"Let's not lose sight of the BIG picture, be unaffected by the small stuff. Know who is on Your side. Let Go And Let God. He will make things happen!"
Words to live by from Miss Texas USA 2011, Ana Rodriguez, as she competed at the Miss USA 2011 pageant last month. Placing 3rd runner up to Miss USA 2011, Ana was a fan favorite amongst the viewers at home, the live audience, and her fellow contestants. Once you see the interview below -- taken just before competing at Miss USA 2011 -- you'll understand why.
Several weeks ago, at the Miss USA 2011 pageant, I had the opportunity to interview Miss Kentucky USA 2011 - Kia Hampton. Kia, Miss USA 2011's Miss Congeniality winner, showed why she earned the honor by spontaneously busting out a rap during our interview - a first for thePageantGuy.com 🙂
Aside from the occasional rap-during-an-interview-at-the-Miss-USA-2011-pageant, Kia also has some sweet vocals to add to her bag of tricks. See for yourself at the Miss Teen USA 2011 pageant as she performs live!
You can watch the Miss Teen USA 2011 pageant live via webcast at MissTeenUSA.com
This weekend's Miss Florida USA 2012 pageant kicks off the first of the state preliminary pageants for the Miss USA 2012 season. A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to interview a former Miss Florida Teen USA, Annilie Hastey in Las Vegas at during the Miss USA 2011 pageant.
Be sure to watch Annilie along with 60+ contestants as they compete for the Miss Florida USA 2012 crown. If you are in Florida, be sure to check the pageant in person this weekend at the Bailey Concert Hall in Davie, FL or you can watch the pageant's live webcast online. Broadcast details are listed here.
P.S. If you are a true pageant fan, be sure to get your pageant fix all this weekend and also watch the Miss Teen USA 2011 pageant on July 16th at 8pm EST. You can watch the pageant on the live stream webcast at MissTeenUSA.com.
In just a few days we will find out who will be crowned the next Miss Teen USA 2011. Until then, another group of teenagers from across the country begin their own experience in the Bahamas at the Miss Teen USA Fantasy Camp starting today.
Over the next 6 days the Fantasy Campers will be able get to experience the following:
- Meet Miss Teen USA 2010, Kamie Crawford
- On location Photo Shoot with the Miss Universe Photographers
- Swim with Dolphins
- Runway and Choreography Training
- VIP guest at the Miss Teen USA 2011 Welcome Reception
- Ticket to the Miss Teen USA 2011 Presentation Show
- Ticket to the FINALS of the Miss Teen USA 2011 Pageant ... and tons more!
With them are the Fantasy Camp Counselors that are current or former Miss USA state titleholders. One in particular, Miss Minnesota USA 2011, Brittany Thelemann, interviewed with thePageantGuy.com before competing at Miss USA 2011.
All I can say is that if she is as much fun as she is during a video interview then the Fantasy Campers are in for a real treat this year!
First off...Congratulations Alyssa Campanella, our new Miss USA 2011!
Since she's been crowned, much talk has been made about Alyssa being a huge Star Wars fan and somewhat a geek, well gorgeous geek. Just last week our new Miss USA 2011 was a guest on Access Hollywood with a whole segment devoted to Star Wars. OK...What is going on with this Star Wars madness and how did it come about?
Let's take a stroll in the way-back machine and let's go all the way back to...March 2011.
March 29, 2011: So I interviewed Alyssa at the end of March, a few months after she won the Miss California USA 2011 title, and we chatted a little about her winning the title, living in Cali, etc.
Then we moved on to the more serious questions like what's in her fridge, her Starbursts obsession, and of course Star Wars vs. Star Trek. NOTE: Every time I have asked her this question her response is "Star Wars!!" at ear-numbing 120 dB. Don't believe me? Watch the video below.
OK, I'll admit I am a Star Wars fan -- not a huge one -- but nothing compared to Alyssa. In Wookie-speak, I'm a Padawan to Alyssa's Jedi Knighthood.
Now, let's warp speed to June 2011.
June 19, 2011: Alyssa just captured the crown of Miss USA 2011 and is making her way to the press conference. All the media outlets are there: Associated Press, Reuters, USA Today, Pageantry Magazine, and of course thePageantGuy.com pshhh. Sitting in the front row -- straight out of 1986 -- Robin Leach fires off the first question. As all the grown-ups ask their questions, I wait patiently with my hand in the air to ask my question.
After a few minutes...VICTORY...they call on me! Reacting with no hesitation I relive the great moments in March 2011 and revisit the question with Alyssa: Star Wars or Star Trek?
The question was followed by a bunch of mad stares from the grown-ups. Even my buddy Carl Dunn, CEO of Pageantry Magazine, tossed over a "are you an idiot?/tienes grandes cojones" look. So by staying true to thePageantGuy.com's patty-free pageant content motto at the press conference, our Miss USA 2011 will forever be associated with Ewoks, Droids, Sith Lords, and Yoda. I can already see the hordes of Star Wars fans dressed as Stormtroopers to support Alyssa on September 12th in Sao Paulo, Brazil at the Miss Universe 2011 pageant lol.
So one question remains for Miss USA 2011. Will Alyssa turn to the Dark Side and use her powers on the Miss Universe judges to win the crown?? I don't think she will have to 🙂
Anyone who knows me KNOWS that I am a huge -- borderline obnoxious -- Dallas Mavericks fan...ask anyone who's ever watched or been to a game with me. Winning the NBA Championship this year was flat out incredible, and when I found out that some of my favorite Mavs players were going to be at the Miss USA 2011 pageant this year its couldn't have been a better combination: Pageants and Basketball lol.
Tyson Chandler (center) of the Mavs was a celebrity judge for the Miss USA 2011 pageant and JJ Barea (point guard) accompanied his girlfriend Zuleyka Rivera, Miss Universe 2006, who also judged the pageant. Both stopped by to chat with thePageantGuy.com's Red Carpet reporter and Miss Oklahoma USA 2010, Morgan Woolard. Watch Morgan's interview with Tyson Chandler and JJ Barea below.
-Will the Pageant Guy
Morgan Woolard is Miss Oklahoma USA 2010 and 1st runner-up to Miss USA 2010. Morgan also held the title of Miss Oklahoma Teen USA 2006 and placed in the Top 15 at the Miss Teen USA 2006 pageant. Morgan is currently a youth leader, speaker, model, and a Broadcast Journalism student. You can follow her on Twitter: @MorganWoolard
"Let's not lose sight of the BIG picture, be unaffected by the small stuff. Know who is on Your side. Let Go And Let God. He will make things happen!"
