Miss Sexiest

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2012-2013 MTA COURT!

Annie Lee, Miss Taiwanese American Queen, Miss Talent & Miss Popularity
Deborah Dee Lu, First Princess
Tiffany Cheng, Second Princess
Julia Tsai, Third Princess
Aura Gilham, Fourth Princess & Miss Photogenic
Renee Lee, Fifth Princess
Tiffany Yi-Tzu Chang, Sixth Princess

Miss Taiwanese American Ambassadors

(Alphabetized by Last Name)

Vicki Chang

Lillian Chen

Hilary Kao

Dana Kung

Joanna Liao

Trina Peng, Miss Congeniality

Stacy Wu

SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM THE 2012 PAGEANT CEO, CATHERINE YU LIN:

Congratulations to the 2012 Miss Taiwanese American Court and Ambassadors! In my mind, you are all deserving of the queen title. You truly inspired me with your hard work, passion for community service, and determination to strive for the very best that you can do. I am a very proud Pageant CEO thanks to you all. Great job ladies!

AUGUST 4TH 2012 MTA PAGEANT IN THE NEWS:

Taiwan Daily

World Jounal

A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE 2012 MISS TAIWANESE AMERICAN PAGEANT:

Had the pleasure of judging the Miss Taiwanese American pageant over the weekend. It's difficult judging 14 girls in 4 categories, it all becomes a blur after a while. But luckily I've worked with so many amazingly talented, musicians, singers, actors, and filmmakers, so I know a thing or two about spotting talent!

~ George Shaw, 2012 MTA Pageant Judge

Congratulations to the new court! I know you will all do an amazing job of serving and representing the community. Keep shining and smiling! I'm honored to have had the privilege of serving this year as Miss Taiwanese American 1st Princess. Now it's your turn to shine!

~ Sarah Ho, 2011 MTA First Princess

I want to say a quick thank you to some important people before I blog about anything else.

Without God, nothing in my life would be possible.

Thank you to my family for being so supportive in every way possible. My Mom, who has never missed a recital, performance, swim meet, or pageant, Dad who supported me financially and emotionally through my journey to Miss Delaware, my step-mom Karen, step-dad Dan, Floyd, Mom mom and Pop pop, Aunt Lisa and JP, my big brother Cory, my sister Remi, my step-brothers Ben and Zach, you are the best big happy dysfunctional family I could ask for.

To my friends, thank you for being there for me. Shelby, Abby, Taylor, thanks for being there for me since elementary school.

To my sorority sisters who have supported me every step of the way, a huge thank you. Ali, Steph, Kayla, my sorority family who stuck by my side, Veronica who I don’t know what I would do without, Marykate, who came all the way down to watch and cried more than I did over the win, all of the girls on exec. for the thoughtful and delicious edible arrangement. I’m so happy I have about 140 of the best sisters in the whole world.

Dillan, thanks for coming the long distance to watch me, and for putting up with me when I was going a little crazy preparing.

All of the Miss Delaware 2012 girls, I love each and every one of you. Thank you for making this experience unforgettable. Alix, thanks for being the best roommate I could have asked for you. I loved our late night talks and getting ready together. Becky thanks for being a sister to me all year. You have a very special place in my heart and I miss our Newark breakfast and protein shake dates.

Maria Cahill, I can’t even say “thank you” enough. I know you would make fun of me because I’m tearing up while I’m writing this. I knew when I met you last year, you were the kind of friend that only comes along once in a lifetime, and I’m so proud to call you one of my best friends. Thank you for setting such a great example for me to follow, and thank you for being so helpful to all the contestants this year. Let’s go get froyo.

To all the former Miss Delawares, thank you for being role models and inspirations to me. Kama Levandis, thank you for being my idol and encouragement, even though you didn’t know it.

To the best board in the whole World, thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to this program and your girls. You treat every one of us like your own, and we all love you for that.

Marcellus Beasley at B-Fit Enterprise, you believed in me from day one. You told me the day we met that I could do it and you stuck by me, not only as a trainer, but as a friend. I can’t thank you enough for all you have done for me.

The fabulous Tony Bowls, Josh Cody, the Perfect Dress in New Jersey, and Chris Saltalamacchio, thank you for making me feel like a princess while I was picking out my gown. Y’all rock, and I couldn’t have done it without this team.

David Button and Jen Hayward, thanks for being such awesome local mentors, and for believing in me from the start.

Everyone who was involved with my journey, thank you for helping me achieve my dream.

I am incredibly blessed to have so many people in my life who have been so fundamental in reaching my dreams. I am so grateful to everyone who helped make this possible.

Until next time,
Alyssa

HI EVERYONE! My first blog post as Miss Delaware, how amazing/unbelievable is this? Every morning I wake up and I still have to double check to make sure I’m not in some incredible, ridiculous, inception-caliber dream. 6 weeks after being crowned, I am finally having a few quiet moments to reflect on the week that has forever changed my life.

Just 2 years ago I was an awkward, self-conscious, and quirky college freshman at the University of Delaware (GO BLUE HENS!) trying to find where I fit in, when I received a facebook message from Mama Sandy Soucek, telling me I should compete for a preliminary pageant to Miss Delaware.

I have grown more in the past 2 years through my experience with the Miss Delaware/Miss America Organization than I have in 18 years prior. After placing 4^th runner-up to the fabulous Maria Cahill, a best friend of mine, I decided that I was going to put myself out there this year and leave everything I had on that Miss Delaware stage. I prepared like I never had before. I lost 2 dress sizes and about 20 pounds, improved my talent and selected the wardrobe of my dreams.

For the first time ever, I was 100% confident with my body when I stepped on stage Thursday night for swimsuit. I felt completely confident with my onstage question (it probably didn’t hurt that it was about my platform) which I have been involved with for 8 years, (more on that later). Friday night I was so ecstatic to receive the evening gown preliminary award and my talent went even better than I hoped. Saturday night was a complete whirlwind. Out of the top 11, guess who was number 11. Yup, this girl right here. If you thought I was a nervous wreck, you should have seen my poor Mother! She just about had a coronary right there in Dover Downs. With the announcement of the top 5, I was at peace. Did I want to be Miss Delaware? You bet. I had put a year of hard work and dedication into this and I knew I was ready for this job. Having said that, there were 4 other beautiful, intelligent, and well rounded young women in those hot seats with me that would have made a wonderful state titleholder.

The crowning was an absolute blur. All I remember is hearing names called, and thinking “that’s not me.” I was so happy I got to share that moment with Renee. That girl didn’t win Miss Congeniality for nothing. She kept all of us smiling and laughing all week. I don’t remember what song was playing, I don’t remember what I did, and I certainly don’t remember hearing my name called out, but I eventually realized I was still standing there. Judging by the pictures from Miss Delaware, I think I held it together pretty well, and I was so happy to see the positive reactions from every other contestant. These girls are like my family now and I am so thrilled, honored, and humbled to be a representative for this class of young women.

I am sorry this is such a long post, but there is no way to shorten what was the single best week of my entire life into a short paragraph. I am so thrilled to start my reign as Miss Delaware, and I hope you all follow my adventures on this blog!

Until next time,

Alyssa

Check out this slideshow from Miss Delaware week!

2012 Miss Taiwanese American Contestants
(Photo Courtesy of Kalen Sheng of Photo Kronology)

Check out a new video to meet the fair ladies of our 2012 Miss Taiwanese American Pageant!

2012 Miss Taiwanese American Pageant Finalists

Contestant #1 Joanna Liao

Contestant #2 Stacy Wu

Contestant #3 Tiffany Yi Tzu Chang

Contestant #4 Aura Gilham

Contestant #5 Vicki Chang

Contestant #6 Dana Kung

Contestant #7 Deborah Dee Lu

Contestant #8 Lilian Chen

Contestant #9 Trina Peng

Contestant #10 Hilary Kao

Contestant #11 Renee Lee

Contestant #12 Tiffany Cheng

Contestant #13 Annie Lee

Contestant #14 Julia Tsai

2012 Miss Taiwanese American 台美小姐選拔賽, 由大洛杉磯台灣會館主辦, 入圍佳麗7月21日首度記者會, 公開亮相, 37位報名, 初選晋級14位, 將參加8月4日洛杉磯的聖蓋博希爾頓大飯店的決賽盛會, 由於佳麗素質學識皆高, 最後誰能艷冠群芳, 奪下后冠及獎金, 令人期待。

The pageant night is just a week away now on Saturday, August 4th, 2012 at the San Gabriel Hilton! We are so excited, & so proud of all the ladies for their achievements! ~ Catherine Yu Lin, Pageant CEO & the Pageant Committee

For the record, this is about to be a really short post.

Not because we don't like Puerto Rico, but because the Junkies are still kicking themselves for not taking that immersion internship to Mexico in college. After a zillion credits in Spanish Language and too many years later, we are seriously inept at doing the adequate amount research on a contestant because everything we find is in Spanish! Including Facebook pages! Who knew Miss Puerto Rico and this blog would be yet another reason why we should've given up Christmas vacation??? Ugh! But I digress...

Here's Laura Ramierez, Miss Puerto Rico 2011... isn't she lovely?

Puerto Rico has an outstanding Miss Universe track record and lots of girls know how to look glamorous! If Miss America can tap into some of those contestants who are interested in the scholarship opportunities offered by MAO, they'll be in great shape!

Miss Puerto Rico History: Miss Puerto Rico returned to Miss America in 2010 - after nearly a 50 year hiatus! Mimi Pabon won Swimsuit in 10, but nothing else of note.

Best Junkie Research Tool: The Miss America Website has all the contestants here...

Who To Watch: Ummm.... we have no idea. Based on our research, it appears that all 14 of the contests are brand new this year.. which doesn't give us much to go on. Admittedly, we're really stretching it here... but if you gotta take a shot in the dark, here's who we're picking..

Kiara Liz Medina - She's on Twitter, has a Facebook page for her local pageant and she's a Flamenco Dancer

Valerie Trinidad - Former Miss Kissimmee Florida Latina competed at Miss Florida Latina, Jazz Dancer

Amanda Morel - Martial Arts Talent

Gonna be just as surprised as you are when we crown Miss Puerto Rico tonight! :) Junkie Love!!! :)

MAJ

Ann Blair Thornton, Miss Kentucky 2011 did Kentucky proud by bringing home this year's Quality of Life award from Miss America. And while I desperately wish they'd come up with a better name for this award (as evidenced in this blog we posted back in January), I can't argue with the 'heart' of the award. Ann Blair lived her platform every day and as she shares, her 'platform journey' and her 'pageant journey' go hand in hand...

If you didn't get the chance to see Ann Blair's finalist video for the QoL, check it out here! We LOVED the "little reminder" she reveals near the end of this video regarding so many important people she met throughout her journey with her platform.

Here's wishing Ann Blair all the best in the future!

Miss Kentucky History: The one and only Heather French, Miss America 2000 is the only Miss America from Kentucky.

Best Junkie Research Tool: You can still vote for your favorite contestant at the Miss Kentucky Website and see each contestant's pertinent information right here...

Who to Watch:
Jeffra Bland - KY Teen USA 09 & 4th runner up at Teen USA, 3rd runner up in 10, 2nd runner up in 11

Jenna Day - 1st runner up in 11, Prelim Talent winner, poli-sci major, Top 10 at Miss Sweetheart

Ashley Ferry - Miss KYOT 08, 4th runner up in 11

Annie Franklin - 4th runner up in 10, Top 10 last year, daughter of Miss KY 88

Olivia Henken - Semifinalist in '11, lead singer in a band, already has a couple of albums produced

Ramsey Carpenter - Non-Finalist Talent and Non-Finalist Interview in '11

Person of Interest! Melissa Cox is the sister of the new Miss Indiana 2012, Merriebeth Cox! They're both Baton Twirlers and both adorable blondes! We've seen lots of sisters compete in the same year at the same state pageant, but different states are certainly more rare!

All the Best to Miss Kentucky! Good Luck to Everyone in the Bluegrass State!!! :)

MAJ

Kristen Glover, Miss Arkansas 2011 wins the 'Super Smarty Sexy Scientist' award of this year's class. The girl graduated Magna Cume Laude from Ouachita Baptist University with a degree in Chemistry (For the record, the last time the Junkies even took a Chemistry Class was at the age of 16!). Her future plans include Pharmacy School at the University of Arkansas... like we said, Super Smarty Pants! :)

There were scores of photos of Ms. Glover which were Fabulous...

Here's hoping Kristen's future lab partner at least has a clue and appreciates who he/she's been paired up with this fall!!! :)

Kristen was a Quality of Life Finalist Award winner at Miss America this year for her platform called, "Second Chances through Mentoring". If you've seen her Facebook page or her blog (check it out here) you know her year hasn't been about photos - it's been about the kids. She's a great role model and has a strong future ahead of her! :)

Miss Arkansas History: Two Miss Americas hail from the state of Arkansas... Donna Axum in 64 and Elizabeth Ward in 82.

Best Junkie Research Tool: All the contestants are listed along with their prelim competition groups which you can see here for yourself! :)

Items to Note: From our perspective, this year's pageant seems to have 3 categories:

1. No Brainers

2. Newbies

3. You Never Know...

Who to Watch = No Brainers:

Simone Mullinax - 2nd runner up in 11, 1st runner up in 10, won Miss Sweetheart last year

Sloane Roberts - 4th runner up in 11, AR OT in 08 and 2nd runner up at MAOT 08

Sommer Allen - 4th runner up in 10, 3rd runner up in 11

Morgan Holt - Semi-Finalist in 09 and 10, AR OT in 07

Who to Watch = Newbies: