When Jade Kenny, Miss Maryland 2014, was announced as the Preliminary Swimsuit winner on Thursday night in Atlantic City, it didn’t quite register.

In AI.com, Jade said, “I kept looking around to see where the winner was coming from and then Miss Louisiana was like ‘Oh no, it’s you. Get out there.’ I did not expect it at all.”

But Swimsuit Honors isn’t the only thing Jade took away from Atlantic City… Jade was also the 2nd Runner up for the Quality of Life Award based on her platform work with Rainbows for All Children – An organization that provides services for young children who are working through grief.

And if you follow Jade on social media, you know that her life has done nothing but catapult since coming back from Atlantic City… In fact, she was recently named a Cheerleader for the Washington Redskins!

On her own Instagram page, Jade wrote,

“Some little girls want to grow up and become teachers, doctors or movie stars.  All I ever wanted to be was an NFL cheerleader.  That dream came true last night!  The last two yeas of my life has been a whilwind.  I graduated from the University of Alabama, became and NBA dancer and competed at Miss America as your Miss Maryland!  Now, I will get to cheer on the sidelines for the NFL.  So humbled by all the love and support I’ve received and ready for the season. “Hail to the Redskins”

Junkies LOVE IT when young women achieve their dreams – no matter what those dreams are!  Congrats to Jade on using the Miss Maryland title as a springboard to your next step – That’s exactly what’s supposed to be done!

And now – who do we think has the best chance at being named Miss Maryland 2015???  Well – that information was released earlier this week in the Junkie Newsletter!  To receive our latest edition of the Junkie Newsletter, click here to sign up and we’ll send you our most recent predictions!

FYI – Once you sign up, you need to “confirm” that you wish to receive it… THEN, your Newsletter will arrive later in the day.  Even though it’s a Sunday Newsletter, we forward it to all our new sign-ups twice a day – once around Noon EST and once around 5pm EST every day.  Just make sure you confirm, add us to your address book, and have patience!  It’s worth the wait!

GOOD LUCK LADIES!!!  JUNKIES LOVE MARYLAND!!!

#BigJunkieLove

Jasmine Murray.

I’m not sure what to say about this girl that hasn’t already been said!

I think Jasmine’s year as Miss Mississippi has been about as close to being Miss America as one can get (without having actually won the title).  As a Top 10 finalist at Miss America, a former Mississippi Outstanding Teen, and a Finalist on American Idol, Jasmine took advantage of numerous opportunities to sing, speak and promote the Miss America Organization throughout her year.

From colleges to elementary schools, from charity benefits to the White House prayer breakfast, from appearances related to her platform “13 going on 30” – to visits at the Children’s Miracle Network hospitals… I’d say Jasmine has made the most of every moment since being crowned Miss Mississippi!  She’s an incredible example of a state titleholder who went back to her state and refused to be defined simply as a Top 10 finalist… We know Jasmine’s stamp on the state of Mississippi will continue to resonate for years and years to come.

PLUS – Junkies wanna give a special shout-out to Jasmine and the Miss Mississippi Organization…

Jasmine was one of the very first people we interviewed for the Pageant Junkies Podcast!  We knew we wanted to hear her story – and she allowed us to interview her before ever hearing a previous “Podcast Product” if you will.  We’re so grateful she understood our vision for positive promotion of the Miss America program through podcasting and we HIGHLY ENCOURAGE you to hear her whole story at this link.

HUNDREDS of people have heard her podcast since it was posted at the end of 2014,  and we know you’ll enjoy it too… Jasmine shares about her time as an Outstanding Teen, being on American Idol and much, much more – absolutely worth the listen!

In addition, we also want to say THANK YOU to the Mississippi Organization for providing this incredible video – which helped us immensely as we narrowed our list to the Top 5 competitors!

ENJOY!

OK!  Now – who do we think has the best chance of being named Miss Mississippi 2015?  Well – that information was released earlier this week in the Junkie Newsletter.  To receive our latest edition of the Junkie Newsletter, click here to sign up and we’ll send you our most recent predictions!  The latest newsletter is sent by 5pm EST every day – So have patience!  It’s worth the wait!

GOOD LUCK LADIES!!!  JUNKIES ADORE MISSISSIPPI!!!

#BigJunkieLove

When researching Marina Inserra’s year as Miss California 2014, we stumbled on to this amazing gem at BrieBrieBlooms.com… You can find the entire post here – (it’s WELL worth the read) – but we’re going to offer you the highlights below…

My daughter has been intrigued by animals her entire life. Before she was a year old, she loved visiting local zoos and aquariums to see the animals. While volunteering in her kindergarten class, I observed her tell a child to pick up their snack wrapper so it didn’t end up in the ocean. I truly couldn’t have been more proud to see her standing up for what she believes to be the right thing.

I was equally heartbroken the day my husband picked her up from school and she broke into tears in the car on the way home telling him some girls in her class called her weird for liking animals and science so much. She was devastated when some of her best friends told her science was only for boys.

During a recent visit to SeaWorld San Diego, my daughter shared her experience and was relieved at the reassurance that plenty of girls grow up to be scientists. She observed the many women working at SeaWorld and bravely said it didn’t matter what those girls had said. But it did matter. Her spirit had been broken and the team at SeaWorld, some of my daughter’s most significant role models, saw that. Weeks later SeaWorld invited my daughter to visit the park and spend the day with Miss California, Marina Inserra.

 I didn’t tell my daughter we were meeting Marina in the park because I knew it would be an amazing surprise. The moment my daughter saw Marina was magical.

Marina was so kind and shared genuine enthusiasm spending the day with my daughter. They visited many different animals exchanging facts along the way. They held hands and ran through the park together like they were lifelong friends.

I asked my daughter what she learned from Marina and I was touched by her response. She said, “Girls can be anything they want to be.” Yes sweet girl, they sure can. Her day with Miss California was about so much more than spending time with a pretty girl; it was truly about learning girls can grow up to be anything they want to be.

I can’t say it any better.  And for that little girl, Marina’s actions will long out-live the crown on her head… Which offers another great life-lesson…

It’s only for one year.  Even if it’s a local title – you have an extraordinary opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives, if you have the courage to do so.  Junkies certainly hope you do.

Now – who will be Miss California 2015???  Well – that information was released earlier this week in the Junkie Newsletter.  To receive our latest edition of the Junkie Newsletter, click here to sign up and we’ll send you our most recent predictions!  The latest newsletter is sent by 5pm EST every day – So have patience!  It’s worth the wait!

GOOD LUCK LADIES – LOVE THE RED, WHITE and BLUE!!!

JUNKIES LOVE CALIFORNIA GIRLS!!!

#BigJunkieLove

Pageants might be a big deal in South Carolina – but the job of Miss South Carolina is even bigger!

Lanie Hudson, Miss South Carolina 2014 knows that all too well!  At Miss America, Lanie was given the Miracle Maker Award for raising the most funds for Children’s Miracle Network… And – it’s the third time in a row that the young woman wearing the Miss South Carolina sash earned the award (Ali Rogers and Brooke Mosteller won as well). CONGRATS LADIES!!!

In addition, Lanie’s platform is “Lanie’s Gift” – an organization she founded back in 2007 that partners with other organizations to spread awareness about organ and tissue donation. Check it out at LaniesGift.com.

And finally, Miss South Carolina serves as a spokesperson for “Palmetto Pride” – a state-wide program aimed at reducing litter in the state.  That means, she travels into schools, talking to students about facts they may not know and ways they can help.

In an article inside TheState.com, Lanie says,

“As Miss South Carolina, it is a state platform to promote anti-littering and keeping South Carolina beautiful … and it’s been a lot of fun traveling around the state, especially to the middle schools because they really do care and are interactive with this topic,” Hudson said. “I think middle school students are just at that vital age when they can make a difference and influence their peers.

“It takes a long time for trash left on the roadside to go away,” she told the group. “If more people knew that, maybe they would think twice before littering.”

Yes, there may be a lot of sparkle in South Carolina – But the great news is, SC pageant girls are more than just a pretty face – They’re getting the work done.  Which always translates into life-skills that serve you way beyond the crown.

Junkies wish All the Best to Lanie Hudson – and know she’s left her mark on the state of South Carolina in a way no one else could!

Who will be the lucky lady to be named Miss South Carolina 2015?  And do we have any inklings as to who she might be???  Well – that information was released earlier this week in the Junkie Newsletter.  To receive our latest edition of the Junkie Newsletter, click here to sign up and we’ll send you our most recent predictions!  The latest newsletter is sent by 5pm EST every day – So have patience!  It’s worth the wait!

OH!  And if you wanna play along and make your own predictions regarding Miss South Carolina – These videos on the Miss South Carolina YouTube page are a GREAT PLACE to start!  THANKS FOR THE VIDEOS MISS SC!!! #JunkiesLoveVideos  Check them out here…

GOOD LUCK LADIES!!!  JUNKIES LOVE THE NEW SOUTHERN HOT SPOT!!!

#BigJunkieLove

One of the highlights of the Miss America 2015 broadcast, was seeing Courtney Garrett, Miss Virginia 2014, answer her on-stage question… Here’s a re-cap, in case you don’t remember!

Brig. Gen. Macdonald: “The savageness of the ISIS threat to our security was demonstrated by the gruesome videos of two journalists and an aid worker being beheaded. What should our country’s response be?”

Courtney Garrett: “This is an absolute outrage and something definitely needs to be done but I don’t think America needs to be the only one to do it. I really think it’s important for the world, for the UN to come together and decide what is the best thing we can do to really come together as a bigger and more impactful source to end this horrid, horrid, thing that is happening.”

Courtney was heralded by numerous organizations for giving a succinct, passionate, well-thought-out answer in only 20 seconds!  And by the way, many of those organizations who praised her answer – weren’t necessarily complimentary of the Miss America Program as a whole!  The fact that she “won over” so many potential nay-sayers in her 20 seconds, speaks VOLUMES about her ability to connect with the judges and every-day Americans.  NO WONDER she was named the 1st Runner Up to Kira Kazantsev!!!

And while her interview wasn’t on the Miss America DVD – you can see what an amazing personality Courtney has at this video, just filmed a few weeks ago, as Courtney was busy promoting the upcoming Miss VA pageant!  Check it out here!

Over her 4 years of competing in the Miss America Organization, Courtney received over $70,000 in scholarships – and after her year as Miss VA is complete, she plans to go to graduate school (maybe law school) and get an advanced degree.  No doubt – we haven’t heard the last from Courtney Garrett – She will be one contestant the Junkies remember for years and years to come!

Oh – and here’s another fabulous article we found on Courtney, written a week after Miss America was over… But this blog is long enough already! LOL!  Feel free to check it out here when you get a moment!

Ok – So – with such an awesome representative from VA in 2014, who has the best chance of being named Miss VA 2015?  That information was released yesterday in the Junkies Newsletter!  Click here to sign up for the Junkies Newsletter and we’ll send you our latest predictions!  The latest newsletter is sent by 5pm EST every day – So have patience!  It’s worth the wait!

GOOD LUCK LADIES!!! JUNKIES LOVE VIRGINIA!!!

#BigJunkieLove