For years, we’ve been saying essentially the same thing when we write our blog on Puerto Rico.  It’s the truest definition of “a broken record” if we ever heard one.  Honestly, you can go back through the archeives of this blog over the past several years, choose the Puerto Rico post and somewhere within it, you’ll find the following phrase…

“Why didn’t I take that Spanish internship to Mexico when I was in college?” (And don’t you love how Miss Puerto Rico 2013 Shenti Lauren seems to be asking us the same question in her photo above???).

Had we done it – we would be in much better shape when it comes to writing about the lovely ladies who have competed and been named Miss Puerto Rico – (not to mention, a thousand times more marketable in the workforce and able to function beyond the survival level during vacations to Cancun).

So – here’s the deal… Just because we can’t find an article written in English describing how lovely Shenti Lauren, Miss PR 2013 is – it doesn’t means she’s not lovely indeed.  After all – she made her way to the Miss America stage – and we all know you don’t make it to Miss America unless you have something special.

So – here’s to Shenti Lauren, Miss Puerto Rico 2013 as she pursues her graduate degree in meteorology!  ALL THE BEST!!! 🙂

As you might be able to guess, when it comes to making our picks for Miss PR, we basically throw a few thoughts against the wall and then beg for one of our picks to win.  Seriously, have you ever tried to research the competency of pageant women when all their accolades are written IN SPANISH??? LOL!  You can’t make this stuff up, people…  Life is so hard…  So, without further adieu…

Junkies Say Here’s Who to Watch:   

Stephanie Ramos – former Miss KY contestant
Rubhi Garcia – attended Miss Sweetheart ’13
Glenys Carbonell – Miss Teen World PR contestant ’13
Beverly Alvarez – Top 15 Miss PR Universe
Yarelis Salgado – Model, stunning
Jelissa Reynoso – another model, stunning

JUNKIES LOVE PUERTO RICO!!! 🙂  STAY IN SCHOOL, KIDS!!!  TAKE THE INTERNSHIP!!!  🙂

MAJ

Most people reading this blog know first hand how hard it is to lose a pageant.  After all, VERY FEW people cruise to the Miss America title having never lost a single pageant in their entire lifetime.

But just because you know what it feels like to stand on a stage, in front of hundreds of people and lose a pageant, it doesn’t mean you know what it’s like to finish as the 1st runner up 2 years in a row…

Miss Massachusetts 2013, Amanda Narciso does.  It seems like every year, there’s at least one contestant who has been in those shoes… finishing as the 1st runner up 2 years in a row.  To come so close back to back – and then have the gumption to come back for the 3rd year in a row takes chutzpah indeed!

Amanda had been competing since she was 17 – so no doubt, she was elated to be named Miss Mass after all of her time in the program.  That kind of tenacity will serve Amanda well in the years to come – and we wish her all the best as she moves into life “post pageant” 🙂

AND – Miss Massachusetts is celebrating their 75th Anniversary this year!  Junkies offer big CONGRATULATIONS and know it’s going to be a Fabulous Show!!! Who will be the 75th Miss Mass???

Junkies Say Here’s Who to Watch:

Meagan Fuller – 1st RU ’13, Prelim Talent and SS, 1st RU Miss Sweetheart, MA Jr. Miss ’10, 1st RU MA OT ’09
Brianna Bostwick – 2nd RU ’12, MA OT ’09
Nicole DiBlasi -3rd RU and prelim Talent ’13, 4th RU ’12
Lauren Kuhn – 4th runner up WA ’10, Top 8 ’11, Top 10 ’12, 1st runner up OT, 2nd runner up ’10 WA Teen USA
Michelle Nigro – Patriot’s Cheerleader, pageant veteran
Kira Kopazek – Non-finalist talent award ’13
Courtney Stern – Top 10, interview award ’13
Jillian Zucco – Top 10 ’13
Victoria DeKoatz – Top 10 ’13

JUNKIES LOVE MASSACHUSETTS!!!  GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!! 🙂

MAJ

Miss Connecticut 2013 Kaitlyn Tarpey, brings ‘stubbornness’ to a whole new level…

Kaitlyn was admitted to the hospital on a weekend with a collapsed lung due to a rare disease called Lemierre’s Syndome.  Doctors told her there was a 90% chance she wouldn’t even live until Monday.

“I said, ‘No, that’s not happening and you’re wrong,'”

“I have a very Type-A personality. I’m fine now, but it was scary… I’m so thankful for my parents, who raised me to be athletic, in a health-conscious household. It was a habit for me to be healthy, and if I didn’t have that sort of upbringing, I wouldn’t have made it. So that was the first lesson I took from that. The second lesson was everything in life is mental. Absolutely everything. I think if I laid back in that bed and said, ‘Okay, I’m not going to live to see Monday. I’ll say my goodbyes,’ I don’t think I would have made it. But I’m so stubborn.”

Dang Girl…  Defying doctors who give you a 1 out of 10 shot of survival – is pretty much as stubborn as you can get!  No wonder Kaitlyn finished in the Top 10 at Miss America!  She probably told everyone she would – and they had no choice but to believe her (and that’s a compliment!)  LOL! 🙂

Truth be known, Junkies have a little “Type-A” personality in us as well… So, Kaitlyn’s attitude can’t help but make us smile 🙂  It also makes us kick ourselves for not picking her to make our Top 15 list at Miss America!  What were we thinking???  Junkies wish you all the best Kaitlyn!  It’s pretty darn obvious you’re going to succeed, because failure (or dying) isn’t part of your nature! 🙂

When it comes to Miss Connecticut 2014 – Kaitlyn’s Miss America performance has certainly generated a strong amount of interest in following in her footsteps!  Please note – Kaitlyn’s Top 10 finish was the first for Miss CT in 12 years!  Who can put Connecticut on the Miss America map again?

Junkies Say Here’s Who to Watch:

Acacia Courtney – 2nd runner up NY ’13, Top 10 NY ’12, 3rd runner up CT Teen USA ’11, CT OT ’09
Valerie Voccio – 2nd runner up ’13, CT DYW ’11, Talent Award
Elizabeth Wong – 3rd runner up ’13, law student
Brianna Munoz – 2nd runner up MA Teen USA ’08, 4th runner up MA Teen USA ’07, Patriot’s Cheerleader ’11, Top 15 MA USA ’11 
Molly Westfall – Prelim Talent ’13, strong dancer
Kirsten Yerger – 4th runner up ’10, Prelim SS
Alexandria Puglisi – Top 10 ’12 and Overall Talent ’12
Alyssa Taglia – CT Teen USA ’10, 1st runner up ’13

GOOD LUCK LADIES!!!  JUNKIES LOVE KAITLYN TARPEY AND CONNECTICUT!!! 🙂

MAJ

Like so many Miss America contestants, Miss New Mexico Alexis Duprey lived her platform.  Called “The Power of One” and focusing on the unique challenges single-parent families face, Duprey said when she talks with children, she often quotes one of The Junkies’ favorite movies, “Mrs. Doubtfire”…

Who will take her place?

It’s an interesting race in New Mexico… Some returning faces – and a few rookies make this state one we’re sure to watch!

Junkies Say Here’s Who to Watch:

Gabrielle Torres – 1st runner up ’13
Ashley Fresquez – 3rd runner up NM Teen USA ’13, NM OT ’09
Jessica Burson – numerous awards in high school and college – beautiful
Elizabeth Nelson – 1st runner up NM Teen USA ’13
Stephanie Chavez – 2nd runner up ’13, 4th runner up ’12
Taylor Rey – Prelim Talent winner in ’13
Christina Chavez – older sister to Stephanie Chavez, 1st time competing
Marissa Livingston – Former White House intern, first time at Miss NM

WHOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOO FOR NEW MEXICO!!!  GOOD LUCK!!!

MAJ

Two weeks after Miss America, on September 29th, 2013, Miss Louisiana Jaden Leach posted the following to her Facebook page…

          “No one ever goes into Miss America expecting to lose.  If that was the case, then why spend countless hours bending over backwards to make sure you are the best possible version of yourself.  So, let me be the first to admit that I was disappointed when my name was not called out into the top 15.  In addition, I was confused, sad, mad, and a million other emotions all at one time (which I didn’t realize was even possible).  Instead of trying to sort out my own feelings and not enjoying the last two hours I had of my Miss America experience, I decided that time would be better spent comforting my new sisters.”

Jaden continued… “A note to all: Something I have realized over the last week is that Miss Louisiana is not part of the Miss America experience, but Miss America is part of the Miss Louisiana experience.  By no way, shape, or form does placing at Miss America determine the type of reign I will have as Miss Louisiana.  It does not take a Miss America placement on my resume’ to leave a legacy as Miss Louisiana.  I will be sure to prove this with my entire being over the next nine months.  The Lord has a HUGE plan for me.  So it’s time to make headlines for some really good and big reasons!  Who’s with me?”

Boom.  Talk about one of the most grounded response we’ve seen yet!  She’s right!  And we’ll even go one step further and say – that “title” you think you “need to succeed” – if you have your head in the right place, you’ll succeed whether you win or lose.  BIG THANKS to Jaden for ‘keeping it real’ throughout her reign as Miss LA 🙂

And now – who’s likely to be named Miss LA 2014?  Well – this one isn’t super easy to predict – but here’s our best shot!

Junkies Say Here’s Who to Watch:

Julianne Tippen – 2nd RU ’13 and Prelim SS, 3rd RU at Miss Sweetheart
Lacey Sanchez – 1st runner up ’13, Prelim SS
Tori Thompson – Top 10 and Prelim Talent ’13, Top 10 ’12
Amy Matherne – Prelim Talent ’13
Kelly Bernard – LA OT ’09, Top 10 at MAOT
Deon Sumer – LA OT ’12
Chelsi Hefner – Top 10 ’13 and ’12
Lauren Ford – Top 10 ’13 and ’12
Hailey Grey – Top 10 ’11
Ginger Douglas – 1st RU Miss LA Teen NAM ’12, Talent Winner
Breanna Collier – Junkie Dark Horse – the girl can sing!

We’re also going to give a shout-out to Megan Lee – If you saw Lauren Vizza’s crowning video from Miss LA ’11, you might remember a blond girl behind Lauren being completely overwhelmed with emotion when Lauren was named Miss LA ’12…  That girl was Megan!  LOL!  If you don’t remember seeing it before, you can watch it here…  lol!  It’s Awesome – She’s SOOOO HAPPY for Lauren!!! 🙂

And for the record, if you’re one of these people who appreciates what we do, but you still think the word “Junkie” is a bit much – the above information about Megan Lee should pretty much prove our addiction is real.  Who remembers crap like that?  Founding Junkie does… that’s who… Dear Lord help us all…

GOOD LUCK LADIES!!!  JUNKIES LOVE THE BAYOU STATE!!!  GEAUX LOUISIANA!!!

MAJ