California knows what they’re doing when it comes to Miss America.

Since 2003, California has had 5 women finish in the Top 5 – and 4 more ladies finish in the Top 10 or better (i.e., Top 8, etc)!  That’s an OUTSTANDING record hard to match over that same period of time. 

Miss California 2013 Crystal Lee certainly helped extend that streak – She was one of two ladies we predicted would finish in the Top 5 at Miss America (Oklahoma was the other) and she has been a shinning example of how to increase the profile of a “Miss State.”  Her presence on social media has been one of the strongest we’ve seen all year – and her passion for ‘branding’ herself and the Miss America organization has been superb.

When Michael Jeong interviewed Crystal for “Asian Week”, he asked her “What is something most people don’t realize about the Miss America pageant?”  Crystal responded, saying,

          “We are essentially athletes. It’s just as mental as it is physical. Most onlookers think it’s all about how you look- but having been on the inside, let me tell you that how you think and how you act is equally important. At the national competition, every contestant is gorgeous and at her peak physical condition. Onstage, each girl can be as beautiful as the next. Where the judges select the winner is the interview. A magnetic personality and inner beauty takes you much farther than just having the prettiest face.”

Jeong also asked the First Runner Up to Miss America what was going though her mind when she and Nina were standing alone, and whether or not she realized that both she and Nina were Asian.

        
          “In those final moments, I was focused on the announcement of results and didn’t think about us being Asian. I’ve always thought of myself to be just as American as I am Asian. Our country has always been composed of immigrant backgrounds – whether or not your appearance reflects it. The order in which one’s forefathers arrived doesn’t make their descendants more or less American.”

WELL SAID!  Junkies couldn’t agree more! 

Crystal’s future is bright – This 1st Runner up and STEM Scholarship Winner already has her BA in Biology and MA in Communications from Stanford.  That tells us it might be easier to predict what Crystal won’t do in life – rather than what she will do!  The sky is the limit!

So – who has the best chance of continuing the California streak at Miss America???

Junkies Say Here’s who to Watch:

Caylynn Simonsin – 1st RU ’13, Prelim SS ’13, 2nd RU ’12, Top 12 ’11
Katie Wayland – Non-finalist Talent award ’13, hilarious video!
Jordan Krinkle – CA OT ’07, 3rd RU ’13, Winner of Miss Sweetheart ’13
Gabriela Garcia –  Top 15 in ’13
Carly Valdes – Top 12 in ’12 and ’13
Marina Inserra – Top 10 ’13, 4th RU ’12, SS prelim ’10
Stephanie Patterson – Top 10 ’13
Bree Morse – Top 15 in ’13
Shelby Sinkler – CA OT ’10

Additional Ladies Who Catch Our Eye…

Izamar Olaguez
Jessica Tonti
Rita Garabet
Kelsey Schwartz

AND – The state of California is celebrating its 90th ANNIVERSARY this week – HUGE CONGRATS to everyone who’s made such a milestone possible!!!

ALL THE BEST LADIES!!! JUNKIES LOVE CALIFORNIA!!! 🙂

MAJ

Miss South Carolina 2013, Brooke Mosteller, is a mover and a shaker if we ever saw one.

Do a quick google search on Brooke and here’s what you discover…

1. She’s completed her first year as a Law Student at the University of South Carolina School of Law.
2. In 2009, she created “Go Higher” and helped institute a college application day for High School Seniors in SC which streamlines the application process.  This year, 185 high schools participated and over 40,000 students applied to college.
3. Was named 1st runner up for the Miss America Quality of Life award thanks to “Go Higher”.
3. Won Miss Congeniality at Miss South Carolina AND Miss America!
4. Raised $79,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network and won the Miss America “Miracle Maker” award for the most money raised this year (and shattered the previous record)
5. Is now lobbying for a state-wide law against texting and driving in SC
6. Won $14,000 in scholarships at Miss America!!!

Talk about making the most of your Miss America experience!  Just for some perspective – there were only 4 other girls at Miss America who won more than $14,000 — Nina Davuluri – Winner, Crystal Lee – 1st RU, Kelsey Griswold – 2nd RU and Myrrhanda Jones – 3rd RU.  It certainly goes to prove your time at Miss America can be fruitful and rewarding, far beyond whether or not you’re selected in the Top 15!  Junkies know Brooke’s impact and legacy on South Carolina will be significantly recognized for years and years to come – the girl is impressive to the core AND – she must be the nicest person you ever met in your entire life (who else wins Miss Congeniality at their home state and Miss America???).  Seriously – Brooke, we can tell you are ‘our kind’ of people here at MAJ!  ALL THE BEST!!!

And now – After 2 killer queens in a row (Ali Rogers – 1st runner up to Mallory Hagan and Brooke Mosteller), who the heck can keep this thriving program on the map?

Junkies Say Here’s Who to Watch:

Lauren Cabaniss – 3rd RU ’13, 2nd RU Sweetheart, 1st RU ’12, 3rd runner up ’11, SC DYW ’08
Mya Kayler – 1st runner up ’11, 2nd runner up NC ’12, 4th runner up NC ’11, NC OT ’08
Lanie Hudson – 4th runner up ’13, Prelim SS
Lara Scott – 4th runner up ’11, Top 10 ’13
Ellen Neely – 4th runner up ’09
Erin Frost – Top 10 ’13, Top 15 ’12
Daja Dial – Top 10 ’13
Emily Wayne – Non-Finalist SS and Talent ’13
Junkie Dark Horses – Leah Lawson and Jordyn Fox

JUNKIES LOVE SOUTH CAROLINA!!!  BIG SHOES TO FILL – GOOD LUCK!!! 🙂

MAJ

Hey Junkies!!!

WHEW!!!  LAST NIGHT WAS  C R A Z Y ! ! !

13 state finals in one evening is enough to drive any Junkie a little insane – but seeing awesome photos of ‘shock and awe’ like this one, always ‘lighten the load’ 🙂 

In case you’re new here (and by the growing amount of followers on our Facebook page and Twitter feed, there are a number of you who just might be new here!) – This is where we predict winners, answer questions, honor outgoing queens, and essentially ‘indulge’ in the Miss America Junkie Addiction.  The blog allows us to expand our thoughts and offer positive commentary to the young women competing in the Miss America organization beyond cute photos and 140 characters.  However, this blog also keeps us accountable!  Our posts labeled “UPDATE” (see the full list of posts to the right)  are the summaries of The Junkies’ choices verses the actual winners…

So without further adeiu… And all announced in random order (but of course…)… Here are our results from last night’s 13 state competitions!!!

Miss Wisconsin – 4 for 5, listed the Winner
Miss Florida – 4 for 5, listed the Winner
Miss Indiana – 3 for 5, listed the Winner
Miss North Carolina – 4 for 5, listed the Winner
Miss Ohio – 3 for 5, listed the Winner
Miss Arkansas – 4 for 5, listed the Winner
Miss Tennessee – 4 for 5, listed the Winner
Miss Colorado – 4 for 5, listed the Winner
Miss Georgia – 3 for 5, listed the Winner
Miss Utah – 2 for 5, listed the Winner
Miss Arizona – 3 for 5, missed the Winner
Miss South Dakota – 4 for 5, listed the Winner
Miss Maine – Junkies listed all 5 competitors – N/A to this summary 

In addition – Junkies posted last weeks’ “UPDATE” prior to the results of Miss DC – So, to keep us honest, we need to give you those results as well…

Miss DC – 3 for 5, listed the Winner
 
OK – So… Wowzers.  Where to Begin… Well, it looks like we went 12 for 13 listing the winners (missed AZ) – and when you tally all the numbers and consider there were 65 possible placements (13 pageants x Top 5 finishes) – we went 45 of 65!!!  Percentage-wise, that makes us 92% on picking last night’s winners and 70% on picking the Top 5!!!  Awesome Night!!! 🙂

AND – When you add in the last 2 week’s worth of totals (which you can check out at this link for Summary #1 and at this link for Summary #2) – Our GRAND TOTAL thus far is…

30 for 35 when picking the winner = 86%
120 for 173 when picking the Top 5 = 69%

AND THERE YOU HAVE IT!!!  This was a “pretty darn good” weekend for us – but we certainly can’t rest on our laurels… We still have 3 more weekends to go for State Pageant Season – and 16 more ladies to crown before it’s all over!  Now’s the time to remain steady, keep calm and double-down on our research efforts for next week!

Don’t forget, Miss West Virginia is crowned this coming TUESDAY and then we’ll have final results from VA, CA, PR, OR, NM, LA, SC, CT, MD and MA next weekend!!!

Until Then – We’ll keep blogging… You keep reading… And here’s a thought…

Do you realize we’re only 12 WEEKS AWAY from crowning a new MISS AMERICA???!!!

Look Out Junkies!  The Crazy-Train just left the station – LOL!!! 🙂

MAJ

           “Miranda Harrison recalled making a fast friend in 2010 with Abbie Waters, an 8-year-old girl, who was undergoing treatment for rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer of the connective tissues in Richmond.
           “A friend and I helped out at a local clinic, and that’s where I met Abby,” said Harrison. “We got closer during her treatment, and I would stay with her for days at a time. Two days after her ninth birthday she passed away holding my hand.
           “That is the kind of thing that alters your life forever. It made me see that I was part of something bigger.”

Miss Maine 2013 Krista Korda, was Fabulous at Miss America…

Well deserving of her non-finalist talent win, Krista had this to say about her talent performance on the Miss America stage…

“As a musician, I’m constantly practicing the ‘perfect performance’… to completely ‘let go’ and live in the music.  Walking off-stage, I have never felt more alive.  I am truly honored and proud of this accomplishment.”

As well she should be.  One of the most coveted awards you can bring home from Miss America, the non-finalist talent award recognizes ladies with outstanding talent and is a true ‘nod’ from the judges – as if to say, “We saw you – and you were superb.”

Congrats to Kristin – Maine’s only Outstanding Teen winner to be named Miss Maine to date!  You’re one the special ones in Maine – and The Junkies know it 🙂

Now – Here’s what you should know about this year’s competition…

Just because you only see 5 contestants, it doesn’t mean this is a cake-walk for anyone!  EVERYONE competing brings some pretty decent credentials to the table – Check it out!

From left to right –

Kelsey Early – 3rd runner up ’13, 2nd runner up ’12
Marisa Butler -1st runner up ’13, 4th runner up ’12, 1st runner up ME Teen USA ’12
Katherine Rushlau – Miss ME International ’13
Audrey Thames – 2nd runner up ’13, 1st runner up ME OT ’12
Shelbi Wassick – Miss Teen Maine ’09

Yup!  Talk about the cream of the crop!  Good Luck Ladies – All the Best to each of you this week!

JUNKIES LOVE MAINE!!!

MAJ