CORRESPONDENCE

It is rare that Miss America and Miss USA appear together, but they did this weekend - at the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner.

MISS AMERICA 2009 - COUNTDOWN TO THE CROWN

A new year and a new Miss America! Tonight, on US cable channel TLC, watch "Miss America 2009 - Countdown to the Crown," a four-episode reality show that climaxes with the live pageant on January 24. Here are the episodes and air dates:

Episode 1: premieres January 2, 2009 at 10 PM (ET/PT). Guest consultant: Gretchen Carlson, Miss America 1989 and host on Fox Network’s FOX AND FRIENDS.
· Team Challenge: Quest for the Crown, a scavenger-style race through the ship.
· Individual Challenge: Pitch Perfect. The table’s set to determine the girls’ ability to remain composed, form an argument, and listen as well as she speaks.

Episode 2: premieres January 9, 2009 at 10 PM (ET/PT). Guest consultant: Shakara Ledard, renowned supermodel
· Team Challenge: Fitness First Obstacle Course – the teams face off in a fun endurance race to the end.
· Individual Challenge: Runway Photo Shoot. Which girl has mastered her poise and confidence on the runway?

Episode 3: premieres January 16, 2009 at 10 PM (ET/PT). Guest Consultant: Clinton Kelly, from TLC’s What Not To Wear. Clinton will also reprise his role as a special correspondent for the Miss America pageant.
· Team Challenge: Miss American Shopper. Will it be retail rivalry when each team has to share one shopping budget?
· Individual Challenge: Little Black Dress returns with a fashion-forward eye on personal style and resourcefulness.

Episode 4: premieres January 23, 2009 at 10 PM (ET/PT). Guest Consultant: Susan Powell, Miss America 1981
· Team Challenge: Miss America’s Got Talent. It’s a talent showdown as the teams perfect a routine and compete against each other.
· Individual Challenge: Rock the Runway, where all of the planning pays off in their final chance to secure a sash.

Venus Ramey of the District of Columbia, Miss America 1944 and mascot and guardian angel of Beauty School

Miss America 1967, Miss Oklahoma Jane Anne Jayroe and her first runner-up, Miss California Charlene Dallas

Miss America 1965, Miss Arizona Vonda Kay Van Dyke and her court of honor

MISS AMERICA FLASHBACK - 1984

Miss America 1984, Vanessa Williams of New York, with Puerto Rican boy band Menudo

MISS AMERICA FLASHBACK - 1984

Miss America 1984, Suzette Charles of New Jersey, with actor Harry Belafonte. Students in Prof. Chandni's class on "MAO's Role in 20th Century Culture" will know that Suzette was first runner-up to Vanessa Williams and reigned for a few short months as Miss America when Vanessa was dethroned after nude pictures of her were published in Penthouse magazine. Also, students will know that the Miss World 1970 and 1993 pageants and the Miss America 1983 pageant (for Miss America 1984) share a similar fact - both the winner and first runner-up in those pageants were black. This has never happened at Miss USA and Miss Universe, and as Prof. Chandni will tell you, "If it ever happens at Miss Universe, there will be hell to pay in Latin America."

MISS AMERICA FLASHBACK - 1958

Miss America 1959, Mary Ann Mobley of Mississippi, is welcomed back to her home town of Brandon, Mississippi. Mary Ann was the first Miss America from Mississippi, and while the state has never won the Miss USA title, it has won the Miss America title four times - in 1958, 1959, 1979, and 1985.

VIVA LAS VEGAS

Contestants in the 2009 Miss America Pageant pose at the arrival ceremony for contestants in the 2009 Miss America Pageant at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino on January 15, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The pageant will be held at Planet Hollywood on January 24, 2009. (Photo: WireImage)

THEY HAD FACES THEN

Miss America 1945, Bess Myerson of New York. As Barbra Striesand said, "Hello, gorgeous."

MISS AMERICA FLASHBACK - 1966

Dateline - September 10, 1966
Miss America 1966 Deborah Bryant of Kansas crowns Miss America 1967 Jane Anne Jayroe of Oklahoma

Miss America 1967 and her court of honor

MISS AMERICA FLASHBACK - 1968

Dateline - September 7, 1968

Judi Ford of Illinois is the new Miss America 1969

“I about died when they called my name.”

(Source: Rockford Register Star)

WHAT A DIFFERENCE 88 YEARS MAKE

When Deans Harris and Di Maggio came into work today to discuss payroll cuts, they found this note and photo in their office. It was of course from our beloved librarian, Lorraine. The note said, "Boys, who the hell is this? I found this photo in a shoe box marked really old beauty queens. Luv Ya, Lorraine." Poor Lorraine must be suffering from the side effects of inhaling too much of her new nail polish. This is of course the very first Miss America, Margaret Gorman of Washington D.C., in 1921. We doubt any of the contestants for the 2009 title will wear an outfit like this tomorrow. However, we do like the crown.

MISS AMERICA 2009 - FAVES FOR THE CROWN

This morning, Dean Harris and Prof. Chandni met at IHOP, the one just off campus on Highway 1, for a pancake breakfast and to dish their faves for the Miss America 2009 crown. They reached consensus on these six: Miss Virgin Islands, Miss Oregon, Miss Indiana, Miss Mississippi, Miss Georgia, and Miss Hawaii.

P.S.: Prof. Chandni thinks Miss Indiana was robbed last year.

MISS AMERICA 2009 IS MISS INDIANA!

The new Miss America 2009 is Miss Indiana Katie Stam. First runner-up was Miss Georgia, Chasity Hardman. This marks the first time in Miss America history that Indiana has won the crown.

MISS AMERICA A RATINGS WINNER

Multichannel News
27-Jan-2009

The Jan. 24 live telecast of the Miss America pageant drew 3.5 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research data. The pageant telecast, in which Miss Indiana Katie Stam won the 88-year old pageant's title, was the second-most viewed on cable, behind last year's Miss America Live! event on TLC, which averaged 3.6 million viewers. The show was the most-watched show on cable for the night among adults 18 to 49 (1.73 million viewers), women 18 to 49 (1.2 million), adults 18 to 34 (977,000 viewers) and women 18 to 34 (714,000).

26 January 2009

OUR MISS AMERICA, KATIE STAM

26-Jan-2009
Seymour Daily Tribune

Less than 24 hours after realizing her dream - being named Miss America 2009 Saturday night - 22-year-old Katie Stam of Seymour was dreaming big again Sunday and urging young girls everywhere to dream big too.

Upon arrival in New York City today, she will begin a whirlwind tour of public appearances and photo shoots, embarking on her year-long reign as America's newest sweetheart.

"It's just thrilling," she said Sunday from an airport. "All of my dreams are coming true." "Any kind of positive emotion you can think of is coursing through my body right now," Stam added.

She was the talk at churches, diners and seemingly everywhere across Jackson County on Sunday. Local businesses quickly put up signs congratulating Stam and showing their pride for one of their own.

With the title of Miss America, Katie will be the official ambassador for the Children's Miracle Network as well as ZeroSmoke, a program to help people stop smoking. Not one to set small goals, Katie said Sunday she would like to meet with President Barack Obama to help her spread the word about the importance of community service.

"He has a strong voice for getting involved in community issues," she said. "It would be great to do a program and public service announcement with him to get more people to take part in their communities. It's all about helping each other, and I'm really looking forward to getting the opportunity to promote that on a national level."

MORE HERE.

HOOSIER HOMECOMING

Miss America 2009, Katie Stam, will return to the Hoosier state on March 4 for a glorious homecoming. Indiana's first Miss America will be feted with a parade from her high school to the city hall of her native small town of Seymour, Indiana, and will make other appearances across the Hoosier state in the following days.

Meet and greet Miss America! Follow Miss America Katie Stam during her homecoming to Indiana:

An Evening with Miss America, 7:30 p.m. March 6, Zionsville Performing Arts Center in the high school, 1000 Mulberry St. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased in advance at www.missindianapageant .com. At the door, sales will be cash only.

Miss America autograph signing, 1 p.m. March 7, The Sanctuary, 75 N. Main St., Zionsville. Free.

Miss America Homecoming Gala, 6 p.m. cocktails and 7 p.m. dinner March 7, Renaissance Hotel, 11925 N. Meridian St., Carmel. Tickets are $100 per person and must be reserved by March 1 at http://www.missindianapageant.com/.

GREEN REIGNS HERE

Miss America 2009, Indiana's Katie Stam, celebrates Earth Day 2009 in Times Square, New York City. Beauty School wonders if the Miss America crown contains conflict-free diamonds?

SHE'S JUST A BROADWAY BABY

This Sunday the Tony Awards for excellence in the Broadway theatre will be handed out at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. We thought we'd take a look at some former beauty queens who took off their sashes and tiaras to grace the Great White Way. In 1962, Miss America 1959, Mary Ann Mobley, made her Broadway debut in a show titled "Nowhere To Go But Up." Alas, there was nowhere to go but down as the show only ran for one week. Faring better was Miss America 1977, Dorothy Benham, who appeared in the Tony award winning show "Jerome Robbin's Broadway" in 1989, which had a healthy run. Tomorrow, we'll feature two beauty queens who lit up Broadway with a total of 5 shows to their credit.

MORE BROADWAY BABIES

It's a long way from a sash and tiara to the Broadway stage. These two ladies did it with great success. First off, Miss America, 1998, Kate Shindle of Illinois, who has notched three Broadway shows under her belt. She appeared in the musical "Jekyll And Hyde", then moved on to "Cabaret," and most recently "Legally Blonde. " She is a much beloved figure on the Great White Way, working for charity and taking part in concerts among other thing. And then there's Vanessa, yes THAT Vanessa. As in Williams. Miss America 1984. Dealt with a lemon at the end of her reign she certainly turned a lemon into a fabulous lemonade. The New York state native went on to career as a recording artist, a television star and also two appearances on Broadway. She replaced the estimable Chita Rivera in "The Kiss of the Spider Woman" to rave reviews. A few years late she starred in the revival of " Into the Woods," which earned her a Tony nomination for best actress in a musical. Now the question is did a Miss Universe ever make to Broadway? The answer tomorrow.

CROWNING MOMENT

Miss America 1984 is Vanessa Williams of New York!

FROM 53 TO 1

Miss America contestants arrive at the 2010 Miss America Pageant, Thursday January 21, 2010 at The Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. 53 women are competing for the title this year - the 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

GONDOLA RIDE

The 2010 Miss America Pageant contestants enjoy gondola rides and a dessert reception in The Venetian on Jan. 22, 2010.

FLIPPING OUT

The 2010 Miss America Pageant’s International House of Pancakes breakfast benefit for Children’s Miracle Network at Planet Hollywood on Jan. 22, 2010. Miss Nebraska seems to have the perfect technique for flipping flapjacks. OK, Beauty School scholars, here's a pop quiz for you: How many times has Nebraska won the Miss America title?

MISS AMERICA MOT - 2009

The Moment of Truth (MOT) at Miss America 2009...

Miss Indiana, Katie Stam, wins the title.

MISS AMERICA MOT - 2010

Miss Virginia Caressa Cameron reacts after being named Miss America at the 2010 Miss America Pageant tonight during a glittering, gala ceremony in Las Vegas, Nevada. With Cameron are Miss New Mexico Nicole Miner and Miss Hawaii Raeceen Anuenue Woolford. 1st runner-up was Miss California Kristy Cavinder; 2nd runner-up was Miss Tennessee Stefanie Wittler; 3rd runner-up was Miss Louisiana Katherine Putnam; and 4th runner-up was Miss Kentucky Mallory Ervin. Miss New Mexico and Miss Hawaii rounded out the top 7

MORE MISS AMERICA

AP, 30-Jan-2010, LAS VEGAS — Miss Virginia Caressa Cameron won the 2010 Miss America title Saturday night after strutting in a skintight yellow dress, belting Beyonce's "Listen" from "Dreamgirls" and telling kids they should get outside more often. Cameron, a 22-year-old from Fredericksburg, Va., won a $50,000 scholarship and the crown in Las Vegas after a pageant that started with 53 contestants. She outlasted her opponents in swimsuit, evening gown, talent and interview competitions. Cameron is broadcast journalism student at Virginia Commonwealth University, and wants to become an anchor.

When asked during the interview portion of the competition her thoughts on fighting childhood obesity, Cameron said parents should curb television and video games. "We need to get our kids back outside, playing with sticks in the street like I did when I was little," she said. "Expand your mind, go outside and get to see what this world is like." Cameron said her win was a testament to her family's strength. "You can be and become anything that you want to be, even Miss America," she said. Miss California Kristy Cavinder was the first runner-up, winning $25,000. The young women who came out on stage at the beginning of the pageant and danced to "I Gotta Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas are from all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

HOMETOWN GIRL

Hometown girl, hometown paper...front page of The Free Lance-Star, Fredericksburg, VA.