May 20th, 2012
Christina Rubio, the 2011 Miss Kentucky Pre-Teen, has been working hard since she was crowned in July of 2011.
Christina has been busy distributing the stuffed animals and books donated by herself and other fellow 2011 NAM KY pre-teens to places such as Fire and Police Departments, Libraries, and the Louisville, KY Ronald McDonald House. Because of the critical conditions of a lot of the patients at the Ronald McDonalds House, they are not able to accept stuffed animals. So, Christina invested in some new puzzles for the children and families to go along with the books donated to RMHC in Louisville. Christina is continuing her Volunteer work, along with being the State Vice President of Star Events for Future Career and Community Leaders of American in Kentucky.
Christina has met with Congressman Brett Guthrie, Kentucky State Senate Presindent David Williams, as well as Major General Donald Storm. She has also visited Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace in honor of a great President.
She is making the most of her time as the 2011 National American Miss, Miss Kentucky Pre-Teen and loving every minute of it!
Categories: Royalty, kentucky |
Tags: 2011, american, christina, kentucky, miss, nam, namiss, national, national american miss, pageant, pageants, pre-teen, Review, rubio, Year | No Comments
May 18th, 2012
Ciara Wilson
NAM 2011 Miss Oregon Junior Pre-Teen Queen
“Wow!” Those were the first words that managed to slip out of my mouth when I won the National American Miss 2011 title of Miss Oregon Junior Pre-Teen Queen. Although the competition was over I knew this was only the beginning of the journey that lied ahead of me!
The summer after the pageant was filled with activities and appearances that helped me to get to know my Sister Queens and Cover Girls better. They are amazing! We participated in many events and parades. It was an awesome way to see the beautiful city of Portland and learn about our great state of Oregon. I also loved meeting all the friendly people in the Pacific Northwest!
As Miss Oregon, I realized that I could use this crown to do something good. My Sister Queens and I cooked dinner for the patients and families at The Ronald McDonald House. We donated stuffed animals and toys to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. I have bagged potatoes and pears for the Oregon Food Bank. Also, I collected clothing, toys and books for the Northwest Children’s Outreach. I even organized my own fundraiser party to help find a cure for Juvenile Arthritis. Thank you so much to my awesome friends Daniella, Alissa, Sophia and the fabulous girls on the Elite Dance Team for making my fundraising party a success!
One of the highlights of my year was the NAM National Pageant. In order to prepare for my competition, my special friends put together a “Ciara and Friends Show”. The support of family and friends was so overwhelming! Thank you Auntie Monica, Auntie Malia, Marisa, Sarina and Ryan for helping me through this journey!
Nationals was amazing! I made so many new friends, toured Hollywood and enjoyed Disneyland. I won the National Essay Contest and came in First Runner Up in the National Spokesmodel Competition with my speech about Juvenile Arthritis. The most exciting moment is when I earned the First Runner up spot for the entire National American Miss Junior Pre-Teen Pageant. I was so proud to represent Oregon!
Thank you so much to my Grandparents, Uncle David, Auntie Jennine, Elise and Nathaniel for cheering me on in California!
Another adventure to remember is the NAM Royalty Reunion at the 2012 Miss America Pageant at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. I was inspired by meeting past Miss Americas including Katie Harmon from Oregon and actress Lee Meriwether. I had the most fun exploring Las Vegas with Peyton Newman, my good friend and the current NAM National Junior Pre-Teen Queen. I will always treasure our friendship!
I want to give a special thanks to Mrs. Takla for her words of encouragement, Mrs. Vick for all the bling on my clothes and Aunt Laura and Bryan for all that you have done for me.
On the Wilson side, I want to thank my Grandparents- especially for riding in their “Orange Pumpkin” car during the Beaverton Parade! Aunt Julie, I had so much fun with you in Las Vegas. Thanks for all your wisdom!
I also appreciate my “Namily.” Mr. Leverton, Mandy and Lacey thanks for your support and guidance during this adventure! My sister Queens: Kyenna, Ariel and Madison- you will always be my role models! To Madeline, Kyra, Isabella and Deja- thank you for all the fun memories! I look forward to making more with all of you in the future.
Most of all, I would like to thank God, my awesome Dad, my very cool and handsome brother and to my mom who is my biggest inspiration because she always tells me to reach for the stars! My family is the biggest supporter of my dreams. I love you!
My name is Ciara Wilson and I will always treasure my amazing year as the National American Miss 2011 Miss Oregon Junior Pre-Teen Queen!
Categories: General Information |
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May 18th, 2012
I’ve had amazing time representing NAM this year! It has truly been a remarkable year of service. I have volunteered for several organizations, including The Ronald McDonald House, The Oregon
Humane Society, and my favorite, The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund – where I created my own fundraiser to help mountain gorilla conservation in Africa.
I’ve had so many great opportunities this year, including a live broadcast on “Good Day Oregon”, meeting the top 10 American Idols and interviewing Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina for KUPL radio station, and also meeting all of the American Idols judges during their audition stop in Portland.
In October, I was invited to go to New York to present my check to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. I got to speak one on one with the head primatologists that work for the fund about the gorilla treks and all of their duties. The coolest part was meeting my idol, Sigourney Weaver who played Dian Fossey in the movie “Gorillas In The Mist”. Can you believe of all places, I ran in to my sister queen Madison while there?!
Nationals was amazing! I met some new friends and got to catch up with some old ones too. We toured Hollywood, went to Universal Studios, and of course, Disneyland. I was honored to take home 1st runner up in actress, 2nd runner up in volunteer service (yay!), 1st runner up in the Alumni Association Essay Scholarship, and 1st runner up in the Art Contest with the awesome “Oregon” shirt that my Oma helped me make.
To my sister queens: Kyenna, you have been the best big sister I could ask for and such a great role model for all of us. Ariel, you are so beautiful and I admire your free spirit. Madison, you are so sweet and kind and ALWAYS have a huge smile on your face. Ciara, you are so talented and fun to be around. Deja, where do I start? You are the little sister I always wanted. I love all of our adventures and solving “mysteries” with you. I feel so blessed that our families met. To Kyra, I had alot of fun at the parades with you and our silly stories we made up during the car rides. Isabella, I’m glad I got to know you this year- you are a sweet girl.
Thank you to Matt, Mandy, and the rest of the NAM staff for all you do. Thank you to my family for being so supportive and the BEST cheering section a girl could ask for. To my successor… get ready for the time of your life! The year will go by fast, so remember to make the most of it.
Love,
Miss Oregon 2011 Preteen- Madeline Monlux
Categories: Royalty, farewell, oregon |
Tags: american, farewell, madeline, miss, monlux, nam, namiss, national, pageant, pageants, pre, pre-teen, queen, teen | No Comments
May 17th, 2012
6 years ago, I began my journey with National American Miss. 6 years ago, I never imagined I would be standing here tonight on my 21st birthday, reflecting on my year as your 2011 Miss Oregon. Without God, none of this would have been possible. Ive had an amazing journey filled with so many wonderful blessings. The best blessings of all? 5 beautiful sister queens. We held hands along the way to multiple parades, volunteer events, a blazer game, and even some smoothie making at Jamba Juice! At nationals, I had the opportunity to give a speech about Endometriosis, a disease I was diagnosed with 2 and a half years ago. As I reflect back on my year, there are so many to whom I owe gratitude. Dad, there is nobody else I would rather have on this journey with me. You are my best friend and the worlds best parade driver! Thank you for always believing in me. I love you so much! Eleanor, words cannot express what our friendship means to me. We’ve had an amazing journey together and I cant wait to see whats still to come! Mommy Kim, you are the best surrogate mommy ever! Thanks for all your love and support! Deja, Madeline, and Ciara, I will always love you as if you were my own sisters. Madison, I foresee a sleepover in our future! I love you! Ariel, you are beautiful inside and out Kyra and Isabella, you girls are awesome! . Matt, its been a long journey but ive had the best state director to guide me along the way! Mandy, I hope ive made you proud! This year wouldn’t have been possible without you! Mom and bella, thank you for all your love and support. Michelle, Frank, and the Christellas team, you guys are awesome! Auntie, Rachel, Natasja, Trever, Sue, Alex, Janie, Lakisha, Steve and Kathleen Mayes, Breanna, my wonderful sponsors, Alaina, my sister queen moms, and Jeremy, this year would have been impossible without you. thank you! Finally, to my successor, hold on to this blessing and cherish it. Believe in yourself and make it a year you will never forget! force the last time, I am your 2011-2012 National American Miss Oregon, Kyenna Leedom.
Categories: Royalty, farewell, oregon |
Tags: american, farewell, Kyenna, Leedom, miss, nam, namiss, national, oregon, pageant, pageants | No Comments
May 17th, 2012
When I was littler, my Momma used to tell me this story about a little girl who lived in a faraway land and who grew up to be a Princess. Little did I know that would actually happen to me!
It has been an amazing year as your 2011 Miss Oregon Princess. I was able to make many appearances with my sister Queens and our Cover Girls. We rode in many parades, volunteered at Ronald McDonald House, helped at a Car Show, Portland’s “Sand in the City” and I even got to go to a “Spaw Day” event hosted by the Oregon Humane Society. Another favorite memory was getting to go backstage at the Grand Ole Opry and taking a tour of Mr. Matt’s offices and meeting all the staff! There are too many to list, but I am forever thankful and so blessed.
Going to Nationals in California was amazing! I made new friends and was so proud to bring home 9 trophies, including 2nd RU Photogenic, 3rd RU Spokesmodel and my very favorite, winning the Volunteer Service award for my many hours of community service.
This year, I started my own program called “Arts for the Ages” and NAM helped me to bring color and creativity to over 600 children; not just in my community, but around the world. Thank you National American Miss … you colored my world this year and made it brighter!
A big thank you to my sister Queens for all of our fun times: Kyenna, Ariel, Madi, Madeline & Ciara and to the Cover Girls Kyra and Bella. I am so glad that we are “Namily!”
And thank you to Mr. Matt and Miss Mandy for helping to make this year so much fun; but most of all, thank you to my Momma who made all my dreams come true when she brought me to the NAM pageant last year, hugged and kissed me and told me to “Have fun and let your sparkle shine!” … I did and it opened a whole new world for me.
My story won’t end here … this Princess plans on living the fairy tale! God Bless us everyone.
Hugs,
Déja Fitzwater
2011 Miss Oregon Princess
Categories: Royalty, farewell, oregon |
Tags: american, deja, farewell, fitzwater, miss, nam, NAMISS. pageant, national, oregon, pageants, princess, queen | No Comments
March 29th, 2012
National American Miss Georgia Queen Jennifer Mullins attended a breakfast for the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation at The Peachtree Club in Atlanta. There were over 2000 toys donated to these children and Santa Clause was present. The children, their families, and Jennifer all had a great morning.
Categories: Community Service, Georgia, Royalty, pictures |
Tags: disease, foundation, Georgia, jennifer, miss, mitochondrial, mullins, nam, namiss, pageant, pageants, volunteers, with | No Comments
February 13th, 2012
Jennifer Mullins, National American Miss Georgia 2011 was able to particpate in a terrific opportunity over the holiday season to help out with Shop with a Cop and the Gwinnett County Police department. Every Christmas the Gwinnett County Police Department raises money to host their Shop with a Cop event. Shop with a Cop gives underprivileged families who may not have money for christmas a chance to buy toys for their children. It is held at Walmart and each child receives a gift card and an officer to take them throughout the store and pick out toys. Jennifer was in charge of welcoming the families and even got to help the children pick out toys and fill their carts. She felt truly honored to be invited and will continue to support this wonderful cause.
Categories: Community Service, Georgia, Royalty, pictures |
Tags: a, cop, Georgia, jennifer, miss, mullins, nam, namiss, pageant, pageants, shops, with | No Comments
January 16th, 2012
Jennifer Mullins, Georgia Miss Queen went to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta to host an “Art Party and Toy Give-Away” for some of the patients. She brought with her different craft supplies to do with the children and an assortment of stuffed animals to give out. Jennifer had a blast making puppets and decorating visors with the children anywhere from ages 4 to 14. Then before they all left the party she gave them each the opportunity to pick out a stuffed animal to take with them. One of the coolest parts of the day was that she even got a few of her friends involved with her because she needed a few extra hands to help. It was such a rewarding experience and she really enjoyed spending her time with the kids and they had a great time too!
Categories: Community Service, Georgia, Royalty, pictures |
Tags: american, Atlanta, children's, Georgia, healthcare, jennifer, miss, mulllins, nam, namiss, national, pageant, pageants, queen, volunteers | No Comments
January 14th, 2012
Deja Fitzwater, 2011 Miss Oregon Princess, donated 10 coats to the Burlington Coat Factory and Good Morning America Coat Drive…. hoping to give those comfort and warmth who would not otherwise have it.
Categories: Community Service, Royalty, oregon, pictures |
Tags: american, coats, deja, donates, fitzwater, miss, nam, namiss, national, oregon, pageant, pageants, princess, queen | No Comments
December 6th, 2011
Kentucky Teen Queen Stephanie Ramos was contacted by the Mayor of her hometown Danville KY, because he knew about the community service that she has been doing in her town and surrounding areas. She has been promoting her platform by being a spokesmodel on the effort of preventing cyber-bullying. Stephanies hometown is very proud of how she is using her National American Miss title. Stephanie was honored by the Mayor and the four commisioners with a Proclamation. The event was televised on her local television station and it was printed in their local paper.
Categories: Community Service, Royalty, kentucky, pictures |
Tags: american, bullying, cyber, for, kentucky, miss, nam, namiss, national, on, preventing, queen, ramos, recogniczed, stephanie, teen, work | No Comments
December 3rd, 2011
National American Miss North Carolina Pre-Teen Queen Alina Galvan presented a check to the wounded warriors along with a representative from Chic Fil A. Alina teamed up with Chic Fil A to do a Spirit Day to raise money to benefit the wounded warriors. Alina and Caliee Calabrese(Miss N.C.Junior Preteen) did the spirit day together to show the troops that they are appreciated. Alina is the founder of “Letters Of Thanks”. Alina’s father is in the Army and she is also the grandaughter of a Vietnam Veteran!The military life has been a big inspiration to her work as an avid volunteer for our troops. She says she is thankful for their sacrifices for our freedom!
Categories: Community Service, Royalty, north carolina, pictures |
Tags: alina, carolina, for, galvan, miss, money, nam, namiss, north, our, pageant, pageants, pre, queen, raises, teen, troops | No Comments
November 29th, 2011
Ciara Wilson, Miss Oregon Junior Pre-teen Queen, has been busy raising funds to help find a cure for Juvenile Arthritis! Ciara, an active girl that enjoys competitive dance and ski racing was diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis two years ago. This disease affects over 300,000 American children. Currently, she is doing well and enjoying her active lifestyle. Ciara realized that many kids with Juvenile Arthritis suffer with no cure in sight. As a result she has organized her own fundraiser called “Ciara’s Day of Dance” to support CARRA, the Childhood Arthritis & Rheumatology Research Alliance. She organized a dance party with her friends to support this great cause. Ciara raised over $400 to help find a cure for Juvenile Arthritis! Check out the website to see more!
http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/ciarawilson/ciarawilsonsfundraisingpage?fge=thanks
In addition, Ciara attended the Jingle Bell Run Kick-Off Party which benefits the Arthritis Foundation of Oregon. The festivities were held at the Nike World Headquarters on October 23, 2011. The Jingle Bell Run takes place in downtown Portland, Oregon on December 4, 2011 . In the photos, Ciara is pictured with the Grand Marshall for the run, Annise Nassib, and the Youth Grand Marshall, Owen Dye. She looks forward to volunteering at the upcoming holiday event! Check out the website to see what took place!
http://portlandjinglebellrun.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=477709
Ciara plans to continue her volunteering and fund raising efforts in 2012 to help kids with Juvenile Arthritis!
Categories: Community Service, Royalty, oregon, pictures |
Tags: american, arthritis, ciara, cure, find, jr, juvenile, miss, nam, namiss, national, oregon, pre, queen, teen, to, wilson, works | 1 Comment
November 8th, 2011
Hey everybody, we are starting to plan the 2012 pageants and we are looking for party theme ideas for the Get Acquainted party. Here are some party themes that we have done in the past:
50’s Sock Hop
70’s Disco
80’s Retro
Hawaiian Luau
Decades
Do you have any good ideas? Please share…
Categories: Your Input |
Tags: acquainted, american, get, miss, nam, namiss, national, pageant, pageants, party, theme | 6 Comments
November 5th, 2011
Miss Georgia particpiated in a parade in Suwanee. She really enjoyed interacting with the community and helping to spread the positive message of National American Miss. Jennifer also participated in the 5K for Breast Cancer with the American Cancer Association. It was in Atlanta at Centennial Olympic Park at 8am and it was soo cold!! But it was also soo much fun! It was wonderful to be involved in such a great cause.
Categories: Community Service, Georgia, Royalty, pictures |
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October 24th, 2011
Dawn Lymberopoulos was a bit surprised when her daughter said she wanted to be in a pageant.
“I was a little apprehensive at first,” Dawn says of the day Emily got an invitation to apply to the National American Miss Pageant. “But I had participated in a Miss Teen USA pageant at 16. So I couldn’t deny her.”
Last year, Emily participated and had so much fun she decided to do it again this year. This time, she won Miss Illinois for her age division. She goes on to compete in the national competition in November.
What did you say (and what did you think) when she first proposed the idea?
I thought the experience would help her to grow in a positive way.
National American Miss is very age-appropriate. They discourage makeup, jewelry and polished nails. They focus more on their natural beauty and who they are. This pageant is more about inner beauty, poise, self-confidence and their ability to communicate.
Did you worry that pageants may somehow change her, make her too concerned with appearances?
I guess there is always a concern that with all the attention a young person gets in a situation like this, it could cause her to become more caught up with her appearance, but in this case it actually taught my daughter that she is beautiful even without all the makeup and things.
That natural beauty comes from within a person.
How is she different from the girls she competes against?
Emily is a typical 13-year-old in many ways. She does however, possess an inner beauty and confidence that I cannot easily explain. The most important things to her are God and friends and family.
What advice did you give her?I told her to do her best. Just before leaving for the pageant, I heard a thought for the day on my favorite radio station. The thought for the day was “Be the change you want to see in the world.” This is a famous quote by Gandhi. I personally had never heard it before that morning. I told Emily, and she took this thought with her to the pageant. On our drive up to Chicago, we stopped at her aunt’s house, who we had not seen for a while. Emily walked in the house and went over to admire some pottery that her aunt had made, and as she stared down at the pottery, to her disbelief, etched in the pottery were the words, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Emily’s shocked and surprised look prompted her aunt to give her the piece of pottery to take with her to the pageant.
Is it hard to watch her lose or to think about the fact that she may lose?
Every experience in life shapes us and molds us into who we become. Even if she had lost the pageant, I believe she would have become a stronger and better person for the experience.
What do you like about the pageants?
I like that they encourage the girls to become leaders, and to serve others by getting involved in their community. They also put more emphasis on inner beauty instead of outward appearance, helping them to like themselves for who they are.
Is there anything you don’t like?
Our experience was a good one. I do have to admit, it can be stressful at times. If you are trying to do everything with excellence and encouraging your child to do her best, this is what can create stress. The demands of family, school and extracurricular activities would create stress in any situation. This is where faith helps.
Dawn Lymberopoulos
Age • 45
Home • Maryville, IL
Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/article_9869e13a-16e0-5cab-b4ef-44a7163ddcc8.html#ixzz1bjjecyA1
Article By: Amy Bertrand for STLToday.com
Categories: Pageant Stories, Press Release, Royalty |
Tags: american, illinois, In, miss, mom, nam, namiss, national, pageant, pageants, sees, value | No Comments
October 24th, 2011
Sabrina Lercara, Miss South Carolina Teen Queen works with the Alzheimer’s Assocation of the Midlands Memory Walk 2011 at Finley Park in Columbia, SC. Sabrina particapted in the Memory Walk for the third year to raise awareness of this tragic disease. She read aloud “The Alzheimer’s” prayer and read the list of names on the tribute flags. Sabrina also volunteered at the Lexington Medical Center Extended Care Alzheimers Facility giving out stuffed animals. This is part of her platform for Alzheimers Awareness. She also helped out at the Christmas party at Lexington Medical Center Alzheimers Unit.
Categories: Pageant Stories, Royalty, pictures, south carolina |
Tags: alzheimers, carolina, Lercara, miss, nam, namiss, pageant, pageants, queen, Sabrina, south, teen, volunteers | No Comments
October 20th, 2011
A veteran of Tennessee pageantry earned the ultimate state crown Saturday night.
Jessica Hibler now wears the title of Miss Tennessee USA 2012, according to Miss USA 2011 Alyssa Campanella.
Hibler will represent Tennessee at the Miss USA 2012 pageant in Las Vegas. The final night of the pageant will be broadcast live on the NBC television network.
In 2005, Hibler was named Most Promising Model and was first runner-up in the Casual Wear category at Tennessee’s National American Miss Competition in the junior teen division.
She represented Middle Tennessee State University at the 2008 Miss Tennessee pageant.
In 2009, she was second runner-up at the Miss Tennessee USA pageant.
In 2010, she was fourth runner-up at the Miss Tennessee USA pageant.
In addition to her 2012 crown, Hibler received scholarship money and will benefit from training and wardrobe for the Miss USA pageant.
Continue reading on Examiner.com Jessica Hibler crowned Miss Tennessee USA 2012 – National pageant | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/pageant-in-national/jessica-hibler-crowned-miss-tennessee-usa-2012#ixzz1bK8vHRpC
Categories: Pageant Stories, Press Release, pictures, tennessee |
Tags: 2012, contestant, crowned, hibler, jessica, miss, nam, namiss, pageant, pageants, tennessee, usa | No Comments
October 12th, 2011
She loves mountain gorillas and recently raised over $1000 to bring awareness and shed light on gorilla conservation. Helping her shed that light might just be the sparkling crown and sash she wears as Miss Oregon Pre Teen.
At age 11, Madeline Monlux who won her title in May has been working diligently to raise money for the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, an organization close to Madeline’s heart, as she would like to become a primatologist and follow in the footsteps of her idol, the late Dian Fossey.
No stranger to volunteering, Madeline has given her time every weekend since June to a variety of charitable events and organizations. As Miss Oregon Pre Teen, Madeline has traveled throughout the state as an ambassador for Oregon, as well as speaking about her passion, the mountain gorillas.
Madeline came up with an idea to sell stuffed gorillas complete with special certificates, with all of the proceeds benefiting the Fossey fund. She partnered with the Fossey fund and TY (the beanie baby company) and the results were astonishing. Madeline named each gorilla individually after African namesakes meaning love, peace and other positive messages. She then tied a special bow on each gorilla and then it was time to get to work selling the gorillas.
“People wanted to buy the gorillas before they were even available”, says Monlux referring to an announcement made on social media site, Facebook.
“My friends and family, pageant people and people from all over supported this project. I have sold almost 100 gorillas and raised over $1000 for the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund,” exclaims a proud Monlux.
In early October, Madeline was invited as a special guest to the Dian Fossey Circle Luncheon in New York, where she had the opportunity to meet with her favorite actress, Sigourney Weaver, who portrayed Dian Fossey in the film, “Gorillas in the Mist”, talk with primatologists from Africa who work with the mountain gorillas and present a check to the organization’s CEO. A dream come true for a young woman who simply wants to help protect her gorilla friends.
Madeline had the most amazing time and has been offered so many wonderful opportunities from people she met there. They all loved her and she was even asked to be an honorary board member of the foundation. She has been invited to speak at an upcoming event at Pebble Beach, California and was also invited for a private tour of the gorilla habitat at the Atlanta Zoo.
Categories: Press Release, Royalty, oregon, pictures |
Tags: american, conservation, gorilla, madeline, miss, monlux, nam, namiss, national, oregon, pageant, pageants, pre, queen, teen | No Comments
October 8th, 2011
Hannah Reese, National American Miss South Carolina Jr. Teen, was named the South Carolina representative on the D.A.R.E. American Youth Advisory Board. This summer, she was a guest speaker at the graduation ceremony of the newly trained South Carolina D.A.R.E. Officers. Hannah will also travel to Quantico, Virginia for the annual D.A.R.E. Youth Advisory Board training at the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) facility in November. Throughout the school year, Hannah will speak at fifth grade D.A.R.E. graduations across the state sharing her testimony with students about her committment to saying “No” to drugs and alcohol.
Categories: Community Service, Royalty, pictures, south carolina |
Tags: american, carolina, D.A.R.E., hannah, jr, miss, nam, namiss, national, pageant, pageants, reese, representative, south, teen | No Comments
October 5th, 2011
Attached is a picture of Cailee, North Carolina Jr. Pre-Teen Queen meeting with U.S. Congressman Mike McIntyre for her Presidential Volunteer Award.
Categories: Community Service, Pageant Stories, Royalty, north carolina, pictures |
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September 29th, 2011
Sisters Triumph the natural way
No makeup. No glitz. No problem.
Sisters Emily and Abby Hamilton, of North Bend, earned several awards at the National American Miss of Washington pageant.
Abby, participating for the third time, won second place in the photogenic competition and third runner-up in the talent competition.
Emily, 5, participating for the first time but in a different age bracket, won first place in the photogenic competition, third runner-up in talent and first place in the best thank-you note contest.
Emily also finished in the top 10 out of 47 contestants in the contest’s Princess division.
The pageant does not allow girls to look older than they are, does not allow glitzy dresses and does not allow makeup, said Donna J. Hamilton, the girls’ mother and a participant in the Miss New Jersey contest in her youth.
The contest happened Labor Day weekend at the Sea-Tac Hilton.
The sisters qualified for the national pageant in November at Disneyland.
“It was really fun,” said Abby, 8. “You get to meet new friends.”
Abby and Emily performed two dances as part of the talent portion of the contest. Asked if she wanted to someday participate in the Miss America pageant, Emily said she did not know, while Abby sounded a little less hesitant.
“Yes! Yes! Yes!” she said.
Donna said being in pageants led her to a career in public relations and communications.
“It gave me the ability to be articulate and well-spoken,” she said. “It helped me in a plethora of things in life.”
She paid for her first year of college in 1989 with two pageants, she said.
Still, she did not want her girls in just any contest.
“I would never allow my girls to be in a glitz pageant,” she said.
Instead, Abby and Emily showcased their natural talents and natural looks on stage in something that turned into even more of a family affair when Emily was escorted on stage by her twin brother Michael.
Emily, the first-timer, also won $250 in cash, which Mom put into her college fund.
“She has a very quirky personality,” she said. “We weren’t sure how she was gonna do, so we just let her be her, and she did fantastically well.”
Her girls won plenty but did not win first place, and that was just fine by Donna.
“This tends to be honest and fair,” she said. “Each time, I tend to say the girl who wins should have won.”
The girls will continue participating in the pageant, but two years from now they will be in the same age division.
Having her girls compete against each other gives Donna pause.
“First and foremost, we care about what’s best for the girls, so if it means skipping the pageant for a year,” she said, “that’s what we would do.”
This article is in the SnoValley Star, check it out! http://snovalleystar.com/2011/09/28/sisters-triumph-the-natural-way-in-beauty-pageant
Categories: General Information, Pageant Stories, Press Release, pictures |
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September 28th, 2011
Jada Newkirk equates her pageantry experience with summer camp: A long weekend filled with lots of organized activities and time to socialize with fellow participants.
“It’s really fun because when you’re done with the competition, you hang out with your friends,” Jada said.
But this year the San Mateo resident took home a little more than the glimmering happy memories from camp-like camaraderie. She brought back a crown.
Jada, now 12, has been entering the National American Miss Pageants for five years and says she is proud to have won the 2011 National American Miss California Pre-Teen title.
Instead of outward beauty, Jada explained, the judges look for qualities like confidence and good stage presence. In fact, makeup isn’t even allowed on any contestant under the age of 12, Jada noted.
The pageant is split into smaller competitions with a formal dress component, a personal introduction and a one-on-one interview, all meant to gauge poise, personality and public speaking skills.
Ten percent of the score is determined by the contestant’s community involvement. Jada spends time volunteering at her local community center and reads to seniors at Sunrise Senior Living in San Mateo. She’ll also walk in the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer walk this month.
When she turns 13, the animal lover said, she’d like to volunteer at the Peninsula Humane Society.
Jada stays busy. She attends Katherine Delmar Burke School in San Francisco and competes in track with USA Track & Field.
In July, she attended the Junior Olympics in Wichita, Kan. She competed in the pentathlon, scored two personal records and was in second place in the 800-meter run before the sweltering heat got to her, and she nearly passed out.
If it weren’t for the above-100 degree temperatures, Jada feels confident she could have won.
“I could have gotten first place,” she said matter-of-factly.
Jada’s demeanor shows she is secure and upbeat, traits she and her mother say the pageants have helped her develop.
“It’s been really good (for her) to come out of her shyness,” said Jada’s mom, Teleza, who is a fan of the pageant’s focus on academics and community service. “It’s really building their confidence. Every girl is different, and that’s fine. (They) celebrate each girl’s individuality.”
During her personal introduction, Jada said she talked about running track and what she wants to do when she grows up.
The latter is a lengthy list that includes being an Olympic track gold medalist as her No. 1 goal “because I love to run!”
She’d also like to act in commercials or maybe try out modeling. In addition to winning the crown in her age group, Jada also won the Actress, Casual Modeling and Most Promising Model competitions in July’s pageant.
If she acting and modeling don’t work out, she’d like to be a sports broadcaster for track or football, or maybe work as a veterinarian.
In the nearer future, Jada has the national pageant in Anaheim to look forward to during Thanksgiving week, complete with a trip to Disneyland and a Hollywood tour.
And in December, she’ll spend a day in San Francisco with the other pageant winners, including a cable car ride to Ghirardelli Square.
http://www.mercurynews.com/san-mateo-county/ci_18832722
Categories: Pageant Stories, Press Release, Royalty, pictures |
Tags: american, california, In, mateo, miss, nam, namiss, national, news, pre, queen, san, teen | No Comments
September 22nd, 2011
Much efforts and most of Shivali’s time has been donated recently to a wonderful & beautiful project called “Shivali’s 1K For 1Kid.” This project is for a kids home that extends support to neglected, abused, orphaned and such children at the “Methodist Home For Children (MHC)” all over the great state of NC. “Shivali’s 1K For 1Kid,” goal was to raise $1000 so MHC can successfully tend to the needs of a single child for a complete year. Never in her dreams had Shivali thought that she would be able to achieve so much in merely four weeks. She has raised over $1,500 by selling ribbons and getting her school, community, and long distance friends & family to help her reach her goal. The money she has gathered will help MHC to clothe and feed children in their group homes, counsel families in crisis, find homes for children with our foster families, and serve children affected by substance abuse. She has also donated approximately five to six boxes of school supplies and 60 books & bears.
Categories: Community Service, Royalty, north carolina, pictures |
Tags: american, carolina, children, donates, for, home, jr, methodist, miss, nam, namiss, national, north, pageant, pageants, patel, queen, shivali, teen, time, to | No Comments
September 14th, 2011
Stephanie Ramos, 2011 NAM Kentucky Teen Queen, has been working with the Dare To Dream Organization. It is a beauty and talent showcase for children with special needs. In August she went to her local High School to give a speech to children with special needs on the benefits of doing a pageant and how it would help them. As a result many children signed up and the pageant took place on September 10, 2011. Stephanie was a guest of honor, performed her talent and helped with crowning. All proceeds went to SPAN, Special Person’s Advocacy Network. The event was a success and she loves these children!
Categories: Community Service, Royalty, kentucky, pictures |
Tags: american, dare, dream, kentucky, miss, nam, namiss, national, pageant, pageants, queen, ramos, stephanie, teen, to, with, works | No Comments
September 9th, 2011
Marissa volunteered to help with the pet food drive to continue her dedication to helping animals and their families in need, benefiting the Humane Society. Ever since she held her first pet at one year old, Marissa fell in love with animals. Each of her 12 pets she has had in her life has been a rescue animal. She would have never met them if they were not saved by continued perseverance of the Humane Society. Marissa organized a pet food drive in the past and it was such a success and helped so many people and animals that it was an obvious choice when choosing her service project. The pet food she collected will be distributed within the Humane Society where they need it most and among families who are in need. Marissa plans to continue the drive into next year and the future. Her donation of over 100 pounds of food is just a small way to say thank you to the Humane Society for speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves.
Categories: Community Service, Former Queen, pictures, south carolina |
Tags: american, carolina, humane, miss, nam, namiss, national, pageant, pageants, queen, society, south, volunteers | No Comments
August 31st, 2011
Stephanie Ramos, 2011 National American Miss Kentucky Teen Queen worked with Ronald Mcdonald at an event called touch a truck where children where able to get on and touch.There was an ambulance, a fire truck, a helicopter, all different rescue vehicles that the kids got to experience and play on. Stephanie then had a chance to meet with the kids and get pictures taken with them. What a neat experience to be able to spend some time with the kids and their families. They also got to meet and greet Ronald Mc Donald. There were also face painting, different activities for the kids to participate in and food donated from O’Charley’s. All the proceeds raised went to the Ronald McDonald charities of the Bluegrass.
Categories: Community Service, Royalty, kentucky, pictures |
Tags: 2011, american, charities., kentucky, mcdonald, miss, nam, namiss, national, pageant, pageants, queen, ramos, ronald, stephanie, teen, volunteers, with | No Comments
August 30th, 2011
Samantha has gone to the Ronald McDonald House and delivered stuffed animals as well as did a yard clean up with them. Samantha had a wonderful visit with our Mayor Deke. She will be going to a benefit for a little girl Emma who has cancer and will be raising money to help with her medical expenses and with any other expenses she has.
Categories: Community Service, Georgia, Royalty |
Tags: american, around, Georgia, miss, nam, namiss, national, princess, samantha, town., volunteers | No Comments
August 26th, 2011
In line with Mrs. Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign, Megan’s community involvement centered around encouraging children to become more fit. Today, in America, nearly one in three children is overweight or obese. According to Mrs. Obama, “The physical and emotional health of an entire generation is at stake.” Megan’s experiences as an athlete have taught her the importance of exercise and proper nutrition. Research shows that physical activity stimulates the brain which directly affects success both in the classroom and in life.
She had an amazing time visiting local preschools and reading, exercising and visiting with them. They talked about different ways of exercising and staying fit, and how to eat healthy. She was so pleased to see one center with a vegetable garden! The children were so enthusiastic to tell her all about what they were growing and the different ways they liked their vegetables prepared. Her visits always included some group dancing and tumbling, which they really enjoyed, as did Megan!
She also participated in the local Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation walk for a cure. As juvenile diabeties is sometimes linked with childhood obesity, she felt this was in line with my project. She thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful afternoon, proudly walking with friends and families of those affected by the disease, while raising awareness.
Her efforts will not stop here. She is a girl who is striving to be a role model by making fitness a prioity in my life, for a stonger, smarter and healthier future.
Categories: Community Service, Former Queen, Royalty, south carolina |
Tags: american, carolina, fitness, for, future, goodson, jr, megan, miss, nam, namiss, national, our, pageant, pageants, queen, south, teen, with, works | No Comments
August 26th, 2011
Terricka Holmes, 2010 NAM SC Princess, chose to volunteer her time at the Brian Stokes Residential Care, in Branchville, SC. She devoted her day to the residents and staff at the facility. She began by introducing herself to each and every resident and staff member personally. The residents had just finished eating breakfast so Terricka jumped right in to work and wiped off the tables. She swept the dining room, kitchen, and porch. Terricka also set the tables for lunch with silverware and beverages. When all of the residents were assembled in the dining room, she led them in grace. After lunch, Terricka invited all residents to play BINGO. The first question she was asked was, “Are we playing for prizes?” of course she said yes. A great time was had by all. The residents enjoyed having Terricka around for the day.
Categories: Community Service, Former Queen, Royalty, south carolina |
Tags: 2010, american, brian, care, carolina, holmes, miss, nam, namiss, national, princess, queen, residential, south, stokes, terricka, volunteers | 1 Comment
August 17th, 2011
Service-Over-Self is a youth volunteer program that encourages youth to get involved in their community and help others. Brianna chose to participate in their Hugs for Horses program for children and young adults with disabilities. During her service she assisted the participants with horseback riding lessons. Brianna walked along beside the horse with Jenna and Jacob. As she walked with them, she tried to encourage them by singing songs with them, and helping them have fun while they were riding. The really cool thing about her volunteer experience is that she learned that she can be a positive influence on other people. It made her feel good to know that Jenna and Jacob had fun while she was helping them. Brianna enjoyed the hugs, and it was very inspiring to her when Jenna told her Mommy that she wanted to be just like Brianna when she grew up. This experience was very motivational to Brianna to inspire her to be the best that she can be so that she can continue to be a person that Jenna can admire. Brianna had such a good time participating in Hugs for Horses and Service-Over-Self. Two of her friends have decided to become a member as well so that they can participate and join in with all of the fun. This is an experience that Brianna will never forget, and she plans to continue serving others like Jenna through the Hugs for Horses program for a long time.
Categories: Former Queen, pictures, south carolina |
Tags: american, brianna, carolina, for, H.U.G.S., horses., miss, nam, namiss, national, over, pageant, pageants, pre, queen, self, service, south, teen, volunteers, williams | No Comments
August 12th, 2011
Jenna Gerner, Georgia Jr. Pre-Teen Queen, met the Governor of Georgia. Jenna had a great experience getting to see the govenor and see how government works. It was an awesome experience, and Jenna feels so blessed to have been able to take part in this experience. She also met the Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. First Class Leroy Petry. It was such a great experince, he even let her hold his medal of honor. It was a really neat and an amazing experience. Jenna was also able to meet the local rock DJ, Chris Chaos from 106.9. Since being crowned on July 9th, Jenna is enjoying being an active part of her community and enjoying all of her new experiences.
Categories: Community Service, Georgia, Royalty, pictures |
Tags: american, community, Georgia, gerner, gets, jenna, jr, miss, nam, namiss, national, out, pageant, pageants, pre, queen, teen | No Comments
August 9th, 2011
Cailee Calabrese, North Carolina, Jr. Pre-Teen Queen and Alina Galvan Pre-Teen Queen for North Carolina helped with the American Red Cross 5th Annual Run for the Red. This is Cailee’s 3rd year at this event and Alina joined her this year. There were over 600 runners and walkers for this event. Cailee and Alina gave the trophy out for best overall time for a group which was the 82nd airborne from Fort Bragg. It was a great time and Cailee was up and ready to go at 4:15 a.m. and finished at 9:30 a.m.
Categories: Community Service, Royalty, north carolina, pictures |
Tags: alina, american, and, cailee, calabrese, cross, for, galvan, miss, nam, namiss, national, pageant, pageants, red, run, volunteer | No Comments
August 5th, 2011
To get more involved in her community, Jessica volunteered her time serving dinner to widows and orphans at the local Old Timers Supper. She helped serve supper, helped clean up, visited, and then took pictures. Jessica had a lot of fun spending my time with people less fortunate than herself! They served barbeque sandwiches, beans, slaw, and lots of desserts! Everybody seemed to have a good time. This event is sponsored by Masons who help out the community alot! They do coats for the cold, help out needy families whose house may have caught on fire, whose kids may not get any toys for Christmas, or buy people groceries. Jessica is n very proud of my community and enjoys helping our neighbors!
Categories: Community Service, Royalty, pictures, tennessee |
Tags: american, at, jessica, jr, miss, nam, namiss, national, old, pageant, pageants, pre, queen, sales, supper., teen, tennessee, timers, volunteers | No Comments
July 26th, 2011
Hi my name is Madison Forsythe your 2010 National American Miss Kentucky Jr. Pre-Teen Cover Girl. Representing Kentucky has been an amazing experience! I was recognized at my school and did a speech to my fellow classmates on goals & dreams…and if you never give up you can reach them!! I am a proud team leader for walk now for Autism Speaks. I also do the MS walk every year. I even got a letter from General Campbell of the 101st airborne division, congratulating me on my accomplishments this year. I want to thank my sponsors and family, without them I would not be here. I want to thank my mom for driving me place to place for ads & sponsors. My dad for supporting me all the way from Afghanistan. You will always be my hero! And my little sister Josie thank you for being my biggest fan. I love you all!!! Matt & staff thank you for making all of us feel like royalty and making NAM the best pageant on earth!!! To all the state finalist this year… I wish you the best of luck, that your dreams come true, and remember you are all beautiful!!!
Thank you for the memories!!!
Madison Forsythe
2010 National American Miss
Kentucky Jr. Pre-Teen Cover Girl
Categories: Royalty, farewell, kentucky, pictures |
Tags: american, cover, farewell, forsythe, girl, jr, kentucky, madison, miss, nam, namiss, national, pageant, pageants, pre, teen | No Comments
July 25th, 2011
Jamee French, Kentucky Jr. Pre-Teen Queen has fun in California at the National Pageant. She had a great time at Disneyland and playing around with her family.
Categories: National Pageant, Royalty, kentucky, pictures |
Tags: american, at, disneyland, french, fun, has, jamee, jr, kentucky, miss, nam, namiss, national, nationals, pageant, pageants, pre, queen, teen | No Comments
July 22nd, 2011
Hello Everybody,
I am Caitlyn Hooks, your 2010 Miss Kentucky Princess. Wow! I have had a great year representing NAM. I have made so many new friends along the way. When I am not running around the farm or hitting the dance floor you can find me volunteering with my Sunday school class and my Girl Scout Daisy troop.
Last year I traveled all the way to California to compete at National American Miss. First stop Disneyland, I loved meeting all of my favorite characters although Minnie Mouse was my favorite. The 1970’s party was so much fun, I even brought Elvis to the party. Rehearsals were alot of hard work but they sure were fun, I made so many friends that week from all over the United States even Alaska. I also attended my very first formal dinner for Thanksgiving. National American Miss did an awesome job helping us celebrate Thanksgiving so far away from all my family.
Competing was my favorite!!!! I was crowned the NAM National Photogenic Queen. I placed in all of my events and even walked the Red Carpet with my Top 5 Casual Wear. When my name was called out in the Top 10 I was ecstatic, what a huge accomplishment after all I was only 5. I know the magic of this year will stay with me forever.
Thank you Mr. Matt for a wonderful and fun State pageant and for your time and support. A big Thank You to everyone behind the scene that makes it possible for such a wonderful program to continue every year. My favorite quote is ” ARE YOU READY?” Ready to have fun, Ready to help others, Ready to have the time of your life!!! I’m Ready, and I can’t wait to crown the next Miss Kentucky Princess.
Hugs and Kisses,
Caitlyn
Categories: Royalty, Welcome, farewell, kentucky, pictures |
Tags: american, caitlyn, farewell, hooks, kentucky, miss, nam, namiss, national, pageant, pageants, princess, says | No Comments
July 22nd, 2011
National American Miss North Carolina Jr. Pre-Teen Queen Cailee taped a TV spot for the upcoming event Big toys for kids sponsored by Communities in Schools which airs on Channel 63 in Lexington. All the money goes to under privilege children to assist them with school supplies, etc. Last year they had 1500 participants and expect more this year. Cailee will also be volunteering on August 27, 2011 in Lexington for this event. Cailee will be receiving the highest honor of the Presidential award for her volunteer work (Gold level).
Categories: Press Release, Royalty, north carolina, pictures |
Tags: 2011, american, award, cailee, calabrese, carolina, earns, jr, miss, nam, namiss, national, north, pageant, pageants, pre, presidential, queen, service, teen, volunteer | No Comments
July 21st, 2011
2009 National American Miss South Texas Jr. Teen Queen, Danielle Doty was named Miss Teen USA 2011.
Categories: Former Queen, Press Release, pictures |
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July 20th, 2011
What an incredible honor and journey I have had as the 2010 National American Miss Kentucky Junior Teen! This year has held more opportunities for me than most experience in a lifetime!
My whirlwind year began shortly after winning the Junior Teen crown and title with a fantastic key-note speaker opportunity for the Northern Kentucky New Hope Center’s “A Knight To Remember” Father/Daughter Dance Fundraiser. I spoke to over 75 young ladies and their fathers about how they are beautiful and special just the way God created them! I encouraged them to believe in themselves, to pursue their talents, and to always dream big!
Throughout the year, I had many opportunities to set a positive example as a role model for girls of all ages. I was interviewed on Cincinnati’s Fox 19 Morning News Xtra program, featured in the Northern Kentucky Enquirer, the Kenton County Recorder, and was featured in the cover story of Fort Living Mitchell magazine. I have also had the opportunity to share my platform, “A Heart for the Arts, Using the Creative Arts to build Self-Esteem and Confidence in Today’s Youth” and to performance at local churches and non-profit organization events. I was also emcee and a guest performer at the Miss Northern Kentucky Scholarship Pageant. These were all exciting, rewarding, and fun experiences!
One of the biggest highlights of my year was the trip to Nationals in Anaheim, Calfornia! I loved spending a day at Disneyland and finding all my favorite stars down the streets of Hollywood! Seeing the landmark “Hollywood” sign in person was thrilling! I also loved walking on the Santa Monica beach and stepping foot into the Pacific Ocean for the first time!
The national pageant experience was unforgettable! I met so many wonderful girls from all across the United States, and gained so much confidence through the competitions. I also enjoyed the banquets and learning the fun choreography numbers, it was truly a once in a lifetime experience!
I am so thankful to have made long lasting friendships with my sister queens that I will always cherish. I love you girls and together we make Kentucky proud!
This year would not have been possible if it weren’t for some very special people that I would like to say thank you to: Miss Shelia and Bryce, you are so sweet and so supportive of everything I do! You are like a second family to me, and Miss Shelia…I will always remember “the eyelashes”! Thank you Matt, my awesome State Director, and Michelle and the entire NAM staff! You are all wonderful and I have thoroughly enjoyed spending time and working with you at nationals, call-backs, and workshops throughout the year. I will miss you! To my mom and dad, thanks for everything! If it weren’t for your love and support, I would not be the young woman I am today and I would not have had this amazing opportunity to go after…thanks for letting me follow my dreams! Last, but certainly not least, I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! He truly is my everything and I give Him all the glory and honor of this year!
To all of the Junior Teen contestants, take a deep breath and enjoy every moment of this pageant experience! The fact that each of you has made it to this level is phenomenal! You are all beautiful and have much to be proud of. To my successor, enjoy your time as Miss Kentucky Junior Teen 2011! It will go by quickly; Remember that all eyes will be on you everywhere you go! You are a role model, so do your best and you will gain so much from this amazing year of your life! Congratulations and enjoy!
One year has come and gone very quickly, I never imagined myself winning the Kentucky Junior Teen title and it has truly been a dream come true. When I look back over the past year, what I realize is that it is not the crown that is important, it’s what you do with it on your head in efforts to make a difference and make a positive impact in the lives of others.
I will always cherish the memories and be grateful for my year spent as NAM royalty!
Sincerely,
Lydia Blaise Allen
National American Miss Kentucky Junior Teen 2010
Categories: Pageant Stories, Royalty, Welcome, farewell, kentucky, pictures |
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July 15th, 2011
COVINGTON – Lydia Allen never expects to win, but the 16-year-old has no shortage of achievements.
Last August she was crowned National American Miss Kentucky Junior Teen 2010. On July 31 in Louisville, the Covington teen will relinquish her crown to her successor and while she admits it is bittersweet, she has only fond memories of a year that has been a whirlwind.
“This year was so awesome and it was such a good opportunity, but I’m really excited that someone else gets to have that opportunity, too,” said Lydia, who will be a junior at Beechwood High School in the fall.
Lydia competed in the NAM, the largest pageant system in the nation, against over 100 girls in her age group to win her title and earn a trip to the national competition in California, where she was one of 42 girls to compete from a pool of thousands. She won a $1,500 cash scholarship, got a day at Disneyland, a tour of Hollywood, and a photo shoot, something her mother, Ria Allen, admits was a truly unique experience.
“It was just the neatest stuff that we would have never gotten to do otherwise,” Allen said. “It’s such a great experience for her and it makes the girls really feel accomplished to purse their dreams.”
Allen said Lydia competed in her first pageant at age 7, but has done less than 15 her entire life. She also has requirements about the pageants in which her daughter competes.
“It’s so different from what people think about pageantry and what they’ve seen on television,” Allen said.
When Lydia was younger she did not compete in pageants where they used makeup and she does not participate in swimsuit competitions. The winners are selected based on several aspects, not just physical beauty.
Lydia, whose GPA is 4.167, also won the category for academic achievement and was the volunteer service winner for her community service projects, which is one of her proudest accomplishments.
Lydia held a hat drive for Hats off for Cancer, a non-profit group which donates new hats to children with cancer. She also went to the Center for Courageous Kids in Scottsville, Ky., a non-profit, therapeutic camp for children with chronic diseases, allowing them to experience camping for a week for free.
“That was kind of close to me because my grandfather fought cancer for seven years and I was proud because I knew it would be something he would be proud of,” Lydia said.
One of Lydia’s goals is to be a role model. She was the guest speaker last September at the New Hope Center where she addressed 75 girls and their fathers about being their best, holding onto dreams and finding and using their talents.
“My family has been there every step of the way, but if it wasn’t for my faith in God, I wouldn’t have been as successful as I’ve been,” Lydia said. “I really do give him all the credit and all the glory because he is the one using me in all of these ways I could have never dreamed of.”
Lydia has won awards for writing, speech and debate, acting, French, color guard and ballet.
She was named the Miss Commonwealth’s Outstanding Teen 2011, a precursor to the Miss America pageant. She was selected for the University of Kentucky’s 2011 Class of Kentucky, which recognizes community-oriented and academically talented sophomores, and was selected for the Regional Youth Leadership Class of 2012 in which one or two students are selected from each area high school by the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.
Josh Bates, who teaches Lydia math at Beechwood and serves as her youth pastor at Community Family Church in Independence, said Lydia’s attitude is what makes her successful.
“She has a spirit of excellence about her,” Bates said. “Everything she does, she does with a joyful attitude. She always has a smile.”
Although Lydia’s NAM reign is almost over, her mother says she plans on keeping busy with school, color guard and her community service projects. She wants to work with elementary school children on pursuing a passion for the arts.
“I am proud of her for having such strong character and never compromising that,” Allen said. “I’m really proud of her for having the courage to get out there and try all these things she does and to keep at them to be successful. She has so many trophies and certificates and those are all nice, but what’s on the inside has made all the difference in her.”
http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/201107131750/NEWS0103/107140321
Categories: Pageant Stories, Press Release, Royalty, kentucky, pictures |
Tags: allen, american, In, jr, kentucky, local, lydia, miss, nam, namiss, national, on, pageant, pageants, paper, queen, reflects, reign, teen | No Comments
July 13th, 2011
Dear contestants, Get ready for one of the best weekends in your entire life. You will never forget this weekend- so take lots pictures, exchange phone numbers, add your new friends on Facebook and take every chance to also thank the ones that brought you here today. Where would we be without our family and friends? Through this truly phenomenal program, I have met many friends and have made memories that will last a lifetime. This year as the 2010 NAM NC Jr. Teen has been life changing; I wouldn’t alter one second of it. From riding in parades and volunteering with various organizations, to going to HOLLYWOOD and wearing tons of heels, I have truly been marked part of the “NAMily”. And so will you after meeting Matt and his amazing staff at the state pageant. As you embark on this journey remember that this weekend is to have fun, make friends, learn how to be poise, talk in front of other people and learn how to do an interview in a way that will make you competitive in the job-industry today. Throughout my reign I have personally learned the life lesson of “cherishing every moment” and being truly grateful for every little thing that I have-even my annoying 10-year old brother. Because of National American Miss, I have gained the confidence to work for and with other people through volunteering. So far, I have calculated around 130 hours of volunteer service. I have also learned that giving to and helping other people is much more rewarding than buying a new pair of shoes, and as the quote says “although I may not be able to do everything, I can do something.” I would like to thank all of my friends and family for being the best support system a girl could ever dream of having, Matt and the rest of my NAMily, for helping me stay organized. To all of my NAM sister queens and friends, I’m sure each and every one of you will achieve anything you dream of and I will always remember those late-night talks when we talked about how “livers are like the shape of jelly beans”, ha-ha. Those were some of my most memorable moments thus far. But most importantly, I’d like to thank my Lord and Savior for helping me fight nerves, and for allowing me the opportunity to win this amazing title, and now hand it over to a new queen. To the new 2011 NAM NC Jr. Teen, remember although you may have the crown, its how you make it sparkle and shine that truly matters.
I am, and will always be, your 2010 National American Miss North Carolina Jr. Teen,Chelsey S. Bennett Thank you and good luck!
Categories: Former Queen, Pageant Stories, Royalty, Welcome, north carolina, pictures |
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June 30th, 2011
“Dance Escape” allows Kelsey to give abused, neglected, and abandoned children the opportunity to express themselves through the art of dance. She is teaching them social cultural dances and hopes to further develop into other forms of dance. Kelsey is also spending time with my students in order to build a relationship with them and impact their lives in as many ways as she is able to. As of now she is mainly working with two children’s homes in South Carolina: Epworth Children’s Home in Columbia S.C. and The Children’s Attention Home in Rock Hill, S.C. She has spent two hours at Epworth Children’s Home volunteering at their Halloween Carnival and hope to begin teaching them about dance as soon as her project is approved by the activity coordinator. Kelsey has also spent two hours at The Children’s Attention Home; teaching the girls the electric slide, cubic shuffle, the cha cha slide, and Yankedi (an African dance). She is also planning on attending a Bible Study with the girls and hope to learn more about their lives by spending time with them. Kelsey is a dance education major studying how to educate children about dance, therefore she is very passionate about dance and enjoy being around children. Her heart also belongs with orphans and children who have been abused because my family just adopted an 11 year old Ukrainian boy from an orphanage in Ukraine.Her new Ukrainian brother, Sasha, inspired her to begin this organization which allows children to ESCAPE from their troubled life and find confidence in who they are by expressing themselves through dance. She hopes that “Dance Escape” will grow and allow her to teach and impact other lives in more homes across the state.
Categories: Community Service, south carolina |
Tags: 2010, american, carolina, dance, escape., miss, nam, namiss, national, pageant, pageants, queen, south, starts, teen | No Comments
June 27th, 2011
Hello State Finalists,
I can’t believe this year has gone by this fast! It seems like just yesterday I was crowned your 2010 National American Miss Jr. Pre-Teen North Carolina. I was so excited when I heard my name called out I think I was in shock. This was only my third pageant ever and I won!
Just think, you have already made a big accomplishment and that was being selected as a state finalist. That is exactly what my mom told me last year before when arrived in Charlotte, NC. You are going to have such a blast this 4th of July weekend. The rehearsals and the themed party were awesome. Last year I dressed like a cowgirl with my brown cowgirl hat and my matching boots and we sang and danced and had a great time. My favorite part of the pageant weekend was meeting so many great girls from my home state and from South Carolina as well. You will have the opportunity to meet so many different girls and make so many great friendships that could be shared for a lifetime. I have kept in contact with several girls from last year’s pageant. These are memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
As a state queen I helped raise money for breast cancer awareness. I set up along with my family at my different festivals and raised money to help fight to cure breast cancer. I walked along side many women that have had breast cancer and it made me feel good about myself to know that I was there to help fight this disease that kills so many women in the world. I kind of stood out in the crowd because my mom bought me a hot pink wig to wear while I was walking; this was so much fun and rewarding. I was also a part of the crop walk in my home town and handed out apples to dozens of people in Shallotte, NC. I also visited the Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Greenville, SC and donated gift bags and get well cards to all the kids that had surgery. This really touches close to home for me because I am a patient at the Shriner’s Hospital, I have Cerebral Palsy and one day that patient could even be me.
I want to thank my Mom, Dad and Brothers for all of their love and support. I also want to thank my Nana, Papa and my Aunt Bobbie for the support as well, I Love You. To Jada Orr, my sister queen, we have made such a great friendship I hope it lasts forever, You Rock Jambalaya.
Jr. Pre-Teen girls I hope that you go to this pageant and have a blast and that you meet many new friends. I wish you the best of luck this pageant weekend and just remember to smile big and be yourself. Dreams really do come true! Good Luck! I can’t wait to meet you at the pageant.
Sincerely,
Morgan Skylar Strahley
2010 NAM Jr. Pre-Teen North Carolina
Categories: Pageant Stories, Royalty, Welcome, north carolina |
Tags: american, carolina, farewell, jr, Letter, miss, morgan, nam, namis, national, north, pageant, pageants, pre, strahley, teen | No Comments
June 24th, 2011
Hey Girls!
I am so excited to meet all of you! This weekend will be one you will never forget. Last year I stood in your shoes, in awe of this whole situation, and even more, that I was a part of this amazing adventure. And yes, oh so excited and more than a little nervous! Relax and enjoy every minute. NAM is truly the experience of a lifetime! If there is something I can do to help make this weekend more pleasant for you, please don’t hesitate to ask.
To my successor, you are going to have a blast this year. Get ready for the best year of your life! Serving as NAMiss South Carolina Jr Teen has been absolutely amazing! It was such an honor and a privilege, an experience I will never forget. The opportunities to show God’s love and bring smiles to so many faces was such a blessing to me. I was able to visit with the elderly, see our brave soldiers off as they went to fight for our freedom in Afghanistan, ride in parades, meet the Governor and encourage pre-school students to eat healthy and exercise, promoting my platform “Fitness for the Future”. It is truly magical to see their excitement when meeting a “princess”. You will find it a blessing to reach out and make a difference in someone else’s life. Traveling to Nationals in California and representing our great state was truly an honor. I met an amazing group of new friends. Girls who were a lot like me……smart, enthusiastic, kind and beautiful inside and out!
To all my North and South Carolina sister queens, I know we will always have a special NAM bond. Mr. Matt, you are the best, and Chick-Fil-A will always make me think of you! Ms. Michelle thanks for making open calls so much fun and yes, I did bring my tide to go pen with me this weekend! To my friends and family, thanks for being such an awesome support system. I love you all!
2010 NAMiss South Carolina Jr Teen
Megan Goodson
Categories: Pageant Stories, Royalty, Welcome, pictures, south carolina |
Tags: american, carolina, farewell, goodson, jr, megan, miss, nam, namiss, national, pageant, pageants, queen, says, south, teen | No Comments
June 24th, 2011
Contestants and Families, This year has come and gone so fast! It has been an honor and privilege to represent such a beautiful state as Miss North Carolina Junior Teen. National American Miss has taught me so many valuable lessons and skills to help me through this crazy life! It is truly unlike any other pageant in the country.Throughout my year, I worked with many Diabetes Organizations, Make-A-Wish, and Relay for Life to name a few. I’ve grown so much in my community through my title, and met some extraordinary and inspirational people who have changed my life.I would like to thank Matt Leverton and the entire National American Miss Staff for an unforgettable year. You run the hottest show in town!To my sister queens, from coast to coast, you all are constantly in my thoughts and prayers, and will remain in my heart forever. I love you dearly, and I think the absolute world of you!To all the contestants, I’ve been in your shoes. Take a deep breath! Enjoy this weekend with your family. Grow from this, and make friends and memories I know will last forever! To my successor, let this experience open doors for your future, and cherish every moment of your reign. Congratulations and welcome to the NAMily!
All my love and gratitude, Rachel Earley
Categories: Pageant Stories, Royalty, Welcome, north carolina, pictures |
Tags: american, carolina, earley, farewell, jr, miss, nam, namiss, national, north, pageant, pageants, queen, rachel, says, teen | No Comments
June 24th, 2011
This past year has been such an amazing one of firsts for me. I graduated as my class Valedictorian. I went through my first year of college at the University of Georgia, where I was named a Collegiate Scholar. I had a wonderful time at Nationals in California. It was great getting to spend Thanksgiving with my family and all of my new friends! I was fortunate enough to have made it to the Top Ten nationally among all of the great delegates. I have been involved with volunteering for a number of noteworthy causes included the Girl Scouts of the United States of America, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and ugaMiracle. I did my best to promote confidence and encourage young people to be themselves and pursue their dreams. I personally fulfilled one of my dreams by receiving my first role in a major film and get to act with Robert Duvall! National American Miss is the kind of pageant that promotes being a young woman with ambition and big goals. I know that my successor is destined for an incredible year. Make the most out of it and always reach for the stars!
National American Miss Georgia
Karli Barnett
Categories: Georgia, Royalty, Welcome, pictures |
Tags: american, barnett, farewell, Georgia, karli, Letter, miss, nam, namiss, national, pageant, pageants | No Comments
June 22nd, 2011
I cannot believe that my reign as your South Carolina Teen Queen is coming to an end. Time as flown by and I have thoroughly enjoyed representing South Carolina and this incredible organization that makes girl’s dreams come true.
Recently, my family adopted a 12 year old boy from Ukraine. I soon felt compelled to reach out to orphans. Teaching dance to abandoned kids in Children’s Homes in South Carolina has been a huge blessing in my life. I have seen these children given the opportunity to escape their challenges and find a hope in expressing themselves through dance. I have also had the privilege of working with many nursing homes. My life has been blessed as I have spent time building friendships with these elders and children this year.
The National pageant in Anaheim California was an experience that I will never forget. I soon realized that NAM girls are women whose beauty is reflected from their heart rather than just their appearance. I met some amazing girls at nationals whom I respect and know will make a huge difference in this world.
As for my sister queens, you are all amazing and beautiful girls who inspire me everyday. Thank you for partnering with me to help represent South Carolina. Megan and Marissa, Nationals was a blast and I’m so thankful for our friendship. Astoria, thank you for being my other half in this journey and helping me represent the Carolinas. You make me want to be a better queen. Matt, I couldn’t have asked for a better director. You always add so much joy and life to this organization and we are lucky to have you guide us along our amazing journey as queens. To my supportive family, thank you for being my biggest fan club and always cheering me on, especially making the extra trip to California. Lastly I thank my Lord and Savior for giving me the opportunity to bring him glory through NAM.
To my successor, I already know that you will be an incredible queen who will make both NAM and myself very proud. Remember to take every opportunity that comes your way because it will be gone in a flash. Know where your true beauty lies and seek to share that with others. I’m so excited for your new journey!
National American Miss has given me the opportunity of a lifetime and I feel extremely blessed to have been a part of such an incredible organization. Thank you for allowing me to represent NAM and serve you this year as your Miss South Carolina Teen Queen.
Always Your NAM South Carolina Teen Queen 2010-2011,
Kelsey Nyman
Categories: Pageant Stories, Royalty, Welcome, pictures, south carolina |
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June 21st, 2011
This year has gone by so fast! It’s hard to believe that just one year ago, I was named the 2010 National American Miss North Carolina. I began competing in pageants when I was 12 years old, and my very first pageant was NAM. I instantly fell in love with the organization and have become a better person because of it. I owe many thanks to National American Miss and all it has done for me. These past 12 months I stayed very busy with my title doing many things. I have volunteered with the American Cancer Society, New Hanover Girl Scouts, B.R.A.Y.S. Love, and a few other charitable organizations. I have been met so many wonderful people whom I will stay friends with forever. Representing North Carolina at the National pageant in California was a blast! Best of all, I have been able to speak out about a topic that is very near and dear to my heart, self esteem and having a healthy body image. It wasn’t until I competed in National American Miss that I began to gain a healthy body image and I wanted to share that message with other young women. Therefore, I chose to give a speech in the Spokesmodel competition at the National pageant about body image and share my story. I am honored to say that I ended up winning the title of National Spokesmodel! As the outgoing North Carolina Miss queen, it is my last year competing in the National American Miss system and I often reflect on everything NAM has taught me. Aside from the obvious skills one gains in National American Miss (interview, public speaking, poise, self esteem, etc.), I have learned more than that. I have learned that a crown does not make you a winner. I have learned how to lose. I have learned that everything happens for a reason. I have learned how to be a leader. I have learned that no matter how distant a dream may seem, it is always within reach. I owe National American Miss everything and I will forever be grateful. To the NAM staff, and especially Matt Leverton, a million thanks for everything! You all are truly the best!! To the 2011 contestants, you are about to have the time of your life! Take in every opportunity to try something new, make friends, and have fun because it goes by too fast! Come pageant weekend, the most important thing is not whether you take home a crown and banner. It is about the intangible that you take home: memories, new skills, friendships, and a newfound self confidence. Good luck to each and every one of you! Smile and have fun! “To love someone is great. To love oneself is even greater.”
Love, Staci Alden
2010 National American Miss North Carolina
Categories: Pageant Stories, Royalty, north carolina, pictures |
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June 20th, 2011
To this day, I vividly remember having my name called as the new National American Miss Georgia Teen. After years of hard work, it all payed off and I knew all eyes were now on me. Being Queen was my dream and I was ready to work hard to be the best teen representative I could be.
Nationals was one of the best weeks of my life. Meeting all my sister queens, touring Hollywood and meeting my future boss, Mickey Mouse, were just a few of the highlights. There I was, standing in front of the Disney castle… yet I was the one being honored as a Princess. From the late night girl talks, to the early morning dance rehearsals… our Teen Queen representatives from across the nation are the best! On finals night, I was honored as 1st Runner Up to the National Queen’s title! I was so excited for my ranking, and ready for a nap!
The title of Miss Georgia opened up so many doors for me. Whether being featured in Champions Magazine, or being the emcee/host for the annual Boys & Girls Club Super Saturday Night… my year was dedicated to inspiring others. My favorite volunteer opportunity came from creating the True Beauty Movement (www.facebook.com/TrueBeautyMovement). The movement was created in order to help girls find their inner beauty and understand that “beautiful” is who you are… not what you look like. I was so honored and shocked to see that within one week of creation, we had over 200 girls post their picture to our page with the “no make-up, white t-shirt, jeans” look and many made videos to inspire others.
My year would not have been possible without the love and support of many. Mr. Matt and NAM staff, you all produce a life changing experience for girls all over the country. From helping me fix my hair back stage, to spending hours perfecting my intro… you all were always there with open arms and just the right final touches. Miss Meredith Boyd, you always knew just how to make me look like a Princess and make me feel like one, too. Don Baker, my accomplishments at state and nationals would not have been possible without your coaching. You have always believed in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself – and for that I am forever grateful. To all my sister queens, what a year we have had! You all are so beautiful and I know that you will always have a special place in my heart. Sarah, my big sister – my journey would not have been as memorable without you! Whether we were celebrating your “birthday” at the Hard Rock, or planning for your wedding…. you always stood as my role model and hero. Momma and Daddy, can you believe that this year has gone by so fast? I am so blessed to have such a supportive team like you two. Not only are you always the biggest fans on Team Amanda, but y’all always know the right thing to say, and are always there helping me be the best Amanda I can be. I will always be your little girl. Most of all, I would like to give my thanks to God – for without Him, none of this would have been possible. I have been taken on an amazing journey, and with God’s guidance I have grown into the young lady I am today.
Contestants, get ready! It is your time to shine, and I know you can do this. Spend the next few days enjoying the journey – and focused on the blessings ahead of you. National American Miss is like no other and I am so glad to welcome you to our family. The crown will only last for a year, but the friendships you make will be forever. I challenge you to always strive for your best and remember that with hard work and in due time… all our dreams can become reality. To my successor, I can tell you that there are simply not enough days in a year. Throughout your year, you will be referenced to as a “princess,” and a true princess comes from within. It’s not the bend of your hair, the size of your dress, or the color of your eye shadow that you will be remembered for…. you will be remembered for the memories you make and the influences you make on other’s life. It is a hard job, but it is worth it each and every day. You now represent every girl in your state – a big responsibility, but an even bigger blessing. Work hard, stay humble, always smile, and inspire many. Now… all eyes are on you.
God’s Love,
Amanda Moreno
Categories: Georgia, Royalty, Welcome, pictures |
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