36th Annual Vision Awards

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JUNE 27: Miss Teen California Chelsea Gilligan attends the 36th annual Vision Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on June 27, 2009 in Beverly Hills, California.

Joanna Krupa Hosts Lauren Hildebrandt "Not Really A Waitress" CD Release

HOLLYWOOD - JUNE 25: Miss California USA Tami Farrell and Miss Teen California USA Chelsea Gilligan arrive to Lauren Hildebrandt's 'Not Really a Waitress' CD release party at Les Deux on June 25, 2009 in Hollywood, California.

Stevi teen competes for Miss Teen USA title

by MARYSA FALK - Ravalli Republic

A Stevensville teenager is asking for the prayers and good luck wishes from everyone in Montana.

Haley Boyer, the reigning Miss Montana Teen USA, will represent her home state in the Miss Teen USA pageant in the Bahamas on July 31.

The Miss Teen USA pageant is for young women ages 15 through 19 and is a part of the Miss Universe Organization owned by Donald Trump.

“She’s a Montana girl through and through and she’s going to go to the Bahamas in July and do everything she can to bring that title home to all Montanans,” Scott Boyer, Haley’s father said.

The 18-year-old said growing up in Montana has given her strengths that contestants from other states won’t have.

“We all have really high work ethic but I’m not afraid to get rough and dirty,” Haley said. “Growing up in Montana I’ve learned to get the job done.”

Participating in rodeos and riding horses has also taught Haley perseverance and patience, something she said has prepared her for the competition.

Haley and 50 other contestants will be judged based on a personal interview with the judges prior to the on-stage competition that includes swimsuit and evening gown contests.

Haley has competed in the state pageant three unsuccessful times before her win in September 2008. In 2006 she won an award for physical fitness and Miss Congeniality. In 2007, she was first runner up.

“By now, most would have given up, but not Haley,” her father said.

“It was really difficult to stay motivated but I continued to watch the pageant on TV and saw what the girls were doing for their communities and wanted to get involved.” Haley said. “I had to wait a few years, but it was worth it.”

Since being crowned, Haley has completed a lot of volunteer work, a required duty as the crown holder and something she said she loves to do.

Haley has worked with Habitat for Humanity, the Special Olympics, The Ronald McDonald House and has been a motivational speaker at state-wide high schools.

“I speak to students about goal setting because it’s very important and everyone should have goals,” Haley said.

Haley has competed in pageants since she was 11 years old when she won Little Miss Rodeo Western Montana in 2002. She went on to win Ravalli County Rodeo Junior Queen in 2004, Miss Rodeo Western Montana Princess 2005 and Miss Ravalli County 2007.

“I’ve always been into horses and held rodeo titles, but I wanted to move into beauty pageants,” Haley said. “I’ve always had my eye on Miss USA and reaping the benefits of competing.”

Due to the lack of trainers for hair styles, make-up application, stage presence and modeling, Haley has had to travel outside Montana to find the best resources for her.

“I needed to find where the winners are training and do a lot of research and traveling,” she said. “That’s been the most difficult part.”

Haley hopes to shatter the stereotype that Montana is not a competition state by continuing to train until the competition and using her high level of work ethic she has set for herself.

Haley trains by practicing her stage presence, interview and presentation. She said she wants to be polished and the best possible self she can be by the time she arrives to the Bahamas.

“I have to have extreme leadership skills and abilities because Miss Teen USA is a speaker and a leader that works with organizations and charities,” Haley said. “I have to be on top of my game. I have to be that person before I can win that title.”

Haley graduated from Hamilton High School in May and will be attending cosmetology school in Dallas, Texas this fall, unless she is crowned Miss Teen USA.

The winner receives an assortment of gifts but also a one-year stay in Trump Towers in New York City and a $100,000 scholarship to the New York Film Academy.

Haley said if she wins she will have the opportunity to network, self-improve and prepare for her future career.

Haley’s future in pageants depends on where life takes her.

“I don’t want to say I’m done, I’m just not sure,” Haley said.

Haley said her life goals are to be successful, own a house and car, travel and be proud of the work she does.

The pageant will not be aired on television. Check the Ravalli Republic after the competition for results.

Log on to RavalliRepublic.com to comment on this and other stories.

http://ravallirepublic.com/articles/2009/06/23/news/news26.txt

Miss California Teen USA Chelsea Gilligan @ Billabong Design For Humanity event

Miss California Teen USA Chelsea Gilligan, New Miss California USA 2009 Tami Farrell. Billabong USA celebrates its 3rd Annual Design For Humanity held at Avalon - Arrivals. Hollywood, California - 17.06.09

http://www.contactmusic.com/photos.nsf/main/miss_california_teen_usa_chelsea_gilligan_2465302

Miller picks pageant over finals

Amidon cowgirl who leads state pole bending standings to cap season at state finals

Codi Miller decided she wasn’t going to compete at the National High School Finals Rodeo long before she started the spring season.

Codi Miller decided she wasn’t going to compete at the National High School Finals Rodeo long before she started the spring season.

Ironically, after Miller made that choice, the Bowman County sophomore began building a sizeable lead in the North Dakota High School Rodeo Association’s pole bending standings with the help of a consistent gray mare named Fancy.

Yet, when the option of going to nationals in Farmington, N.M., or competing in the Miss Teen USA pageant arose — Miller was named Miss Teen North Dakota around Thanksgiving last year — the Amidon 16-year-old chose to fulfill her obligations to the pageant.

While Miller hopes she can reach the NHSFR sometime in the future, she said thinking about the success she’s had in both the rodeo and pageant world in the past year is a bit overwhelming.

“Sometimes I can’t describe the feeling I get when I think about how good I’m doing in rodeo and getting to go to the Bahamas too,” Miller said.

Miller will vie for the coveted Miss Teen USA crown at the July 31 pageant at Nassau, Bahamas, instead of making a trip to the NHSFR that seemed quite likely based on her success this season.

She’ll end her rodeo season this weekend at the North Dakota State Finals Rodeo in Bowman because the final days of the NHSFR coincide with her obligations to the pageant.

With 77 season points and a 15-point lead over runner-up Mamie Kieson, Miller has a good chance of holding onto her lead in the pole bending standings and winning a state title, which she said became her goal after deciding not to attend the NHSFR.

She has also been encouraging to other competitors trying to fight their way into the top four of the standings, which would earn them an automatic trip to the NHSFR.

“Some of them came up to me and kiddingly told me they don’t like me cause I’m beating them,” Miller said. “I tell them not to give up.”

If those wanting to make a run at the NHSFR can take any other advice from Miller, it’s that being consistent works. She has proven this season that consistency over the course of a season can translate into a title run.

Miller has just one win — a 20.849-second run at Killdeer — but has placed and accumulated points at nearly every rodeo.

“I just ride like I ride at practice and Fancy seems to know what to do and she does it,” Miller said. “… Since I’ve been leading, I’ve just been riding her like I do at practice and I’ve been consistent. That’s helped at keeping me up at the top.”

Consistency is what Miller knows she’ll always get with Fancy, a horse whose age is unknown but the Miller family believes to be at least 26 years old based on discussions with the horse’s previous owners.

“Everybody always sees this little tiny horse at the rodeo jumping around,” she said. “I always ask people how old they think she is and they say, four. … She’s kind of a miracle horse.”

This weekend Miller is also trying to duplicate the past success cowgirls have had riding Fancy through the poles.

Miller’s 14-year-old sister, Kit, rode Fancy to a state championship in the North Dakota Junior High Finals Rodeo in Hebron earlier this month. Last season, Bowman County graduate Megan Torpen and Fancy finished as the state’s runner-ups.

“I’m just impressed how she can still do what she does, being as old as she is,” Kit Miller said. “That’s really impressive. There’s not many horses like her.”

Next season could prove interesting for the Millers, however. With Kit entering the high school ranks, the Millers plan to keep Fancy, who is owned by Bowman’s Laverne Kulseth.

“We may have to play Rock Paper Scissors to see how rides Fancy next year because we’ll both be in high school,” Codi Miller said.

http://www.thedickinsonpress.com/event/article/id/24397/

Zlata Sushchik at The Launch of WOW on Sunset Blvd.

From Nick Verreos' blog:

Recently I was invited to the launch of WOW--the Women Online Worldwide--a organization whose mission is to empower women through seminars, an online forum, products and resources. The gorgeous Jennifer Murphy, who created Go Girl Worldwide was the host of the party. Jennifer was also a former Miss Oregon USA and a top ten finalist at the Miss USA '04 pageant. She was also on The Apprentice. The event was held at the discreet M Aesthetics Spa on Sunset Blvd. As a designer, red carpet expert--and BIG TIME supporter of women and their empowerment--of course, I decided to make the trek all the way from my Downtown LA studio to Beverly Hills.
.....
Speaking of Alaska, once inside the Spa I ran into former Miss Alaska USA 2008 Courtney Carroll, whose gown I designed for last year's Miss USA 2008 Pageant.

She was there with the current Miss Alaska Teen USA, Zlata Sushchik (looks like Alaska IS really close to Russia!), who is in town getting ready--and shopping--for the Miss Teen USA pageant which will be held in the Bahamas at the Atlantis Resort.Miss Alaska Teen USA, Zlata Sushchik, Levi Johnston, and former Miss Alaska USA '08, Courtney Carroll

http://nickverrreos.blogspot.com/2009/06/out-and-about-launch-of-wow-on-sunset.html

Sarah Hollins at Miss Nebraska (America)

Ashley Bauer, Miss Nebraska 2007, Sarah Hollins, Miss Teen Nebraska USA and Michele Strom, Mrs. Nebraska United States 2009

http://mrsnebraskaus.blogspot.com/2009/06/miss-nebraska-america-2009.html

Miss Sun Fun USA Pageant

From http://laquishahall.blogspot.com/2009/06/miss-sun-fun-usa-pageant.html

I attended the 2010 Miss Sun Fun Pageants (photos coming soon!). This was my first experience at a Miss USA preliminary... Thirty-seven contestants competed for the titles of 2010 Miss Sun Fun and 2010 Miss Sun Fun Teen in conjunction with the 58th annual Sun Fun Festival.

The pageant was held at 6:30 p.m. on June 6 at the Myrtle Beach High School auditorium. This year’s theme is “Jewels of the Sea.”
All contestants were judged in three equally weighted categories: swimsuit, evening gown and interview. Important qualities include poise, personality, beauty of face and figure and the ability to speak articulately about the Grand Strand area, the release said.

Pageant winners will compete, expenses paid, in the Miss South Carolina USA and Miss South Carolina Teen USA pageants. Miss Sun Fun and Miss Sun Fun Teen also will represent the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, its member businesses and the Grand Strand throughout their reigns, participating in festivals, promotional trips and local events.

I had the pleasure of meeting the hosts of the pageants, Miss South Carolina USA 2009 Stephanie Smith (emcee) and reigning queens Miss Sun Fun 2009 Leah Hickman and Miss Sun Fun Teen 2009 Courtney Sellers. I also met Miss South Carolina Teen USA 2009 Mary Helen Caver who also attended as visiting queen.

Official profiles are up - sort of

If you google the Miss Universe website you'll see that the profiles for the Miss Teen USA 2009 delegates are up.

Unfortunately there are no photos or hometown info yet, and the ages are wrong in most cases.

I guess it will be a case of "watch that space".

examples:
Arizona -- http://www.missuniverse.com/missteenusa/members/profile/65bcda5064071d620514bc592534e1b0

Kansas -- http://www.missuniverse.com/members/profile/74cb5a695a965b6df1b85694d487caf9

From the Rotary Club of Alamogordo website

ALEXIS DUPREY, MISS NEW MEXICO TEEN USA (left)