out loud ; ) Remember to keep your cool and smile because at the end of the day, you’re still a queen!

Amy Brady wins Miss Georgia United States

By Jim Zachary

McDONOUGH —Henry County’s Amy Brady is on her way — on her way to Washington D.C., that is, to represent the state of Georgia in the Miss United States Pageant. The Henry County High School teacher was crowned Miss Georgia United States in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., Saturday, and will advance to the national pageant in July.

The popular teacher is already beginning her reign in support of Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society as part of a national partnership between Miss United States and the ACS. Brady is assembling a team for the local Relay for Life event to be held at her Alma mater, Union Grove High School, May 2.

In addition to serving as an ambassador for Relay For Life, Brady’s own platform during her reign is “Build Them Strong, Build Them Brave.” She explained, “This program hits home for me as an educator, because it focuses on building healthy relationships and a healthy self-esteem for young girls.” After the fact she won the title finally sank in, Brady took time to reflect on the momentous event.

She told the Henry Daily Herald, “Being Miss Georgia is something I’ve wanted since I was 4 years old. I remember every year, watching the national pageant and being in complete awe of how beautiful they were. At 4 you see the glamour and it’s only later you see how beautiful they are not just on the outside, but on the inside as well.” Brady graduated from Union Grove High in 2006, then went on to Kennesaw State University where she majored in secondary history education. She returned to Henry County in 2011 beginning her career as an educator at HCHS, where she teaches world history, social studies and is the student council advisor. When not teaching, working out, running or preparing for a pageant, Brady said she loves cooking, painting, writing and enjoying time outdoors. She also appears as a recurring guest anchor on the local newscast,Henry Herald Today on SCB-TV Channel 15.

In 2012, Brady went to Albania with Glen Haven Baptist Church where she had the opportunity to mentor teenagers who were orphans. She looks forward to returning to Albania for an extended stay with hopes of building upon the relationships that she fostered last year. She competed in Miss Georgia U.S.A in 2012, 2013, 2014, winning Miss Photogenic twice. Ultimately her childhood dream became a reality, winning the Miss Georgia United States title this past weekend. “Georgia is my home, where I was born, its my first love. I couldn’t imagine going to Miss United States representing any other state,” she said.

5 Tips to Increase Your Pageant Swimsuit Score

by Allison Goodwin (source: The Pageant Planet)

Swimsuit scores are a composite of many things. Swimsuit scores are not only based on your body, but they are based on your beauty and the confidence you have while on the stage. So what can you do to put everything together and have an above average swimsuit score?

5. Hair/ makeup: In swimsuit it is great to have a sexy look, as you are a girl in a swimsuit in a beauty pageant after all. I think that big hair scores best with swimsuit. I know a pony tail is more realistic of how you would have it styled in a swimsuit, but once again this is a beauty pageant. Makeup should be kept as natural looking as possible with your eye color, and make sure your eyes and lips pop.

4. Confidence: They always say confidence is key and that’s definitely the ticket to scoring well in swimsuit. Go out on the stage and show the judges how hard you worked to look as hot as you do in your swimsuit. Believe me, the judges can definitely see the confidence in your face, especially through your smile. Even if you are flexing super hard, don’t let them see it on your face. 

3. Shoes: As many of you may have seen in the Miss America pageant, there were some swimsuit shoes that were not pageant swimsuit shoes. They were unusual colors and had chunky heels. Pageant swimsuit shoes should be nude or have clear heels and on occasion, a gold shoe will work as well. The better the shoes blend in with your legs and skin tone, the longer it will make your legs look, because it does not cut off your leg line. Make sure the heel height is something you can walk in as well. You’re better off going with a three-and-a-half-inch heel and walking perfectly, than a five-inch heel and falling over on stage.

2. Abs: Everyone is striving for those six-pack abs. Well, let me tell you, they are hard to get! With a proper diet and fitness routine, they will take months to develop. Please do not wait until the week before a pageant and think they will magically appear. By having any sort of definition in your stomach, it shows the judges how hard you actually worked. We all know abs aren’t made overnight and it will show dedication and discipline.

1. Pageant swimsuit: Having the perfect swimsuit is essential. Whether you are going to wear a one-piece or two-piece, make sure the cut of the swimsuit is flattering to your body. The string bikinis from Target are great for the beach, but not for a pageant. There are so many pageant swimsuit designers out there that know how to make a swimsuit that is flattering on stage and will make you look amazing. Along with the cut and style of swimsuit, make sure you pick a color that really pops on you. I usually try and go for something that is the opposite color of my hair or skin, that way it can really stand out. Make sure to go with a natural color palette when choosing a color, just because a swimsuit is neon and stands out, doesn’t mean it’s the best choice.

I hope you find these tips helpful for the swimsuit portion of your next pageant. If you have any tips relating to mine, please comment below.

Miss USA and Miss Teen USA to present at the Shorty Awards!

Miss USA 2013 Erin Brady and Miss Teen USA 2013 Cassidy Wolf, presented New York Life’s #KeepGoodGoing award at the 6th Annual Shorty Awards this past Monday, April 7th in New York City.

Miss Universe 2014 Ma. Gabriela Isler in Manila

Check out these new photos of Miss Universe 2014 Gabriela Isler's recent visit to the Philippines!

GABRIELA ISLER’S ADVICE FOR ASPIRING QUEENS: BE ‘CONFIDENT’ AND ‘REAL’

MANILA, Philippines – Right when the Philippines was experiencing typhoon Yolanda in November 2013, Venezuela’s Gabriela Isler was crowned Ms Universe 2013 in Moscow, Russia.

Less than a year later, months into her reign as Ms Universe, Gabriela is visiting the Philippines not only to serve as one of the judges in the Bb Pilipinas coronation night on March 30, but also to raise awareness for rebuilding efforts in typhoon-hit areas.

This is in cooperation with Cordaid, a Dutch development agency that Miss Universe Organization president Paula Shugart told media was focused on the long-term, with several projects centered on women and children – also a key focal point of Gabriela’s projects as Ms Universe.

MISS UNIVERSE AND CORDAID JOIN FORCES TO HELP PHILIPPINES

The Miss Universe Organization and Cordaid join forces to “build back better” in the Philippines after devastation wrought by typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda).

The Miss Universe Organization and Dutch development agency, Cordaid, have partnered to create a global fund that will raise awareness and money for regions of the Philippines struggling to recover in the wake of typhoon Haiyan, locally known as typhoon Yolanda. The two international organizations will call attention to the needs of projects that are essential for the country’s recovery long after the emergency relief period has ended.

“The Philippines is home to our biggest and most passionate fan base, which is so meaningful to the Miss Universe family,” explains Paula Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization. “The country was hit by Yolanda the night before our 2013 Miss Universe telecast and together with Cordaid, we will raise awareness and funds for long term recovery aid to build, and rebuild, flourishing communities,” adds Shugart.
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