That’s Right!  We love all of our “SD Junkies” and can’t wait to meet as many of you in person as we can!  We’ve heard amazing things about your production and look forward to a wonderful show!

Calista Kirby, Miss SD 2012 was one of our favorite ‘on-the-bubble’ girls in Vegas 🙂  We watched her shine on stage, loved her evening gown and believe she was ‘oh so close’ to making that Top 15.  Plus, Calista is a driven, goal-oriented kind of girl.  In nearly every article we found about her, she mentioned goal setting…

          Calista is quoted as saying, “Don’t be afraid to set big goals. Having dreams and setting goals will encourage you to hold yourself to a high standard and be the best version of yourself each and every day.” “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” -Les Brown”

With that kind of attitude, we know Calista has a bright future ahead of her! Oh – and All the Best to Calista and her fiancee!  #EMAW! 😉

Now – who will be able to fill Calista’s shoes?  Good Question!  Here’s our picks…

Junkies Say Here’s Who to Watch: 

Autumn Simunek – 2nd runner up in 12 Prelim Talent, 4th runner up in ’11, SD OT 07
Tessa Dee – 3rd runner up in ’12, rookie of the year in ’12
Julia Kendrix – Top 8 in ’12
Carrie Wintle – SD OT ’08
Jade Possail (returnee from ’12)

Item to note:  Maria Anderson, Katie Barrett and Delaney Graves were 1st, 2nd and 4th runner up respectively at Miss SD OT ’12

GOOD LUCK LADIES!!!  Can’t wait to see you on Saturday Night!!! 🙂

MAJ

Rosemary Willis, Miss Virginia 2012 is one of those ‘spunky girls’ – who doesn’t have a problem being ‘who she is’…. From Rosemary’s College Newspaper…

“I’m not 5’ 10” with long legs and acting as a model — that’s not what Miss Virginia or Miss America does,” Willis said. “Talent is 35 [percent of your score], interview is 25 — so really I’m more of a PR person, someone who can be in a business meeting with intellectuals … and go get dirty playing with kids and teaching them about good decision-making.”

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves!  Thanks Rosemary for being a wonderful Miss Virginia and leaving your legacy on so many inside and outside the state!

Now – The best part about Junkie research on Virginia is… PHOTOS GALORE!!!  Check out this link here and you’ll see pictures of each girl in swimsuit and evening gown (a tradition at Miss VA to do individual photo shoots at the hotel when they arrive).  Check it out – you won’t be sorry!  ALSO – Julius Tolentino is the “Photographer Extraordinaire” at Miss VA — Check out this link to see ‘oodles’ of photos all week long – Updated Daily! SO FABULOUS!!!

And now… Junkies Say Here’s Who to Watch:

Desiree Williams – 1st runner up ’12, “Miss Sweetheart” winner
Courtney Garrett – 1st runner up ’11, 3rd runner up ’12, Miss VA OT ’09
Victoria Maiden – 2nd runner up ’12, non-finalist talent award in ’11, baton
Charlotte Fraser – Top 11 in ’11
Emily Hall – 2nd runner up Miss VA USA ’12, 3rd (or 4th) time at Miss VA
Lauren Keidinger, daughter of Miss VA 1986, who won Miss VA on her first attempt and finished 1st runner up to Kellye Cash

Junkies Wish Everyone At MISS VA All the Best!!! 🙂

MAJ

After 7 years of involvement in the Miss Oregon organization, Nichole Mead was finally awarded the crown!  She earns our “perseverance award” and serves as a wonderful reminder to those who feel like throwing in the towel… Make sure you don’t give in too early… it just might be your year 🙂

And now – this year’s Miss Oregon class has some lovely contestants…

Junkies Say Here’s Who Watch:

Lexie Olivia Grant – 1st runner up Miss PA ’11 and Miss Congeniality, getting her Masters at Univ of Oregon
Elizabeth Denny – 2nd runner up ’11
Brooke Painter – hula dancer, former OT contestant and Jr. Miss contestant
Kayla Gordon – pretty girl, speaks well, piano

Fun Fact = Ashley Cranston and Stephanie Matheson were both on a college episode of “Wheel of Fortune” representing the University of Oregon

GOOD LUCK TO ALL AT MISS OREGON!!!

Miss Illinois Megan Ervin is from one of those towns where everyone knows your name… and the kind of pizza you like… From the Rockford Register Star…

      Ervin, the reigning Miss Illinois, has without any great fanfare become one of Rushville’s quiet treasures in her own effervescent way.
      Sue Sheppard is a waitress at Pizza Unlimited…
      “Oh yes … I know Megan and her family,” she said. “They like sausage and pepperoni on their pizza, and they love our Chicago-style stuffed pizza. It’s better than you can get in Chicago.”
    
Yes – Megan is from a town of less 3200 people (which might seem like a ‘big city’ depending on what state you’re from).  But consider this… Since 1975, only 10 girls have been crowned Miss Illinois that DIDN’T come from the immediate or greater Chicago area!  ONLY 10!!!  Megan’s ‘girl next door’ demeanor is most certainly what made her shine at Miss America… and by ‘shine’… we mean, become a Prelim Swimsuit Winner and Top 10 finalist in Vegas. Kudos Megan!!! 🙂

Now regarding this year’s class…

Junkies Say Here’s Who to Watch:

Jennifer Carr – 1st runner up ’12, Prelim SS and Evening Gown
Savannah Teegarden – 3rd runner up ’12
Kaitlyn Wher – IL OT ’10
Marisa Buchhiet – Top 10 ’12, strong vocal, vegan
Lasley Rayni -former IL USA competitor
Ariel Fuller – 1st runner up Miss Black IL USA
Brittany Schulz – 2nd Runner up IL OT ’09
Audra Ferguson – Top 10 in ’12
Jaryn Franklin – Miss MS Crown Winner ’12

Whoooooooooo Hooooooooo for MISS ILLINOIS!!!  GOOD LUCK!!! 🙂

MAJ

Miss California, Leah Cecil made a serious impression on the people who matter most… the contestants in her own state!  This was written by one of the current Miss CA contestants and posted on the Miss CA forum board…

          Another highlight has been how she has organized the Duke of Edinberg awards. We all had the opportunity to go on high adventure on our own in order to win the awards offered but Leah organized and encouraged all of us to go together WITH HER! She could have stayed home and thought it was beneath her to go camping with the lowly of us contestants. After all, she didn’t have to go because she already earned her medals but she slummed with us anyway, no makeup or pageant dress. In fact, she encouraged all of us to remember there were no judges up there so we weren’t to bring any curling irons or eyelashes. Just come and have fun she said. It was fun to be with fellow contestants and not feel competitive against each other. We all got to know each other as fun and goofy girls! 

     I could tell more things she has taken the time to inspire in me personally but I think the most touching thing she has done for all of us was that last week she wrote and mailed EACH of us (all 61 of us!) a personal note with a handwritten message and a post encouraging us to do and be our personal best in Fresno and to appreciate the journey rather than how you finish the race. Don’t get me wrong! I want her job! But this time around, because of Miss CA 2012 Leah Cecil, I anticipate this experience with greater peace and excitement.

To see the entire tribute to Leah, just click here… it’s worth the read!

Now – Who are the front-runners for the crown in 2013?  Let me start by saying – this race is tight!  SOOOO many with experience, great talent, strong interview and of course, beautiful California bodies!  With 61 girls – I think this is the largest state pageant in 2013!!!

Just fyi – One of the ways we chose our list beyond our typical research – is through VIDEOS!!!  Check out this link to the Miss CA You Tube page and watch them for yourself to see if you agree with us!

Junkies Say Here’s Who to Watch:

Crystal Lee – 1st runner up ’12, Top 12 in ’11, CA OT ’08 (Top 10 finish at MAOT)
Caylynn Simonsin – 2nd runner up ’12, Top 12 in ’11, Top 10 Miss Sweetheart ’12
Lauren Smolka – 3rd runner up ’12, Prelim SS, Top 12 in ’11, Prelim SS again
Marina Inserra – 4th runner up ’12 Prelim SS in ’10
Morgan Edwards – Top 10 in ’12, Prelim SS
Annie Wilson – 4th runner up Miss Georgia ’12, Prelim Talent
Carly Valdes – Top 12 in ’12
Megan Wisler – Top 10 ’11 and ’12
Jordan Krinkle – CA OT 0’7
Laura Berger – Top 10 in ’12

 And if you thought we were kidding about this being one of the largest pageants this year… take a look at the FOUR DAY PRELIM SCHEDULE below!!!  Miss California is a Marathon – Not a Sprint!  GOOD LUCK LADIES!!!