Miss America Preliminary Judges

THE MISS AMERICA ORGANIZATION ANNOUNCES "PRELIMINARY COMPETITION WEEK" JUDGES FOR THE NON-BROADCAST SEGMENT OF THE "2016 MISS AMERICA COMPETITION" ON SEPTEMBER 8, 9, & 10

Atlantic City, NJ (July 23, 2015) - The Miss America Organization, dick clark productions, and ABC announced today the panel of judges for the non-broadcast preliminary rounds of the "2016 Miss America Competition." This diverse group of judges will select the top 15 finalists competing for the title of Miss America 2016 during the preliminary week of competition on September 8th -10th in Atlantic City, NJ. The national broadcast of the 95th anniversary of the "2016 Miss America Competition" will take place on Sunday, September 13 (9:00 -11:00 p.m. ET live/PT tape-delayed), live from Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall on the ABC Television Network. The evening will be filled with glitz and glam when 52 women representing their home states and territories compete to bring home the crown and scholarship.

These judges will use their expertise in their respective fields to evaluate these young women and their incredible blend of intelligence, leadership, talent, physical fitness, and dedication to community service.

The panel of experts will evaluate the 52 contestants' performances in the following categories: Lifestyle and Fitness in Swimsuit, Evening Wear, Talent, Interview, and On-Stage questions. The preliminary judges are listed below (in alphabetical order by first name):

Brian Edwards

Multi-award winning Talent Producer, celebrity client relations rep and author of the most honored LGBT non-fiction book of 2014, Enter Miss Thang, including the National Indie Excellence Award for Best Autobiography of the Year, Edwards also served as the Talent Producer for three Emmy Award winning shows. In addition, he is the independent publicist whose solo campaigns have resulted in a record five stars on the Hollywood Walk-Of-Fame for: Joan Rivers, Donna Summer, Whoopi Goldberg, Rascal Flatts and Vanessa Williams. He recently produced the acclaimed Grammy Museum exhibits Donna Summer: Four Seasons Of Love and Joan Rivers: Can We Talk? at LA Live in Los Angeles.

James Brown III

- Actor/Model/Creative Director/Fashion Editor known for his extensive career on Broadway performing in ten productions including Rocky, Wicked, Memphis, The Color Purple and The Lion King. James was recently seen on TV in Peter Pan Live! on NBC, Forever (ABC), The Mysteries of Laura (NBC) and is starring in his first independent film Love For Passion as Jeffrey Love.

Jenni Pulos

- Emmy-nominated Co-Executive producer and personality on Bravo's hit television show "Flipping Out" and its spin-off series "Interior Therapy." This Greek American actress, comedian, writer, producer and Apollo-winning rapper released her first book, Grin and Bear It: How to Be Happy No Matter What Reality Throws Your Way to critical-acclaim in March of 2014. Jenni also co-wrote and performs the theme song for Bravo's "Watch What Happens Live" with Andy Cohen and her children's rap album "Old School Kids Beats" is available nationwide at Toys R Us with her first music video debuting this September on the season finale of "Flipping Out."

Kylene Barker McNeill

- Only a few months after entering her first local pageant, Miss Pulaski, Kylene Barker McNeill was crowned Virginia's first Miss America. A successful entrepreneur and business owner at 23, Kylene has served as a corporate spokesperson (Clairol, Made In the USA Council, and more), a fashion and beauty reporter (The Today Show, Regis and Kathie Lee), and an author (Southern Beauty and the audio book Stamina and Style). She has gone back to her Virginia roots by producing a bluegrass music CD, Christmas Along the Crooked Road. She has served on the Alumni Board of her alma mater, Virginia Tech, and is an active champion of Virginia's new state song, Our Great Virginia. Kylene is an avid golfer, and is excited to have achieved four holes-in-one! 

Lanny Griffith

- Notable D.C. lobbyist serving as CEO of BGR Group, known for helping companies navigate major mergers and acquisitions, and securing funding for universities and medical research. Lanny is a founder of the Trust for the National Mall and currently serves on the Board of Directors. He worked closely with both Bush administrations, serving in the White House in 1989 as Special Assistant to the President and national chairman of the Bush-Cheney 2000 Entertainment Task Force.

Noah Alexander

- Noah Alexander has for the past 20 years brought his expert fashion-eye to Ermenegildo Zegna, the luxury men's fashion house and is their highest awarded sales professional in the U.S. Noah sits on the Board of Directors for the Rodeo Drive Committee and is on the planning committee for the Lupus LA Hollywood Handbag Ladies Luncheon. In 2008 Noah was a guest judge for The Little Black Dress Contest on Miss America's "Countdown to the Crown."

Rachel Zalis

- Rachel Zalis, one of Hollywood's premier fashion and lifestyle experts, is currently a style contributor for "E! News," "Access Hollywood," "KTLA Morning News" and Women's Health Magazine. She is a former Editor at Glamour and Cosmopolitan magazines, as well as a contributor to Life & Style Weekly, and has frequently appeared on "The Today Show," "The View," "Dr. Oz" and "Showbiz Tonight." Rachel also hosted the WE makeover series "Secrets Revealed" and produced the STARZ documentary "Fashion in Film."

Hosts and judges for the live show will be announced in the coming weeks.

Tickets for "The 2016 Miss America Competition" are now on sale and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com. For more information on "The 2016 Miss America Competition," please visit Miss America Organization's website at www.missamerica.org.

For the latest news, be sure to follow Miss America on social and join the conversation by using the official hashtag for the show, #MissAmerica.

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Join the Conversation: #MissAmerica

About The Miss America Organization The Miss America Organization, a 501(c) 4 non-profit corporation, provides millions of dollars in annual college scholarship assistance making it the largest scholarship program for women in the United States. MAO is comprised of 52 licensed organizations, which includes all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. MAO contestants contribute over 500,000 hours of community service annually and have raised over $10 million for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals since 2007.

About dick clark productions dick clark productions (dcp) is the world's largest producer and proprietor of televised live event entertainment programming with the "Academy of Country Music Awards," "American Country Countdown Awards," "American Music Awards," "Billboard Music Awards," "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest," "Golden Globe Awards," "Hollywood Film Awards" and the "Streamy Awards." Weekly television programming includes "So You Think You Can Dance" from 19 Entertainment, a division of CORE Media Group and dcp; "KNOCK KNOCK LIVE" from XIX Entertainment and dcp, "World's Funniest" from Jukin Media and dcp; as well as "BOOM!" from Keshet DCP, the joint venture between Keshet International (KI), the global distribution and production arm of Keshet Media Group and DC Media, the parent company of dcp. dcp also owns one of the world's most unique and extensive entertainment archive libraries with more than 55 years of award-winning shows, historic programs, specials, performances and legendary programming. For additional information, visit www.dickclark.com.

Media Credentials To apply for media credentials to cover "The 2016 Miss America Competition," please click here and fill out the online form. The credential application process closes Friday, August 14, 2015.

Miss Idaho 2015 Scholarships and Awards

This year the Miss Idaho Organization was able to award over $40,000 in scholarship to the women that competed thanks to donations from our sponsors, local businesses, and advertisements sold by the ladies competing.

In addition to the awards listed below there was a Miss Idaho Marketing Incentive given to all the ladies as they sold ad pages. This year we are proud to announce over $13,500 in scholarship will be awarded to contestants who choose to participate. Each contestant who brought in advertising funds will receive 30% back in what they raised. 

Kalie Wright: Miss Magic Valley - Miss Idaho 2015

Miss Idaho 2015

$10,000

Marketing Award

$500

Lifestyle and Fitness Preliminary Winner

$400

Talent Preliminary Winner

$400

Kylee Solberg: Miss Meridian

1st Runner Up

$5,000

Business Women of Tomorrow Award

$500

Miss Influential - Little Sister Program Award

$1,500

Miso Jang: Miss Pocatello

2nd Runner Up

$2,000

Laura Hampikian: Miss Capital City

3rd Runner Up

$1,500

State Community Service Award

$1,000

Talent Preliminary Winner

$400

Best Musician Award

$250

Taylor Lance: Miss Tri Counties

4th Runner Up

$1,000

Lifestyle and Fitness Preliminary Winner

$400

Interview Winner

$400

Kaitlyn Anderson: Miss Southeastern Idaho

Top Eleven Semi-Finalist

$500

Fourpoints Award

$500

Christina Christensen: Miss Treasure Valley

Top Eleven Semi-Finalist

$500

Talent Preliminary Winner

$400

Social Media Award

$500

Katelyn Strobel: Miss Idaho Falls

Top Eleven Semi-Finalist

$500

Miracle Maker Award

$500

Audrey Powell: Miss Nampa

Top Eleven Semi-Finalist

$500

Darbi Bragg: Miss Rexburg

Top Eleven Semi-Finalist

$500

Alex Rowley: Miss Western Idaho

Top Eleven Semi-Finalist

$500

Sarah Jensen: Miss Ada County

State Academic Award

$1000

Julie Malone: Miss Twin Falls

Rookie Interview Award

$500

Liz Baker: Miss Southern Idaho

Rookie Talent Award

$500

Morgan Hill: Miss Bonneville County

Idaho Outdoor Heritage Award

$500

Dani Beckstrom: Miss Boise

Bert Parks Award

$350

2015 State Judges

The time has come! If you have been waiting to find out who the Miss Idaho 2015 judges are, the anticipation is over. We are excited to announce and introduce to you our 2015 judges for the Miss Idaho Pageant. 

Lori Jean Otter became the First Lady of Idaho in 2007. Born in Pensacola, Florida, she moved to Idaho in the 70’s when her father retired from the Navy. Miss Lori quickly adapted to Idaho and developed an affinity for the outdoors, animals and athletics.

The First lady graduated from Kimberly High School, earned an A.A. from the College of Southern Idaho, and completed her Bachelor of Science degree at Boise State University. With a degree in Education and Physical Education, Lori spent 12 years teaching and coaching at the middle school level. After earning a Master’s degree in 2004 from Northwest Nazarene University in Curriculum and Instruction, with an emphasis in Educational Leadership, Lori spent two years as a school administrator.

Combining her love of Idaho and passion for education and literacy, the First Lady has written a series of 5 children’s books. The Ida Jones series features a young barnstorming pilot who seeks adventure and teaches Idaho history to readers as she flies her airplane through the State.

In her free time, you will find the First Lady spoiling her six beautiful grandchildren, riding her horse, playing tennis or using a paintbrush to create watercolor art on canvas.

Tucker Robb has been a Boise native since 2002 and loves the area. He graduated from Boise State with a Construction Management degree & minor in business. Tucker spends his free time fishing, hunting, mountain biking, rafting, trail running, and playing city league sports; basically anything active and in the great outdoors.

He is also a huge NFL fan, GO 49ERS! He is involved with and enjoys participating in many community organizations; Special Olympics coach for 5 years, Boy Scouts of America, Habitat for Humanity, Idaho Associated General Contractors (AGC), and the Boise State Alumni Association. Tucker currently serves as the Chair of the AGC Construction Leadership Council Committee and the Vice Chair of the Boise State Construction Mgmt. Alumni Association. Tucker has been married to his best friend for 2 years. They have no kids (yet) but they do have a 100lb German Shepherd that takes all the attention!

Tucker works for a commercial construction contractor here in Boise, HC Company, and loves working on technically challenging projects and watching the work progress. He looks forward to serving as a judge for the 2015 Miss Idaho competition. 

Melissa Rogers is best known for being the marketing director for the online retailer, PinkBlush. Standing up for real beauty, Melissa led the way for PinkBlush to be one of the first clothing lines to refuse photoshopping model images, in hopes that women shoppers could see true reflections of how clothing fits. 

Working to style countless celebrities and notable personalities, Melissa is the go-to celebrity stylist for modest apparel, having dressed the cast of The Bachelor, The Bachelorette and being a contributing fashion consultant for features in Vogue UK, InStyle, and countless television news programs.

Bo Miller is a native of Amory, Mississippi, Bo is a graduate of Mississippi State University. He is currently the Director of the Amory Regional Museum and also involved in his family’s restaurant business. Bo has been involved with the Miss America Program over 30 years and is currently the director of the Miss Amory & Miss Tombigbee Pageants, preliminaries to Miss Mississippi. Bo has judged Miss America preliminaries in Nebraska, Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi. 

He is the Past President of the Miss Mississippi Local Pageant Directors Association, Past President of the Mississippi Museums Association, is on the board of directors of Mississippi Tourism Association and was recently appointed as Chairman of the North Monroe County Community Foundation Board. He was honored as Amory’s Outstanding Citizen for 2014. Making his first run for public office, Bo is the Democratic nominee for Mississippi House of Representatives District 20 in the general election to be held in November.

Julie Ross Jerome currently resides in Boise, ID, where she is an Account Delivery Manager for Hewlett Packard. Julie was Miss Oregon 1981 and was a top-ten semi-finalist in the Miss America Pageant. In addition, she held the title of Miss Oregon United Teenager, and went on to MC, direct and judge numerous teen pageants. She has also judged several state pageants in the Miss America system. Julie has a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from New England Conservatory. She is married to David Jerome and has three children: Marissa, Mark and Nicole, who is the current Miss Idaho High School.

Not Bad for a First Timer

In November of 2014 I decided I was bored. With only 3 more semesters left in my undergraduate degree, I felt unsatisfied in my experiences. I had accomplished a lot no doubt. I was in fact proud of everything I had said yes to and the person I had become – no regrets. But I wanted more. I believe it is very important to challenge yourself. If we are not growing or learning we are not living. So there I was asking myself, what else is there?

Rewind to September 2002 - I was a third grader. We watched as Katie Harman not only wowed the judges with her amazing vocal performance, but took home the crown as Miss America. I watched in awe. Miss Oregon won. The place I was born! Just one state over. For the first time the dream of competing in Miss America seemed tangible.

It was that moment that popped into my head during my boredom. I began to ask myself, “Why not?” There were many fears.  I knew I did not know anything, or frankly anyone in the Idaho pageant world. I knew people would tilt their heads. “Why the heck is she doing pageants?” I knew it would take some financial investing. I knew it meant some sacrifice of time…and Chickfila nuggets. Failure was one thing I wasn’t scared of, and that’s what convinced me. The only failure to be scared of was not trying. And thus there I was, sending in my first pieces of paperwork with two weeks to go until my first pageant.

The point of this blog is not to blab about my whole pageant story, although I would be happy to share it with you over coffee or tea some time. This is indeed just a small sliver of my thoughts. No, the point of this blog is to say that when I thought I had nothing else to learn at my position in life the Miss Idaho Organization pushed me further.  In the most humble way, I want you to see that someone who is actively involved, loves public speaking, has a large and vast community service resume, and blah blah blah can STILL be challenged immensely through this program.

I know you have heard a million times that “we are not just stupid beauty queens”, but it is the truth. This group of women is incredibly driven and passionate with purpose. And that is where my brain has been flipped over and shaken up. I have always known that I have wanted to change the world. My hope is that everyone who comes in contact with me has a little better morning, day, or life because of that occurrence. I yearn that those who are around me feel comfortable and accepted the way they are. My wish is that because of my fiery spirit and loving nature that they will be inspired to conquer and claim something incredible. But never in my life before working to compete in Miss Idaho 2015 have I ever been challenged to know “how”. I guess you always think a magical fairy tale will happen and you will find yourself feeding starving children in Africa or something. But through every titleholder, past titleholder, director, and board member I began to realize I had to claim that fairy tale. I did not have to wait. In fact it seemed almost selfish to wait. The world was waiting, and I needed to deliver.

Want to know my how? I hope you all will join us on June 19^th and 20^th as I strive to make my positive mark on our beautiful state and hope to begin to change the world through the title of Miss Idaho.

Taylor Lance

Miss Tri-Counties 2015

Miss Idaho Contestant Selection

WELCOME TO THE 2015 MISS IDAHO
CONTESTANT SELECTION!

This page will automatically refresh every 15 seconds.

Each contestant will be alotted 5 minutes. Once your 5 minutes are up, if you have not selected your spot you will go into the top position. Call Deidre once your name appears in the number one slot.

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CONTESTANT ORDER

ALPHA
1. Jenna Adkins - Vocal
2. Kylee Solberg - Dance
3. Ashley Smith - Vocal
4. Aubry Campbell - Dance
5. Jaden Rockwell - Vocal
6. Hailee Anderson - Dance
7. Kaitlyn Anderson - Piano
8. Sarah Jensen - Piano
9. Dani Beckstrom - Vocal
10. Alex Rowley - Dance
11. Megan Wilson - Dance
12. Darbi Bragg - Vocal
13. Kalie Wright - Vocal

SIGMA
14. Liz Baker - Dance
15. Katarina Schweitzer - Rifle Drill
16. Audrey Powell - Dance
17. Taylor Lance - Vocal
18. Kristen Tatilian - Piano
19. Macie Mavity - Dance
20. Julie Malone - Monologue
21. Christina Christensen - Vocal
22. Morgan Hill - Dance
23. Miso Jang - Dance
24. Laura Hampikian - Vocal
25. Katelyn Strobel - Piano

COMPETITION ORDER

Alpha

Interview on Thursday afternoon

Talent

Swim

Intermission

On stage

Evening Wear

Sigma

Interview on Friday morning

Swim

On stage question

Intermission

Talent

Evening Wear

Friday's program

Talent (Alpha)

Swim (Alpha + Sigma)

On stage (Sigma)

Intermission

On stage (Alpha)

Talent (Sigma)

Eveningwear (Alpha and Sigma)