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

We’d like to take this post to tell you a little bit about one of the AMAZING events that took place during Miss America week in Atlantic City… After a long day of rehearsals, the contestants were treated to dinner at Buddakan (some ladies said it was the best meal of the entire 2 weeks!) – and then an evening of SHOPPING at The Pier Shops at Caesar’s!!!  The photos of the girls were FABULOUS and so much fun – including these shots of Miss Colorado 2013, Meg Kardos…

The ladies received a crazy amount of gifts from generous retailers – including perfume, nail polish, shoes, Michael Kors aviator sunglasses, True Religion jeans, gift certificates and MANY OTHER GOODIES – All for FREE!!!  Talk about being treated like a Queen!  What girl doesn’t love to shop!?!

By all accounts, it seems as if this shopping trip was a HUGE surprise to our titleholders – and all of them were exceedingly grateful to the Pier Shops at Caesar’s via social media.  The ladies received so many items, The Junkies actually began to wonder if they had enough room to bring everything home in their already over-loaded/mega-stuffed suitcases!  I’m guessing ‘where there’s a will, there’s a way’! 🙂  Big Thanks to the Pier Shops as Caesar’s for their generosity! 🙂

And now – who’s likely to be named Miss Colorado 2014???  Well…

Junkies Say Here’s Who to Watch:

Shannon Patilla – 1st runner up ’13
Stacey Cook – 2nd runner up ’13, 1st runner up ’12, 2nd runner up ’11
Martha Price – 2nd runner up CT ’10, Top ’10 ’11 and ’12
Miranda Mason – 4th runner up ’12
Chelsi Rose – CO Jr. Teen ’10, CO American Coed ’11, NAM CO Teen 1st runner up ’12
Kristin Schubert – 4th runner up ’13, CO Cinderella Teen ’09 – Top 10 at Nationals
Alasyn Zimmerman – KS OT ’08, attends college at Univ of Colorado

JUNKIES WISH ALL THE BEST TO THOSE IN THE MILE-HIGH STATE!!! 🙂

MAJ

When you’re 10 years old and you’ve just been diagnosed with Tourrette’s Syndrome, it’s a bit much to expect you could grow up to become Miss Arizona.  But Jennifer Smestad, isn’t your typical girl.

Once diagnosed, Jennifer was on all kinds of medication – and in her words, she was “exhausted” because nothing seemed to work.  She even considered taking her own life because she was constantly sore from the head-twitches and embarrassed to go out in public.

Jennifer finally found relief in Chinese acupuncture – and the results came almost immediately.  After a few months, her condition had improved dramatically – the ‘ticking’ stopped and her anxiety decreased as well.

Now – Jennifer is a super-photogenic girl with a beautiful voice…  And she uses her personal experience to spread the word about Tourette’s and how natural medicine might be the answer for those struggling with the disease.

“I have been able to inspire others to try acupuncture, and that’s what it’s been really all about – inspiring others, giving others hope,” she said.

Junkies wish Jennifer all the best in whatever direction she chooses to go.  We know many families have been touched through your involvement in the Miss America organization – and now, they have HOPE! 🙂

And now – on to the 2014 competition!  If you like Baton Twirlers – this one’s for you!  A quarter of the contestants (5 out of 20) will be twirling for their talent!  But will a twirler win???

Junkies Say Here’s Who to Watch:   

Meredith Winnefeld – 4th runner up ’13, CO OT ’11 and Top 10 at MAOT (Twirler)
Katelyn Neimec – 2nd runner up ’13, AZ OT ’09 (Twirler)
Rachel Dyckman ‘ AZ US ’12, 1st runner up AZ Teen USA ’10, 2nd runner up ’09
Kieran Noe – 3rd runner up ’13
Lauren McBurnett – new, graduated ASU at 18 in Engineering, now pursing her PHD
Amy Watts – Non-finalist interview award ’13 (Twirler)
Savanna Fletcher – AZ Cinderella Miss ’06
Hannah Morgan – Worked with Teresa Scanlan this year (Twirler)

GOOD LUCK LADIES!!!  JUNKIES LOVE AZ!!! 🙂

MAJ