It’s part 2 of Carrie Lakey’s whirlwind weekend in Atlantic City – And today, Carrie continues her play-by-play of the Junkies’ weekend at Miss America 2016! We pick up where we left off – with the announcement of the Top 10 Talents – And then carry you all the way through Monday, when she shared a flight home with a “forever” Miss America! Who was it? Find out on today’s Pageant Junkies Podcast…
The Junkies have just returned from Atlantic City where we saw Betty Cantrell be named Miss America 2016!!! In today’s podcast, Carrie Lakey gives you the play-by-play summary of her weekend – describing what it was like to be at the Show Us Your Shoes Parade, seeing Vanessa Williams in Convention Hall, and what takes place behind the scenes during the commercial breaks! Caution: There are massive amounts of name-dropping about to occur… Please exercise caution when listening to today’s podcast (because the name you hear, just might be your own!)!
Check out this episode!
It’s the final podcast in our Tribute to Miss America series, and today it’s all about the 90’s through today. How did Miss America go from a well-respected, highly paid spokesperson to being dumped on to cable television? Special guest Gene Hill and I discuss that question, as well as where we think the program is headed… All on today’s Pageant Junkies Podcast
Here are some additional photos/videos from the 90’s through today… Leanza Cornett – Miss America 1993 from Florida… Her yellow dress was striking on stage!!!
All the Miss America contestants flying to DC in their red, white and blue business suits!
In today’s podcast, Gene Hill talks about both Marjorie Judith Vincent and Heather Whitestone’s Talent… Here they are… Oh – It’s also Marjorie’s 25th Anniversary this year!!!
And Heather’s crowning moment is a classic one… Here’s video of it as well…
Another striking “crowning moment” came when Erika Harold crowned Ericka Dunlap Miss America 2004
Deidre Downs was the last Miss America crowned in Convention Hall before the move to Las Vegas… Junkies LOVE this photo!!!
Back to Back Oklahoma wins in 2006 and 2007… Jennifer Berry and Lauren Nelson
And of course… The New York 3 peat!!! Mallory Hagan, Nina Davuluri and Kira Kazantsev…
As Miss America entered the 70’s and 80’s, talents were soaring, the wardrobes were becoming more extravagant, and significant barriers were being broken! Through it all, people like Rebecca King, Vanessa Williams and Kaye Lani Rae Rafko, elevated the Miss America brand and pushed the organization to new heights. Hear about each of these women and many more, with our special guest Gene Hill, in our 3rd episode of paying tribute to the Miss America Organization.
Here are a few additional photos from the 70’s and 80’s… This photo is from the Miss Pennsylvania program book in 1974… LOVE IT!!!
Laurel Lea Schaefer, Miss America 1972 from Ohio…
This is AMAZING video of Bert Parks announcing the Top 5 during Miss America 1976… SOOOO GOOD!!! She even speaks to Bert Parks immediately after being crowned!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqbuolibGWQ
Kylene Barker was Miss America 1979 from Virginia… And is also one of the Prelim Judges this year!!!
The contestants on the beach in Atlantic City during Miss America 1986…
Plus – I LOVE this video of the Evening Wear Competition at Miss America 1988…
THERE’S ONE MORE PODCAST TO COME!!! Be sure to listen in on Thursday for our final episode in this special series – A Tribute to Miss America!!!
The Miss America Pageant may have started with businessmen trying to make a buck in Atlantic City, but it’s a woman named Lenora Slaughter, who discovers the value of the pageant and brings out the best in the Miss America winners from the 40’s forward. Plus, as the country changes through subsequent decades, so does the pageant… And who can forget BERT PARKS!!! It’s all on today’s special edition of the Pageant Junkies Podcast as we continue our Tribute to Miss America.
Here’s that video we were talking about (where you can see Miss America “crownings” take place while the contestants are sitting down! Who knew???). You can see all crownings from 1921 to 2013 – IT’S SO AWESOME FOR JUNKIES LIKE US!!! 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T1vqCrtlkI
Additionally, here are some Miss America photos from the 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s… The first one is of Lee Meriwether, the first Miss America crowned on National Television 🙂
Convention Hall is large enough for TWO football fields!!!
Always a highlight at Miss America… THE PARADE!!!
Bert Parks alongside Miss America 1958 Marilyn Van Derbur and Miss America 1963 Jacqueline Mayer…
