Dancing Queens

This past Saturday Miss Gem County, Megan Wilson,  had her at-risk prevention program, Dancing Queens, perform at Youth Appreciation Day in Emmett at Gem Island Sports Complex.

 Megan gave a quick speech about what Dancing Queens is all about. Aside from Polynesian dancing, it is a program comprised of seven lessons. The lessons covered range from peer pressure and self-esteem to  nutrition and others topics geared towards helping young girls avoid becoming involved in risky activities that could hinder her success. They performed a hula to “Hula Girl” and ended with a hip-shaking Tahitian to “Hinakura.”

Book Drive

Recently Miss Pocatello, Sierra Sandison, put together an event to promote literacy. Everything from a day of reading and fun to a book drive in Pocatello.

She partnered up with the Portneuf District Library for April and May. To kick it all off they worked together to have a Dr. Seuss party at the library. Sierra said, "We started by having story time, and I read a few Dr. Seuss books aloud to the kids! Then we let the kids do various activities that were set up all over the library. We had a "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" game, where the kids "fished" for prizes, a craft where they made Dr. Seuss bookmarks, free balloon animals provided by "Totally Twisted Balloon Animals", a snack table, face painting, and then a photo op place with Miss Pocatello, the Cat in the Hat, and Things 1 and 2!"

Everyone that came was asked to bring a book to donate to start off a book drive.They will have donation boxes set up for the next month. Additional drop off locations include Marigold's Event Center, and also Kiwi Loco. Kiwi Loco will give anyone who donates a used book a discount off their frozen yogurt!

If you are starting your spring cleaning and have books to donate, stop by one of the locations listed above.

Girl's Retreat

Last Friday, Miss Tri Counties, Laura Hampikian, had an opportunity to speak with a groul of middle school and high school girls about her experience with unhealthy relationships and to talk about my platform, healthy relationships. This was her second year attending the event, "I was blown away once again at the dedication of the mothers who put on this event, and the sincerity that the girls had as they listened to my story."

The event is put on by a group of mothers and volunteers in Potlach and Princeton. They put on an overnight retreat where the girls get to open up and talk about all kinds of things. Everything from makeup to friendships to relationships to manners is addressed through a series of inspirational speakers and workshops. Laura said, "It is such an awesome idea for small-town Idaho that I kind of wanted to kidnap it and make it my own! But no one could put it on like these volunteers do. They’re awesome."

Before she began talking, Laura had the girls write down anonymously any questions they had about relationships. She promised them that she would not share the questions they asked with anyone, but Laura was blown away at the seriousness of the questions that were asked. Laura said, " I often have parents ask me, 'Isn’t middle school too young to start educating our kids about relationships?' After hearing the questions that were asked, I think it was clear to everyone who heard them that it is indeed necessary that we address these issues at the middle school level and then continue on through high school. Thanks girls for opening up about these issues. I think that you really were able to help each other out."

Miss Idaho's Outstanding Teen 2013

Over the weekend all our titleholders, teen and miss, came together for a weekend of pageantry. On Friday night we held our final Miss local for the year crowning our final two contestants to be competing at state in July. Saturday was mega pageant day! The miss contestants met in the morning for orientation where they learned about paperwork, how the competition would work, plans for production, and all the other details they needed for state. The teen contestants had their state pageants, interview in the morning, on stage portion that night, and a winner crowned before 10 PM! The miss contestants were also there supporting their pageant sisters from the audience.

Congratulations to our 

Miss Idaho's Outstanding Teen Court!

Miss Idaho's Outstanding Teen || Abby Bitzenburg

Hannah Menzner

Macy Urrutia

Sierra Norman

Audrey Powell

Also congratulations to the award winners!

Community Support Winner || Hannah Menzner

Miracle Maker || Taylor Smiddy

Overall Talent Winner || Christina Christensen

Overall Fitness Winner || Macy Urrutia

Overall Interview || Macy Urrutia

Fourpoints Award || Macy Urrutia

 Miss Idaho's Outstanding Teen 2012, Ashley Southern, crowning Abby.

A huge thank you to Miss Southern. She was a perfect titleholder. Beautiful

inside and out, always working hard, and putting her best foot forward. We are

so proud of all she has accomplished and we look forward to seeing what the

future has in store for her!

Top left: Audrey Powell during evening gown

Top right: Kaitlyn Jewkes sharing her talent on the piano

Middle: Nicole Jerome sharing her talent, a ballet hip hop routine

Botom left: Hannah Menzner sharing her talent, a ballet routine

Bottom right: Sarah Foote during evening gown.

Photo credit: Susan Hessing Photography

Miss America 2014 Announced

The 2014 Miss America Competition Returns to Atlantic City, New Jersey Live from Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall on ABC, Sunday, September 15th  Dear State Executive Directors: It is our pleasure to announce the dates for the 2014 Miss America Competition! We will once again return to our pageant’s home in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The three nights of preliminaries will take place in Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall on September 10, 11 and 12 with the final broadcast live on ABC Sunday, September 15!  This historic return to Atlantic City will be a monumental event complete with our much anticipated Miss America “Show Us Your Shoes Parade” on Saturday, September 14.  Currently, we are working with the tourism groups in Atlantic City to create special discounted room rates for our Miss America family and we will announce it shortly on a first come/ first serve basis once that has been finalized. In addition, ticket forms for priority seating and discounted season tickets for our Miss America State Organizations and contestant’s families and friends will be made available in the coming months. The general public on-sale date will be announced at a later time.    This office will continue to support the Miss America's Outstanding Teen Pageant in Orlando in August. Even though the two national competitions are very close it is important that the entire country continue to support them. Although we do not know at this moment if there will be a requirement for your state titleholder to attend, we certainly hope you will send them to support their little sisters. It is anticipated that Tall Pony Productions will once again attend to update the 2014 National Contestants concerning Atlantic City.  As in prior years, State Executive Director attendance is encouraged, however it is optional.  The details for the National Contestants official arrival day in Atlantic City are still being considered and you will be notified as soon as everything is confirmed.  We are so excited to share the announcement with you and sincerely thank you for your help and your continued support.  As you now prepare for your State Pageants this summer, we wish you continued success and look forward to creating an incredible new era in our organization's history as we return to our birthplace, Atlantic City, New Jersey this September live on ABC! Sincerely,        Art McMaster                                                 Sam Haskell, III      President & CEO                                 Chairman of the Board