Henley wins Miss Tennessee Teen USA pageant

Stormi Bree Henley, Miss Cumberland County from Crossville, was crowned Miss Tennessee Teen USA 2009. The pageant took place at Austin Peay State University’s Mass Communications Theatre on Oct. 3-4. There were 64 teens from across the state that competed in both swimsuit (judges look for self-confidence and fitness during this portion of the competition) and evening gown apparel.

The pageant began with the girls dressed in black pants and tied tops dancing a choreographed number around vocalist Rodney Williams. The competition was then narrowed down to 15 on Saturday; they appeared again in both swimsuits and evening gowns.

The top 5 were then chosen: fourth runner-up, Miss Union City Lara Zolfagharbik; third runner-up, Miss Mt. Juliet Amber Pennycuff; second runner-up, Miss Southern Tennessee Devin Grissom; first runner-up, Miss Johnson City Deborah Hudgins; and the new Miss Tennessee Teen USA for 2009, Stormi Bree Henley.

Stormi is the daughter of Kip and Sissi Henley of Crossville and is a senior at CCHS. Stormi will be under contract for the year to attend several state wide festivities, first being a trophy presenter at the ICM Awards (Inspirational County Music) in Nashville.

Besides a trophy, personal trainer, hair dresser and makeup artist, Stormi received a full college scholarship and gifts too numerous to mention. Stormi will compete for the Miss Teen USA title, date and location to be announced.

http://www.crossville-chronicle.com/features/local_story_304171016.html?keyword=topstory

Sadie Porter: Newly Crowned Miss Washington Teen USA

By ALYSSA PATRICK
UNLEASHED STAFF

She walks coolly into Starbucks and takes a seat in a corner armchair.
She wears a casual smile, holds her chin up, and looks you in the eye. It almost seems like she’s wearing, across her shoulder, an imaginary sash that gives her gentle confidence and self-assurance.
Her name is Sadie Porter, and she is more than just a pageant girl.
“She is very determined and follows through with anything she puts her mind to,” says 27-year-old Mandy Case, one of Porter’s dance teachers at Selah Footlights Studio.
Porter participated in her first pageant at age 3.
“It was the American Co-Ed Pageant, which focuses on natural beauty,” she explains during a recent interview at a local Starbucks.
That particular pageant is open to girls and young women ages 3 to 22 and features “age-appropriate” clothing and on-stage presentations. It also adheres to a no make-up policy for all participants under 13.
Since that first pageant, Porter has participated in one every year. Now 17 and a senior at Selah High School, she’s earned many titles and tiaras.
Her most recent win was the title of Miss Washington Teen USA 2009, which she received earlier this month. Along with the crown, she won a prize package worth more than $20,000 as well as the chance to make appearances at events throughout Washington and the country. Plus, she gets to represent Washington state at the 2009 Miss Teen USA pageant next spring.
Other titles she’s held include Miss Talent in 2005 and 2006, and Miss American Junior Teen in 2007.
One of her goals is to hold the title of Miss Washington, maybe even Miss America.
She says her favorite part of pageants are the themed rehearsals. In most competitions, contestants have to learn a couple production numbers in a short amount of time, which means early and long rehearsals.
To make them a bit more enjoyable, the rehearsals often involve themes, such as pajama day or crazy hair day. This allows the girls to have a good time while learning intensive routines and bond. In fact, Porter says she’ made several friends through pageants, one of whom she visits often in Alabama.
Participating in all these pageants means Porter must dedicate time every year to finding a new dress and swimsuit, perfecting interview skills, and sometimes preparing a talent. That last part is usually not too difficult for the avid dancer.
“I dance five days a week at Selah Footlights,” she says. “I do ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, and I am on the competition team, Dance Explosion.”
Porter is also a dance teacher at the same studio, and is a part of the drill team at her high school. Her average day looks like this:
Because of an early morning drill, she starts school at 6:15 a.m. and is there until 2:15 p.m. she says. “Usually, I head to the studio straight from there, and am teaching or dancing until 10 (p.m.).”
Her activities don’t end there. Porter is also a member of Young Life and the youth group at Selah Covenant Church. She’s also serving as the student body vice president at her school.
What Porter has learned from participating in pageants seems to be the connective thread that helps her to succeed in all of these activities.
“Through the interview portions of pageants I have gained crucial business skills,” she says. “I am now able to comfortably talk to adults. Being on stage so often also gives me the confidence to do whatever I put my mind to.
“Overall, (pageants) boost my self-esteem.”
Case, the dance teacher, adds that Porter’s experience in pageants allows her to speak and carry herself very maturely, skills which make her a good receptionist at the studio.
And, of course, “she is a great performer,” Case says. “She knows how to turn it up on stage.”

http://unleashed.yakimablogs.com/2008/10/27/sadie-porter-newly-crowned-miss-washington-teen-usa/

Sterling women shine in Miss Michigan USA pageant

By Cortney Casey
C & G Staff Writer

STERLING HEIGHTS — A crown isn’t the only common bond between Lindsey Tycholiz and Kristen Danyal, recently named Miss Michigan USA 2009 and Miss Michigan Teen USA 2009, respectively.

Both women hail from Sterling Heights — and actually grew up across the street from each other on the city’s northwest side.

“It’s very crazy that it all worked out like that,” said Tycholiz.

Tycholiz, 26, and Danyal, 18, said they didn’t know each other well due to their age difference and weren’t even aware that the other was competing until they spotted each other’s families at Port Huron’s McMorran Place Theater during the Sept. 18-20 event.

Melissa Pitchford, executive director for Proctor Productions, the Cincinnati-based company that produces Miss Michigan USA, said she’s never seen dual winners from the same city during her involvement with the pageant.

“I’ve been doing this for 10 years, and it’s never happened,” she said.

According to Pitchford, any Michigan female — age 14-18 for the teen competition and 18-27 for the main competition — could apply. By the time of the pageant, each category comprised a field of about 60 contestants, which judges whittled down to 15, then five, over the three-day event before selecting the winners, said Pitchford.

Candidates participated in interviews and modeled swimsuits and evening gowns, and judges asked each finalist an on-stage question.

Tycholiz now advances to the Miss USA competition on April 19, 2009, at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, where 51 women, representing each state and the District of Columbia, will compete, said Pitchford.

Miss USA goes on to vie with 80 to 100 women from around the world for the Miss Universe title, she said, noting that the competition will air on TV in 54 countries and is expected to attract around 600 million viewers.

Danyal will participate in the Miss Teen USA pageant, the date for which has yet to be determined, she said.

Besides coverage of all expenses related to the national pageants, both women receive a four-year scholarship to Baker College, valued at about $35,000, along with around $5,000 in other prizes, said Pitchford.

Tycholiz, a veteran of the pageant circuit since age 16, competed previously in the Miss Michigan USA event. Her past titles include Miss Oakland County 2006 and Miss Southeast Michigan 2004.

She said she was reluctant to go to bed after the pageant, fearful it had all been a thrilling dream.

“Oh my goodness, it was surreal,” she said, recalling the moment she was crowned.

The judges posed questions on politics and current events for some finalists, but she received a more ambiguous one, asking her to explain the difference between “a good decision” and “the best decision.”

After seeing other contestants ramble on in the past, Tycholiz said she opted to keep it “short and sweet,” telling the judges that an individual who makes the best decision will known in his or her heart that it was the right one.

Tycholiz has a bachelor’s degree from Oakland University, where she majored in music education and minored in theater and biology. She said she’s taking a few years to pursue performing and musical theater before launching her teaching career.

She just accepted a new job as a presenter for Saturn, traveling throughout the country to appear at auto shows, and also works as a Marilyn Monroe impersonator.

“It’s not your typical 9 to 5,” she laughed.

Tycholiz said she looks forward to promoting the Miss USA national platform, which focuses on breast cancer and ovarian cancer awareness, as well as touting her personal favorite charities, the Michigan Humane Society and American Lung Association, and promoting music and the arts in schools.

Danyal — like Tycholiz, a Stevenson graduate — had never even dabbled in modeling before, but applied at her mother’s encouragement.

“It was kind of on a whim,” she said.

After making it to the final five, Danyal said she answered a question about the impact of the controversial primetime soap “Gossip Girl” on today’s teens.

Danyal said she believed the show was influential, but lacked positive role models. She cited “Ugly Betty” as a more constructive program, focusing on a well-intentioned main character not solely obsessed with appearances.

“I said there should be more shows like that directed toward teens, with good role models,” she said.

Danyal said she was “in complete shock” when she won, especially considering many contestants had competed previously.

Pitchford said Danyal will be active with the Miss Teen USA national platform, which supports a foundation called Girl Talk, a mentoring program for high school and middle school girls.

Now a freshman in the University of Detroit-Mercy’s physician assistant program, Danyal said she’s basking in her current excitement before dwelling on the next level of competition ahead.

“I’m trying not to think about it so much,” she said. “I don’t want to get ahead of myself. I just want to take it in and soak it in …”

Miss Michigan USA and Miss Michigan Teen USA are both owned by the Miss Universe organization, which is partnered with Donald Trump and NBC Universal.

For more information on the Miss Michigan USA competition, visit www.missmichiganusa.com.

http://www.candgnews.com/Homepage-Articles/2008/10-01-08/HF-MISSMICH.asp