Will the Pageant Guy – Page 10

August 5, 2014December 5, 2018

VIDEO: K. Lee Graham – Miss Teen USA 2014

K. Lee is both artistic and academic. Theatre is her passion, throughout middle and high school she has been involved in local productions and studied drama at the SC Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities intensive summer programs.

K. Lee is committed to her studies, taking on challenging courses which have earned her a Number 1 class rank. She also has a passion for working with children, and volunteers on a weekly basis with her church's Children's Ministry in addition to volunteering with many other organizations such as the USO, the American Heart Association, Christ Central Ministries, LifeChangers, and the Arthritis Foundation throughout the past year.

Being Miss South Carolina Teen USA has enabled K. Lee to promote her Live Beautifully campaign, encouraging girls across her state to find true beauty by embracing themselves, others, and their communities by speaking to schools, growing the Live Beautifully blog, and planning the first Live Beautifully Day. (Bio and photo courtesy of Miss Universe Organization)

Special thanks to Alyssa Campanella for the interview and Zac Grimaldo for video.

-Will the Pageant Guy

July 10, 2014December 5, 2018

VIDEO: Miss Teen USA 2014 contestants

During the Miss USA 2014 pageant, I had the amazing opportunity to spend 4 days capturing on film all of the Miss Teen USA 2014 contestants during their visit to Baton Rouge.

From spending time at the Childrens' Hospital to enjoying Louisiana's finest food at a crawfish boil -- and all of the amazing events in between -- the Miss Teen USA 2014 contestants truly had an incredible weekend together building new friendships before competing at the Miss Teen USA 2014 pageant this August.

Many thanks to the Miss Universe Organization for allowing us to document these great moments on video, Lauren and Blair for organizing a hospitable and fun-filled weekend, Zac Grimaldo for this talented video production, and to all of the Miss Teen USA 2014 contestants for making an already awesome Miss USA 2014 weekend an unforgettable one!

Here's a short film of the Miss Teen USA 2014 contestants at Miss USA 2014.

-Will the Pageant Guy

July 4, 2014December 5, 2018

“Ask Alyssa” – June 2014

"Ask Alyssa" - June 2014

Q: What was your opinion on the Miss USA 2014 pageant being held in Baton Rouge, LA after so many years in Las Vegas?

Alyssa: Las Vegas will always have a special place in my heart because it is where I won Miss USA (I still get goosebumps whenever I walk into Planet Hollywood), but I do enjoy seeing the pageant held in many different parts of the country. It is the Miss USA pageant, after all! Baton Rouge was a fun change for the pageant, although I am sure one thing did not change despite the new location – the heat! ??

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Q: Who were your Miss USA 2014 standouts for swimsuit? Who was your favorite in swimsuit?

Alyssa: One thing was for sure after I watched the swimsuit competition, and that is I must get back to the gym! My personal standouts were North Dakota, Nevada, Iowa, Georgia, Florida, and Louisiana. I think my personal winner in the swimsuit competition was North Dakota.

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Q: Who were your Miss USA 2014 standouts for evening gown? Who was your favorite in evening gown

Alyssa: My favorite part of the competition is evening gown! My personal standouts in gown were North Dakota, Iowa, Nevada, Louisiana, and Wisconsin. My favorites in evening gown were Louisiana and Nevada, but my favorite gown was South Carolina’s.

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Q: What did you think about the Top 6 for Miss USA 2014? Was there any contestants that you think should've been in the Top 6 that did not make it?

Alyssa: I actually think the top 6 was pretty spot on, and I was actually really happy to see states such as Iowa and North Dakota make it into the top 6, as they had not in such a long time.

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Q: What advice would you give to the contestants that did not make the semifinal/final/Top 6 cut?

Alyssa: Not hearing your name called to the next phase of competition is one of the most heartbreaking moments. You begin to feel upset, embarrassed, even angry. But what each contestant should go home remembering is that they were chosen to represent their home state, which is such an incredible honor. Each year, thousands of girls compete for the chance to represent their state at the Miss USA pageant. Each year, only 51 out of those thousands are chosen, and you were one of them. Remember what I said when I passed on my crown – you are more likely to have a son play in the Super Bowl than to have a daughter compete at Miss USA.

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Q: What were your thoughts about Nia Sanchez winning Miss USA? Do you think she will be successful at Miss Universe?

Alyssa: When the final two came down to Audra and Nia, I almost couldn’t breathe. I know both of those girls, and both were incredibly deserving of the title. I was away in Monaco at the time of the pageant, and it was 4:30 in the morning during the final question. I had several friends texting me the results as they happened – who made the top 6, who nailed their question and who didn’t, and the announcement of the runner ups. When I got the text message that Nia had won, I was not at all surprised but I was still elated. When I returned home and re-watched the pageant, I had no doubt in my mind that Nia deserved to win the crown. Her final look before crowning made me so emotional. She was relaxed, beautiful, and effortless as a Miss USA should be. I think she is going to have a fantastic year and hopefully be the next Miss USA to at least make top 5 at Miss Universe.

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Q: What was your opinion about the entire Miss USA 2014 production? Location, hosts, judges, contestants, entertainment, etc.

Alyssa: I heard the stage this year was hundreds of thousands of LED lights to project the image of 3D – that’s insane! But I thought the backdrops were incredibly beautiful. I was not sold on the evening gown music but I did certainly enjoy seeing Florida Georgia Line having a grand old time up there. I wasn’t sold on the commentary this year for I felt there was much more that could have been talked about each girl or even their state’s history in the pageant rather than hearing the same hobbies and facts over and over again. I’m biased though when it comes to the hosts because Giuliana Rancic hosted the pageant when I won so I love seeing her host it again each year. I also think was a solid group of contestants and one of the most beautiful classes (aside from mine – shout out to my 2011 class!) ever.

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Q: As a contestant who moved from New Jersey to California, eventually winning Miss California USA and Miss USA, what are your thoughts on Miss USA 2014 - Nia Sanchez's residency situation?

Alyssa: People move all the time. I have moved from New Jersey to New York City back to New Jersey back to New York City then to San Francisco then to Los Angeles, then back to New York City and then back to Los Angeles again. I am glad there are residency requirements that still give young women the chance to compete for the crown even if they end up relocating, especially if they are going to school in another state. If girls were not allowed to compete in the state they were not born in, well there would be a very small number of contestants each year. Since I know Nia personally, I know that she has family all over the west coast, just like I have family living all over the USA. Nia saw an opportunity for work in Nevada and took it, just like I did with California. If the Miss Universe Organization has signed off on a contestant’s eligibility prior to winning her state, then there should be no question about her residency situation. I know from experience, since when I applied to compete at the Miss California USA 2011 pageant, the Miss Universe Organization was thorough and had to make sure I did indeed meet the requirements to be eligible to compete that year. If I had not meet the requirements, I would have been told I would have to wait until the 2012 pageant. Such is the case with Nia – she was just shy of the six months requirement for 2013, so she was told she would have to wait to compete in 2014. There’s no “controversy” here.

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Q: A former Miss USA recently commented that pageant directors and organizers should be to blamed for contestants that "state hopped". Do you agree with those comments?

Alyssa: I cannot speak for other states, but I have to wholeheartedly disagree with that former’s statements when it comes to my experience competing in two different states and volunteering for another. Directors should not be blamed for state hoppers, as it’s the girls themselves who decided to relocate. I have personally never seen a director force a girl to move to another state to compete for them. I have, however, seen contestants choose to move elsewhere if they felt they could get something better out of what they wanted somewhere else, whether it be the pageant itself, school, or a career move. When it comes to my own experience, I was encouraged to move west because I was told I would have greater modeling opportunities in the market out there. At the time I was modeling in New York City and barely booking anything. After weighing the pros and cons (and after saying “no” many, many times), I decided to take the risk and try working and living in California. To my surprise, I ended up working a ton and felt I made the best move for my career. Do you know how many other girls do this as well?

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Have a question for Alyssa? Whether you're seeking pageant tips or advice, curious about her experience as Miss USA, or just want to talk pageants, click here to "Ask Alyssa".

June 19, 2014June 19, 2014

The Curious Case of Miss USA 2014 – Nia Sanchez’s Residency

Since the crowning of our new Miss USA 2014 - Nia Sanchez, the subject of Nia's residency and the validity of her Miss USA title seems to be a hot topic amongst the media, the pageant community, and have recently inspired interesting commentary from a former Miss USA titleholder. Over the years, it seems that mainstream media has always relied on pageant controversies -- some warranted, others not so much -- to help fill their news segments.

This story not so much.

For years, contestants have always had the option to choose where they compete, so long as they meet certain eligibility rules. For some, the motive is to face less pageant competition. Others relocate for work, school, or family. Either way, if they establish permanent residency or attended school in a particular state, and can provide necessary documentation, they are eligible to compete in that state’s Miss USA pageant. And that was the case with Nia Sanchez.

Here are the residency rules and requirements for a Miss USA 2014 state pageant:

I satisfy at least one of the two following residency requirements:
(a) I now reside and have resided in STATE as my permanent and primary residence for a period of at least six consecutive months immediately prior to the commencement of the State Pageant (although I may have attended school, college or university on a full - time basis elsewhere). “Permanent and primary residence” means my true, fixed and permanent domicile which I intend to make my permanent home. OR ,
(b) I have resided in the STATE as a full - time student at a school, college or university and will have completed one entire semester, trimester or summer session by December 31, 2013 and will continue to reside in STATE as a full - time student at a school, college or university (although I may have spent or be spending the summer in another State).

Documents eligible for proof of residency:

Copies of supporting documents required by contract i.e. at least two of the following types of bona fide documents, at least one of which must be of document type (a) through (e):
(a) my driver’s license; (b) my voter identification or registration card; (c) my resident tax return from the most recent tax year; (d) lease or deed for a dwelling in my name (evidencing occupancy of dwelling for at least six months immediately prior to the commencement of the State Pageant); (e) employment documents in my name (Form W-2 and pay stubs only); (f) my current school records (e.g., transcript or report cards with my address); (g) telephone or utility bills in my name (both the current bill and a bill dating back at least six months immediately prior to the commencement of the State Pageant) ; and (h) bank or credit card statements in my name (both the current statement and a statement dating back at least six months immediately prior to the commencement of the State Pageant). -OR- if you reside in STATE as a full time student at a school, college or university; bona fide copies of your current school records (e.g., transcript or report cards)

Whether you agree with them or not, the fine interpretation of rules and residency requirements and adherence to them is just as much a part of modern pageantry as in other industries or competitions.

This is no different than athletes competing in the Olympics for another country such as recent gold medalists Viktor Ahn and Vic Wild, or the newly anointed Johnny "Futbol" Brooks of the US Soccer Team, or even politicians moving camp to a different state to win a congressional seat.

Nia Sanchez at her first press conference in Baton Rouge, Louisiana as Miss USA 2014

Relocation for the purpose of seeking a better opportunity to succeed in life is NOT morally or ethically wrong (former LeBron fans may agree otherwise). However, if this notion doesn't agree with you, then you might as well renounce your American citizenship, burn the Declaration of Independence, and trample on the very belief of our country's forefathers.

OK...maybe I'm reaching, but as it pertains to pageantry -- and in everyday life -- relocation is a common occurrence.

For example, in my home state of Texas, several contestants have competed in other states. Just off the top of my head, I can name several states (New York, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and yes even Nevada) that have crowned young ladies who previously competed in Texas. And by virtue of those state titles, they advanced to the Miss USA stage. This happens regularly every year throughout the country.

However, just because a contestant decides to compete in a different state doesn’t mean much. After all, they still have to win the pageant, and many have not been that successful.

Recently, Miss USA 2010 - Rima Fakih blamed pageant directors and organizers, specifically Shanna Moakler (current Miss Nevada USA director and former Miss USA), for contestants crossing state lines to compete.

As a local pageant director myself, I recruit and allow contestants to compete per the terms of eligibility set forth in our contestant affidavit and limit registration to contestants living in counties in our area. I believe that every competitive pageant director seeks to recruit contestants they feel have the potential to succeed, and conversely eligible contestants wishing to work with a successful program and director will seek out that pageant to help elevate her chance to win at the next level.

Working with Shanna and her program over the past several years, I can confidently say the latter is the case here, confirmed with Nia Sanchez's title this year and Alyssa Campanella's title in 2011.

So to all you conspiracy theorists, media outlets, finger pointers, etc...sorry but there is no Miss USA controversy this year, no rules have been broken, neither contestant nor director is to blame, and there is no breaking news, unless you are trying to manufacture news pieced together from disgruntled sources.

But here IS your breaking news...

Pageant titleholders are NOT perfect, regardless of how much you want them to be.

Yes they may look flawless during their moment on stage, but they will trip over their gown, bumble during an interview, misspeak about maps and such as (clearly geography isn't a pageant girl's strongest area lol), and God forbid they will not always be a native 23-year resident of the state they represent for the Miss USA pageant.

So are we blowing this residency issue out of proportion? Let's look at this "issue" from a more practical and relatable perspective.

Specifically, let's look at the residency requirements of our own political leaders. Our own politicians have a less stringent residency requirement (you're probably not surprised lol) than contestants of Miss USA state pageants.

Article 1, Section 3, Clause 3 of the good 'ole United States Constitution specifically states:

"No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen."

...meaning one must reside in the State he or she will represent at the time of the election.

So let's consider this comparison:

Hillary Clinton lived in Washington DC for 8 years before moving to New York in early 2000, and on November 7, 2000 (11 months residency) she won the United State Senate election for the state of New York .

Nia Sanchez lived in Las Vegas, Nevada (with proof of residency) for 18 months and on June 8, 2014 (after living in Las Vegas for nearly 2 years) won the title of Miss USA 2014.

If our country's elected leaders are allowed to lead the USA with a looser set of rules, why can't we support one young, hard working American woman as she represents our country as Miss USA?

-Will the Pageant Guy

June 13, 2014December 5, 2018

PHOTOS: Miss Teen USA contestants at Miss USA 2014

I had the great opportunity to capture photos and videos of all the Miss Teen USA 2014 contestants during their time at the Miss USA 2014 pageant as they toured Baton Rouge.

Thank you to Lauren and Blair for an amazing job organizing this fun filled weekend event and to Zac Grimaldo for capturing some great moments on camera!

The first slideshow is a compilation of all the photos and captions I took and live tweeted on Twitter during the weekend and the second slideshow are all the candids that Zac Grimaldo shot. Videos coming soon!

P.S. (After photos load, use arrows on the left and right of the slideshow to scroll)

-Will the Pageant Guy

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June 8, 2014December 5, 2018

PREDICTION POLL: Miss USA 2014

Every year, fans from across the world put forth their predictions as to which ladies will make the cut at Miss USA.

This year, we partnered with our friends at Pageant Predictions a website dedicated to making the the art of pageant prediction an actual contest.

Each year they compile predictions from pageant fans and experts from around the world for Miss Teen USA, Miss USA, and Miss Universe and reward winner whose predictions are most accurate for all 3 pageants.

Here is Pageant Predictions' precentages of trending votes for the Miss USA 2014 pageant: