Savannah Lane is multi-faceted to the core.

I could tell you to go listen to her podcast right here – but I’ll do my best to summarize…

Savannah grew up as one of two sets of twin girls – and then the family gained a decade-younger brother.  Savannah’s sister Brianna suffers from Autism, and another sister had a massive heart-attack and was without a pulse for 20 minutes – which launched the nationwide hashtag #WeAreHaileyStrong.

Through Brianna’s struggles with Autism, Savannah created “The Power of Performance” – and helps people cope with learning disabilities through music and the arts.  “The Power of Performance” eventually became Savannah’s pageant platform issue – thanks to the fact that she had created it years before she ever started competing.

Savannah’s sister Hailey was able to make a recovery and eventually come home… Which was “a miracle” according to Hailey and her family (seriously – the whole story in her podcast is pretty incredible – and I don’t want to spoil it – just listen here).

An aspiring FBI agent and eventual Congressman (Congresswoman? Congressperson?), Savannah is headed back to the University of Virginia to finish her degree in Foreign Affairs and Middle Eastern Studies, after her year as Miss VA is complete. At only 19 years old, Savannah might’ve been one of the younger contestants this year at Miss America – but that didn’t stop her from making the top 15 and having her interview showcased on the Miss America DVD.  Is it any wonder why we believe Savannah’s name will be on the political horizon in the years to come?  I think not!

Congrats Savannah on an amazing year – and for making a difference in the lives of others – with or without a crown.  You are an inspiration to many people in pageantry – And we can’t wait to watch you shine in “real life”! 🙂

And now, who do Junkies think has the best chance at being named Miss Virginia 2016? GREAT QUESTION!  This pageant is going to be a knock-down, drag-out to the finish… If you only knew how many times we changed our Top 5 list! It’s crazy! However – With 2 former Miss Virginia winners on the panel, there’s no question VA will walk away with a strong contender once again!

You can contrast and compare our list to your own when you become a Premium Junkie… Find out more at this link right here…

GOOD LUCK LADIES!!! Junkies LOVE Virginia!!!

#BigJunkieLove

Carrie Lakey

Kate Peacock was born with a hole in her right eye.  That hole caused her eye to stop growing when she was still in her mother’s womb, and has left her completely blind in her right eye.

For her platform, Kate has worked to raise awareness about eye diseases and created “Peepers Keepers” – an organization that helps children with pediatric eye disorders and diseases.

In addition, Kate has done a fabulous job traveling the state, speaking with school children about pursuing their dreams – often telling them if they work hard enough, they can accomplish anything!

From the FayObserver.com:

“If you work hard and give 100 percent, it will pay off,” Peacock said. “And, don’t believe that you can’t do something. There were people who told me that I would not succeed. I just became a little more determined and outspoken. It fueled my fires even more to push harder and prove them wrong.”

Junkies know it’s been a wonderful and rewarding year for Kate – and when she returns to Meredith College as a Junior, no doubt her experiences as Miss North Carolina will have prepared her for a career as an elementary school teacher – and perhaps one day, as a school principal.  Further, as one of the younger Miss North Carolina winners in recent history, Junkies know Kate well poised for success – and that everyone who knows her, is #ProudAsAPeacock! 🙂

And now – Who do we think has the best chance at being named Miss North Carolina 2016?

In case you didn’t know…

Junkies LOVE North Carolina and will ALWAYS have a soft spot for the ladies of NC!
In fact, this pageant is one we look forward to every year!!!
That’s why it’s never easy to put together our Top 5 list – But we’ve done our best…

You can check out our Top 5 list when you become a Premium Junkie…
To learn more, check out this link here…

And don’t forget – When it comes to our predictions – As we always say…

If we say your name, we hope you prove us right!
And if we don’t say your name, we hope you prove us wrong!

GOOD LUCK LADIES!!! Junkies LOVE Mississippi!!!

#BigJunkieLove

Carrie Lakey

If there’s one thing that Miss America does well – it’s encouraging young women to be strong!

Miss Pennsylvania Ashley Schmider believed in that same premise! At Duquesne University, Ashley was involved in the “Strong Women, Strong Girls” mentoring program.  There, she served as an Executive Director, helping to grow the chapter to over 50 mentors and earn a “Mega Chapter” status. The mission of SWSG is to support positive mentoring relationships between college women and pre-adolescent girls – Which is pretty perfect for the Miss America program.

From the SWSG website, Ashley says the reason she got involved in the program is because she had support growing up – but she knows not everyone her age, does.

In that same article, Ashley offers the following advice:

“I want to tell young women that you can dream bigger than you ever thought before. What I thought was possible has truly exceeded anything in my life. And now I’m here sitting before you with this Miss Pennsylvania crown, and it’s something that I never even thought I would achieve.”

In addition to her work with SWSG, Ashley graduated Summa Cume Laude with a degree in Economics – and with her additional Miss Pennsylvania and Miss America scholarship earnings, she plans to get her MBA from the University of Pennsylvania. With that set-up, Junkies know Ashley has a bright future ahead of her – as do several young women who received significant mentoring opportunities through her leadership at SWSG!

And now – who do Junkies think has the best chance at being named Miss Pennsylvania 2016?

Well – we’ve put together our Top 5 list –
and you can check it out when you become a Premium Junkie…
To learn more, check out this link here…

And don’t forget – When it comes to our predictions – As we always say…

If we say your name, we hope you prove us right!
And if we don’t say your name, we hope you prove us wrong!

GOOD LUCK LADIES!!! Junkies LOVE Mississippi!!!

#BigJunkieLove

Carrie Lakey

Hannah Roberts is the classic example of someone who could’ve succeeded in many different ways – but she chose to pursue the Miss America crown.

Funny, because Hannah says she never thought of herself like a pageant contestant – At all!

From the Clarion Ledger,

“I was not a cute child. I was very ‘ugly duckling’ and was in that awkward stage for a long time,” she said. “I don’t think anyone, especially myself, would have thought at that time that at the age of 10-13 that this would be a possibility for myself.”

Crazy Right?

Frankly – if you have a few moments, the article referenced above is a pretty wonderful representation of Hannah, and it’s well worth your time to read it.  Hannah has a great deal going for her – including the fact that she’s a summa cum laude graduate in Biochemistry, a Goldwater Scholar, a future Medical school student, and that she’s been working with her platform, “Pages of Love” since she was in the 6th grade…

Oh – and that she was named the 1st Runner Up at Miss America 2016 🙂

Her 1st Runner Up finish, along with a STEM award from Miss America, means Hannah walked away from Atlantic City with $30,000 in scholarships.  Those earnings, along with her scholarship earnings from the Miss Mississippi pageant, are allowing Hannah to graduate from medical school at the University of Mississippi, completely debt free.

Not bad for someone who called themselves an “ugly duckling”.

Junkies are absolutely enthralled with Miss Mississippi 2015 and the kind of person she is… The fact that young women like Hannah even enter the Miss America program, speaks volumes about the continuing advancement of the organization and the relevancy of the program itself.

And we have no doubt, Hannah will be one of those titleholders we remember for years and years to come. 🙂  CONGRATS HANNAH on a FABULOUS year!  Junkies wish you ALL THE BEST!!!

And now – who do we think has the best chance at being named Miss Mississippi 2016?
It wasn’t easy, but we’ve put together our Top 5 list…
You can check it out when you become a Premium Junkie…
To learn more, check out this link here…

And don’t forget – When it comes to our predictions – As we always say…

If we say your name, we hope you prove us right!
And if we don’t say your name, we hope you prove us wrong!

GOOD LUCK LADIES!!!  Junkies LOVE Mississippi!!!

#BigJunkieLove

Carrie Lakey

Miss Maryland 2015, Destiny Clark has a super unique voice and musical style…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDUef0OkTw0

So unique that it stands out from the crowd! Case in point, Destiny went to Miss America and came home with a non-finalist Talent Award.  Further, Destiny’s award winning performance was a song that she wrote and composed herself!

Destiny has enjoyed singing at numerous events and opportunities during her year as Miss Maryland… One of the most intriguing to us, was her appearance at the U.S. Botanic Gardens in Washington DC where she was invited to sing songs and read to the children one day. During that event, Destiny met a little girl who was having a tough time in the back of the room.

After her singing time was over, Destiny went to the girl, picked her up and had a brief conversation with her. According to Destiny’s Facebook page…

“…She then turned to me while still in my arms, looks right into my eyes with the sweetest grin and said “I want to be just like you one day”. I then smiled and said, “sweetheart you can be anything you wanna be, just do something that makes you smile”. Afterwards she looked right up at my crown with the brightest wonder in her eyes and reached up to touch it gently”

And that’s the power of the crown.

Congrats Destiny on your year as Miss Maryland – Junkies hope you continue to inspire children around you, regardless of your title or headwear 🙂

And now, who do Junkies think has the best chance at being named Miss Maryland 2016? You can see our Top 5 list when you become a Premium Junkie… To learn more, just click here…

GOOD LUCK LADIES!!! Junkies Love Maryland!!!

#BigJunkieLove

Carrie Lakey