Here is my 8 month post-preliminary review: As you may all know by now, I have been going to & taking pictures of local Miss Ohio preliminaries during the 2013-14 pageant season. I have been to 6 local preliminaries (7 if you count Sweeps) plus a send-off to Miss America. Breaking it down pageant by pageant. Starting w/ the 1st one (Miss Greater Cleveland/Cuyahoga County), With it being so early, I really wasnt expecting much but to my surprise, my friend & Miss Ohio 2006 Melanie Murphy Miller was the emcee that night & even our current Miss Ohio (Heather Wells) made an appearance that night. After the conclusion, I was a bit shy & after some persuasion, I finally opened up to the 1st 2 people (Heather & preceding Miss Greater Cleveland 2013- Meggie Wittman) that night. Then from there, I was in a groove, getting autographs & pictures. That night, ive met a total of 11 contestants & titleholders plus executive directors Sylvia & Harvey Jensen. My 1st Miss Ohio preliminary= Success!!! Miss North Coast was pretty much the same as the 1st one. I made up for what I didnt do at the 1st. Ive met 9 new contestants & titleholders including Miss Ohios Outstanding Teen 2012- Sarah Eash. All in all, a great pageant. Miss Clayland in my books was the strongest pageant (competition wise) ive been to this season. Out of the 12 who competed, 10 of which (which includes preceding Miss Clayland 2013 & current Miss Montgomery County 2014- Mackenzie Bart) won their respective locals & going to be competing at Miss Ohio. Ive met 10 new contestants & titleholders which Miss Ohios Outstanding Teen 2010- Cecili Weber (at an earlier date), Miss Ohio 2000- Stephanie Meisberger-Winland (the emcee), & Miss Ohio 2005- Marlia Fontaine-Weisse. An awesome show nonetheless!!! Miss Maple City was not the best place to take pictures (poor stage lighting). I couldnt even upload the teen fitness or the talent pics because of very poor quality & also I had to take video for the final 4 or 5 miss contestants & all of OTs talents. After the pageant, ive only met 4 new contestants that night but heres the biggest highlight of the night. I got to meet Miss America 1963 & E.D. of Miss Vacationland- Jackie Mayer Townsend. Once again, great pageant, but poor lighting. MIss Hillard was by far, the best pageant ive been to this season, entertainment wise & socialization wise. The co-emcee of the night, Bob Nunnally did a wonderful job emceeing & he kept us laughing all night. All 3 girls who competed in OT won their respective titles & will be competing in Miss Ohios Outstanding Teen. That night, ive met 15 new contestants & titleholders including Miss Ohio 2012- Elissa McCracken (we sat 4 seats from each other) & current Miss Ohios OT 2013- Olivia Thoroughman (at an earlier date). Plus I also met the co-executive director of Miss Hilliard- Hilary Powers Reyes & the co-executive director of Miss Shawnee & Miss Portsmouth- Regina Speas. My confidence & communication skills has risen to a whole new level just by attending & interacting before, during intermission, & after the show. Once again, by far, the best local ive been to all season & also the lighting was optimal for picture taking!!! Miss Vacationland was yet another well put production & it was their 5th anniversary since the revival of the program. All of the titleholders within the past 5 years came back & did special performances. Ive met 7 new contestants & titleholders including Miss Ohio 1999 (some say that it was 2000)- Tiffany Baumann Cantelupe (the emcee). Once again, a great time. Miss Ohio Sweeps I & II: For sweeps I, I got there 10 min. late & due to poor seat location (& set-up), I wasnt able to get pictures for the 1st one. Instead, as an alternative, I tweeted all of the contestants talents & also the 1st 3 titles of the day but not to worry, Ross Clark got some awesome shots & he does amazing work. Sweeps II: Found a better seat location (close to the stage) & I did my usual thing & I even moved around a little bit for on-stage question, swimsuit, & the crowning of the remaining 3 titles. Ive only met 5 new contestants & titleholders including Miss Ohio 2008- Karissa Martin (judge for sweeps I). The conference room at Holiday Inn Mansfield was way too small to accommodate all the people who came to support the girls & when each pageant cleared out, we were crammed. Poor set-up seating wise & using a room which can only fit 250 people, I totally wasnt digging it. Maybe next year, how about we find a bigger venue to hold sweeps. Not trying to say anything bad about Holiday Inn however. Excellent way to end the preliminary season nonetheless!!! Here is my closing summary: Over the past 8 months, out of the 25 who are going to Miss Ohio, ive met & took pictures w/ 23 of the contestants. Ive also met 7 former Miss Ohios (62, 99, 00, 05, 08, 10, 12) in addition to the one I already know (06). I met 3 former Miss Ohios OTs (09, 10, 12) & 2 of which are representing their locals at Miss Ohio. Everybody who ive met this organization have really made such a huge impact on me & I thank each & every one of you for breaking me out of my shell. My confidence & my comminication skills has improved w/ each & every pageant & yes, its always a work in progress w/ me having Autism. Thats where photography & getting autographs come into play, its my form of communication. Thats what makes me different from the rest of the crowd & thats the way that God created me & im glad to say that I do have a different ability & run off on a different operating system. I may not be able to say everything that I would like to say w/ words, but I can definitely can say it w/ writing & I wouldnt say it if I didnt mean it. Again, thank you so much for letting me be a part of all of the lives I love each & every one of you!!! :) Miss Ohio, here we come!!! :) Love you all, Steve -With Alissa Brumbaugh, Allison Vance, Allison Goodwin, Andrea Watkins Wells, Angela Falter Thomas, Anna Wenning, April OBrien, Ashliegh Jarzenski, Bonnie Nelson, Brittany Holland, Camille Dyquiangco, Chelsi Howman, Deborah Eash, Emily Tabar, Emma Atkinson, Erin Curry, Gabby Bailey, Gina M. Hitchens, Jenna DePizzo, Jennifer Bailey-Geer, Joyce Walter, Justin OFlaherty, Kara Adelle Mitchell, Kara Wagner, Karen Westerbeck, Kat Howland, Kirsten Fennig, Kristen Schreiber, LeAnn Penn, Lexi Richter, Lindsay Anne Hanson, Loren Baker, Nancy Bulanda Tabar, Olivia Anderson, Rachel Anderson, Rosie Westerbeck, Sarah Clapper, Sarah Jasinski Veronica Truka Wende, Victoria Knapke
Posted on: Wed, 26 Mar 2014 01:07:17 +0000
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