Miss America Catalina Tour

Miss America by Catalina Promotional Tour     Miss America and Catalina are pleased to announce the launch of a two-month promotional tour with Miss America and the 2013 Miss America contestants at 96 Walmart locations throughout the country! The promotional tour, titled "On the Road with Miss America" promotes the Miss America by Catalina swimwear collection available exclusively at Walmart and will run through June. The tour kicks-off this Saturday, May 18th with appearances by Miss America 2013  Mallory Hagan at the Westbury and Farmingdale, NY Walmart stores. Click here for a full list of contestants, dates and locations to see if Miss America or a contestant is coming to state near you!     ### Connect with us!

Women's and Children's Alliance Breakfast

Last week Dani Beckstrom, Miss Boise, and Meg Rowe, Miss Meridian, had breakfast at the annual Women's and Children's Alliance breakfast. The purpose of this event is to raise funds and bring awareness to the problem of violence against women and children. One of the statistics quoted is that one in four women will become a victim of violence from a partner.

Last year, the WCA helped over 500 women in Idaho get free from abusive situations. Also in the photo are Marcy Flansburg and Neil Ault from DL Evans Bank, who hosted their table.

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."