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There She Is...







Last night, a new Miss America was crowned: she was Miss New York Mallory Hagan, 23, from Brooklyn New York. The 92nd (!!) Miss America pageant took place at PH Live/Planet Hollywood Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, the same venue where the Miss Universe 2012 pageant occurred last month.In terms of a TV show/production, I actually think the Miss America pageant was better--highlighting more of Las Vegas, all its offerings and I also thought the surprise inclusion of a "Judges Favorite" in the top 15 (thereby making it 16 total) was great and the quick final Q & A was wonderful as well.







Hagan defeated Miss South Carolina Ali Rogers, who took second, and Miss Oklahoma Alicia Clifton, who finished third and MissWyoming Lexie Madden and Miss Iowa Mariah Cary, who ended fourth and fifth respectively.










The new Miss America wins a $50,000 college scholarship and gets the crown for one year. Her platform was stopping child sexual abuse.She is expected to spend her title reign on a nationwide speaking
tour and raising money for the Children's Miracle Network, the
organization's official charity.




Mallory Hagan (above) is originally from Alabama and not new to the pageant scene. Mallory
competed in the Miss Alabama and Miss Alabama's Outstanding Teen--and
then after moving to Brooklyn N.Y., she won Miss Brooklyn 2010, Miss New
York City 2011 and Miss New York 2012.







Crystal tap Dancin': Mallory Hagan won the Las Vegas beauty pageant after
tap dancing to James Brown's "Get Up Off of That Thing" (above) and answering a
question about whether armed guards belong in grade schools by saying we
should not fight violence with violence.




The Gown: Mallory Hagan, Miss New York--and the new Miss America-wore a one shoulder white jersey gown. It was simple, elegant and one of my favorites. There was some odd rippling on the side where her zipper is (and you could see this during the live telecast and while she did her evening gown walk), but overall, this was a nice modern choice. I also thought it was good styling to add oversized jeweled earrings and cuff. Clean gown, elaborate accessories.

Gown Score: 9.4



My Best-to-Not So Best Gowns of Miss America 2013 Finals:




Miss Wyoming Lexie Madden: For me, my two TOP gowns were the ones worn by Miss Wyoming and Miss Tennessee (see below)--it was basically a tie (with Miss New York/new Miss America coming in Fourth in terms of the Best Gowns). I thought Miss Wyoming's gown--a black sequined dress with nude-lined top section and high side slit--was very "red carpet-ready", impacting and a strong choice. She looked GORGEOUS! It helps that she looked SIX FOOT tall and perfect model-size.

Gown Score: 9.7




Miss Tennessee Chandler Lawson: My other top favorite in terms of the gowns worn by the Top Ten semi-finalists was this ivory gown on Miss Tennessee. It was again, very simple and to-the-point--not filled with unnecessary gown "bells & whistles"..i.e. feathers, horsehair'ed stiffened ruffles, etc. It was clean and elegant featuring a sweetheart neckline and yes, THAT side slit (them pageant girls just can't stay away from a side slit!). It also had beautiful turquoise and silver oversized jeweled crystals framing the neckline and in the back. If I am not mistaken, it was very Gionni Straccia (the Venezuelan pageant gown go-to designer)...




It had elements of these gowns above--designed by Gionni Straccia--worn by past beauty queens Morgan Woolard, Miss Oklahoma USA 2010 (left) and Marelisa Gibson Miss Venezuela 2010 (right) .

In terms of a Gown Score for Miss Tennessee, I give her a 9.7.




Miss Washington Mandy Schendel: Great gown, elegant, clean, yet with just the right amount of crystals to give it special "sparkle" onstage and well, make the gown seem "important" enough--without looking tackety-tacky. I thought the fit was good and the black color was a wise choice--especially with her blond hair and especially since it seems A LOT of those Miss America contestants think white is the gown color of choice to win the crown (ooops, I guess it was!!).

Gown Score: 9.5





Miss Iowa Mariah Cary: I know, I know, her name! God bless her. Miss Iowa is only 20 years old and after doing the math, that means she was born ONE YEAR after singer Mariah Carey's "Emotions" album came out! (1991) So, momma must have been either listening to that record while doing the naughty...or while giving birth (it also helped that her last name was very very close). But I digress...let's discuss the gown: Mariah (the beauty pageant contestant not the singer), wore a strapless black taffeta and velvet with a "mermaid Lite" silhouette. I thought this was a nice choice and it was one of my Top Five favorites in the Miss America 2013 Finals gowns.

 Gown Score: 9.3




Miss Texas DaNae Couch: Next on my list, I would put Miss Texas' gown. She wore a one shoulder and one sleeved fully sparkled gown featuring iridescent crystals on a nude-colored background. It was three steps from looking like a Figure Skating costume but I guess that was why I partially liked it. It was A LOT of gown--it also had a side cut-out, some backless detail--and I'm just not sure all that other stuff was necessary. But leave it to pageant gown makers to take gowns to another level...

Gown Score: 9.2








 Miss Maryland Joanna Guy: Here's another one-sleeve gown--this time on the cutie Miss Maryland. On stage last night, she looked like a US Olympic Gymnast. Speaking of...McKayla Maroney, 2012 Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast was one of the judges and I swear Miss Maryland could have been her sister! In terms of her gown, it was white, had delicate crystals and yes, that one sleeve detail. Again, it was very Figure Skating Costume and well, just cute. Not oustanding but cute. 

Gown Score: 9.0





Miss Alabama Anna Laura Bryan: Anna Laura wore another white gown--this time in a brocade fabrication with sequin embroidery. It looked slightly heavy but I did like the shape and cap sleeve detail. It didn't have much "sex appeal" but then again, we leave that for the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants, Miss America is Miss USA's "not-so-naughty" sister.

Gown Score:  8.9




Miss South Carolina Ali Rogers: Ali was the favorite to win--at least as an arm chair viewer that's what I kept thinking the entire time. She ended up First Runner Up and almost capturing the crown. Ali just looked like a Miss America, the perfect US beauty--tall, blond, sweet...Barbie come to life. Her gown choice was a bit odd. I appreciate that it was "different" and the elaborate applique oversize solid/see-though swirls. I also like the drop shoulders but I didn't think it needed a slit. Instead it should have had a nice train and been covered.

Gown Score: 8.8




Miss Illinois Megan Irvin: Two words: Oh Dear!! I give her points for having the chutzpah for wearing this concoction of a gown--but again: Oh No She Didn't, is all I kept saying from my couch as I saw this on my TV screen! Megan wore a red strapless SUPER Mermaid number with way too many horsehair'ed stiffened ruffles. Needless to say: it's A LOT of gown, plus the bouffant hair, plus the chandelier earrings...it all adds up to something I'd rather see on RuPaul.

Gown Score: 8.5





Miss Oklahoma Alicia Clifton: I loved Alicia, she was great and I was rooting for her last night as I watched the pageant. But what was not so great, was her choice of gown. While I liked the color, the style of the gown was very "Mother-of-the-Bride"--the neckline, the mini-gathered torso and high-hip detail...it was--dare I say--aging--on her. This was not an innovative gown--even for beauty pageants--and certainly not something one would see on the red carpet--maybe on the wife of a producer...but not on an A-list actress.

Gown Score: 8.0




Miss Indiana MerrieBeth Cox: Speaking of Mother-of-the-Bride...Miss Indiana. This gown was not right for the pageant. This was more for a fancy wedding. It just looked like something a woman buys at a local department store in the "after Five" dress section. Nothing against that but for Miss America, I think it's time to call, hire, and pay, for the "big guns"!

Gown Score: 7.5





Well, that's it for now--my Top-to-Not-so-Top List of evening gowns form last night's Miss America 2013 Finals. Congrats to Mallory Hagan, the new Miss America! Have a great year working as America's Beauty Ambassador--and don't forget to look FABULOUS while doing it!

Pageant Fab!








First off: HAPPY NEW YEAR! Hope everyone had a safe and hopefully fabulous New Year's Eve. Now, speaking of fabulous (nice segway!), I wanted to cap off my "Best Of 2012" Lists here with one of my favorite topics: Beauty Pageant Gowns. Now, I realize that there were over 100,000 pageants that occur EVERY YEAR in the US alone (!) and I'm sure there might have been some pretty ones at, say, "Miss Arkansas USA" or "Miss Hawaii America" pageants, for example. The Blog of Will Henderson, thePageantGuy.com has done a wonderful "Top 10 Pageant Gowns of 2012" recap, but I wanted to concentrate on the beauty pageants I discussed here on my blog, mainly Miss Venezuela, Miss USA, Miss World and Miss Universe. So, let's get to it:




Best Gowns of the Miss Venezuela 2012 Pageant:










Maria Grabriela Isler Mis Guarico and the new Miss Venezuela 2012--Isler wore one of the most beautiful gowns of the pageant--and of the entire year for me. It was all things Alta Moda with its clean yet sculptural silhouette, gorgeous ivory silk ziberline fabrication, cascading ruffle detail and lightly strewn details designed by Venezuelan fashion designer Gionni Straccia. It's no wonder she won the "Miss Elegance" prize as well as the top Miss Venezuela crown.






Rociree Silva, Miss Peninsula Goajira and Miss Venezuela 2012 Semifinalist-- Rociree wore this silk crepe gown designed by Hugo Espina which featured digital petal-style cut-outs and was accented with bugle
beads/crystals in a blush color. The gown had a silk
chiffon over-cape that was attached at the contestant's wrists and back
of gown, which made her give DRAMA onstage.




Elian Herrera Miss Aragua 2012 and Miss Venezuela Internacional 2012---I LOVED her gown. It was
simple and elegant--so 2012 and so red carpet. Elian is over six feet tall and this silk crepe column gown by designer Valentina Cedeño fit her flawlessly.




Hylene Baez Miss Amazonas--Hylene wore one of the best Mermaid-shaped gowns of the Miss Venezuela Pageant--and of 2012. It was designed by Venezuelan designer Hugo Espina and was strapless, with a sweetheart neckline, and had lots and lots of sequins and crystals throughout. Pageant Gorgeous.




Oriana Lucchese Miss Miranda--Oriana  wore one of my Top Pageant Gowns of 2012 in this pink
silk crepe column, off-the-shoulder gown with silver sequin accents. It
was designed by Pageant Gown extraordinaire Gionni Straccia. It's very "Barbie", but "Barbie Couture". If I had my editing eye, I would have removed that big overskirt; the pink column gown is a TEN on its own.




Best Gowns of the Miss USA 2012 Pageant:




Alyssa Campanella, Miss USA 2011---Alyssa was giving up her crown at the 2012 Miss USA in June of last year and she did it in style. She wore two fabulous evening gowns, beautiful enough for me to include here in my "Best of 2012 Pageant Gowns" list. First, she wore a GORGEOUS ivory gathered Grecian Goddess gown with a sequined neckline and structured shoulders (above photo)...




Then when she made her "Farewell Walk", she wore yet another fabulous
gown (above photo)--this time a blush-colored sequined number that
Mermaid-flared into organza and tulle ruffles. Alyssa looked Paris Haute Couture Runway Model Chic!




Miss New York USA 2012 Johanna Sambucini--This gown on Johanna was one of my favorites of the Miss USA 2012 and of the entire year. It was a see-through nude-colored halter-neckline
style gown with encrusted crystals. Incidentally, it was so pretty that Miss Tanzania Winfrida Dominic at last month's Miss Universe, wore the same style for her official "Evening Gown Portrait":








Miss Illinois USA 2012 Ashley Hooks--This high-neck halter style iridescent gold gown, with open back, degrade
sequins, and dramatic full back and train, fit Ashley like a glove. A great pageant gown for sure and one of my Top Picks for 2012.




Miss Oklahoma USA 2012 Lauren Lundeen--I LOVED this gown featuring oversized jeweled and mirrored crystals over a nude-colored tank-silhouette. She looks very Miss Puerto Rico/Miss Dominican Republic/Miss Venezuela in this. If there was a negative, it's those shoes: too big, too stacked heel, too Drag
Queen/Stripper. A pair of gorgeous silver strappy ones would have been
perfect. Thank goodness I'm not rating the shoes, but the gowns instead!





Miss Maryland USA Nana Meriwether--Born in South Africa, six foot tall Nana tried out for Miss California USA a bunch of times and went on to Miss  Maryland USA where she finally won. Oh, and now because Miss USA Olivia Culpo just won the Miss Universe title, guess who is the new Miss USA? Yep, Miss Nana. I liked the white chiffon gown with silver leaf-like details which she wore at the Miss USA 2012 Finals. It's a great gown because of the shape, details and all the flowing fabric which adds drama as she saunters on the stage. She looked like Aphrodite at Mt. Olympus.




Miss Rhode Island USA Olivia Culpo--Olivia Palermo doppelganger Olivia Culpo, won the Miss USA title and last month, Miss Universe. I loved her raspberry chiffon Empire-style gown she wore at Miss USA 2012, it was one of the prettiest gowns of the night--and the year. She looked elegant,
glamorous, red carpet-ready and yes, it had all them yards and yards of fabric for her to give stage DRAMA as she walked. Once again, I would have not  put those Lucite Stripper Platforms with such a light-as-air gown, but somehow these Pageant Girls are drawn to those tacky things like moths to a flame! WHYYYYY????



 Best Gowns of Miss World 2012 Pageant:




Ivian Sarcos Miss World 2011 from Venezuela--Ivian wore this UBER fitted mermaid sequined lace applique
embroidered ivory gown designed by Venezuelan designer Hugo Espina to give up her Miss World 2011 crown at the Miss World 2012 Finals in China. She looked SUPERHUMAN and taller than anyone within 100 feet of her. This is certainly one of the most impressive Pageant Gowns of 2012.




Miss Mexico Mariana Berumen-- Miss Mexico's gown was very Sofia Vergara Va-Va Voom WOW! She really
looked perfect from head to toe in this red strapless mermaid-shaped sequin-and-tulle gown. One of the best, if not the best of the Miss World 2012 Finals.




Miss Australia Jennifer Kahawaty-- The lovely and very exotic Jennifer wore this purple Grecian Goddess gown at the Miss World 2012 Finals.  The gown was created by Melbourne Australia fashion house Belluccio and it featured intricate embroidery woven into the bust and high-hips,
cinched waist and gathered chiffon full skirt, as well as a "hidden" slit.




Miss Venezuela Gabriella Ferrari--Miss Venezuela did not make it as a Semifinalist at last year's Miss World but the gown she wore was still one of my favorites of the year.
It was an ivory and gold gown with a completely
sequined torso that then "exploded" into a feathered mermaid bottom. It
was designed by Miss Venezuela Pageant Designer King, Gionni Straccia.




Miss Ireland Rebecca Maguire--This red with silver sequin applique plunging neckline fitted
gown on Miss Ireland was one of my Top Faves from this Miss World 2012 "World Fashion Designer Award" Competition.
This is a perfect example of a gown that can work for an international
beauty pageant as well as a major awards red carpet. It fits
perfectly and has "hints" of sari fabrication.




Miss Israel Shani Hazan-- Shani looks STUNNING in this ivory with silver crystal detail gown
that hugs her EVERY curve perfectly. It's simple, elegant and yet, still has enough "Pageant Punch". This gown is a fantastic example of the fit-to-flare shape--or "Mermaid-Lite" as I like to call it.




Miss Sri Lanka Sumudu Prasadini: This was one of my favorite
gowns from the Miss World 2012 "World Fashion Designer Award" Competition and therefore it had to make my "Best Of 2012" list here. This ivory gown had elements of Grecian
Goddess and Sari Princess with its draped one shoulder effect. It was
dramatic and elegant.



Best Gowns of the Miss Universe 2012 Pageant:



Miss Croatia Elizabeta Burg: I LOVE this gown. It
is SO red carpet award show appropriate FAB, so "Classic Modern", so
elegant but sexy (look at that back) and there was NO HOOCHIE SLIT, no
obvious Stripper Platform Heels....it was a lesson in How To Dress For a
Beauty Pageant 2012. Perfection.




Miss Puerto Rico Bodine Koehler: I thought this blush/light pink fit-to-flare gown was beautiful. The heavy-to-light beading is delicate and not so "Pageant In-Your-Face", the shape is great and I especially like the Couture-like touches such as the 8" horsehair that stiffens the hem.




Miss Lebanon Rina Chibany: Rina wore an emerald green gown
featuring a plunging neckline, a dropped shoulder, fitted waist and
gorgeous paillettes for the Miss Universe 2012 Preliminaries and it was one of my favorites of the pageant and the year for sure. Of course, I recognized this gown right away: It was a gown from the Elie Saab Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear Collection. Flawless.




Miss Australia Renae Ayris--I loved this gown! It featured a strapless, bustier top section, fitted gown with a tulle bottom section made super full by many godets (triangle sections/insets of fabric). I also thought the silver beading was exquisite. This is one of the BEST of 2012 and should be made in EVERY color!




Miss France Marie Payet-- This
creme colored beaded gown was beautiful., elegant, well-made and hit
all the right red carpet/pageant notes. One
of the best in the Top Ten Evening Gowns at the Miss Universe 2012 Pageant--and the entire year.




Miss Kosovo Diana Avdiu: Calling Grecian Goddess...via Miss Universe Kosovo.
If I had to style a movie based on Athena or Aphrodite, this would be
the gown I would put my actress in. Best in an Ivory-colored Gown. Hands
down! And, if I'm not mistaken, this is a "stepped up" version of the gown Nana Meriwether wore at the Miss USA 2012 Finals.




Miss Brazil Gabriela Markus: Gabriela wore one of my favorite gowns at the Miss Universe 2012 Finals. It was a strapless and very
fitted golden sequined and chiffon gown with a center front slit. It looked expensive and she looked like the girlfriend, wife--or mistress--of a very rich Dubai Sheikh. In other words: Loved It!




Miss South Africa Melinda Bam: This golden paillette one shoulder
gown with chiffon "fall" was beautiful. Melinda looked like an A-List actress walking down the Cannes Film Festival red carpet in this.




Miss Venezuela Irene Esser: Irene wore this emerald green silk satin gown with crystal detailing for the Finals of Miss Universe last month. Her gown was designed by Gionni Straccia of course. I loved the color, the delicate yet very expensive looking Swarovski
crystal detail. The gown celebrated the Christmas season and was still
giving "Pageant COUTURE". This style will be knocked off (in polyester with plastic sequins unfortunately) by mass-market pageant dress companies TOMORROW!



Miss Philippines Janine Tugonon: Finally, I will end my "Best Pageant Gowns of 2012" with this great gown that Miss Philippines wore at the Miss Universe 2012 Pageant. Janine-who ended up as First Runner-Up-- wore this aqua blue iridescent organza strapless gown. She
looked like a "Pageant Angel" in this. It featured a strapless folded
top section with intricate crystal beading detail and a fan-pleated full
skirt. Oh and did I mention that she WORKED it OVERTIME on stage?! The way she walked, did
her "Cobra" head moves and then finished it with her arm across the
waist pose: Drag Queens across the World will be copying it! It was
MAGICAL. She should have won. Just from that alone.



Once again, Happy New Year and Here's to a Gloriously Bedazzled, No Hoochie Slits, No Lucite Stripper heeled, Red Carpet Fab...Pageant Gown 2013!!!