Friday, May 21, 2010

What happens in Vegas...

...ends up on my blog! :)

I had a fantastic time in Vegas with old and new friends, alike. It's hard to explain to people that I meet other pageant fans in the interwebs, and we become friends and hang out. I guess it's kind of like all of the people that have found friendship over blogs. Only, these friendships are made over pageant messageboards and then facebook. I'd met many of the people I hung out with in Vegas, and others I felt like I'd met even when I hadn't. I got really into following the national pageants when one of my best friends, Melissa Witek, was Miss Florida USA 2005. I found national messageboards when she was competing, and at first I never posted, but once someone made one too many false comments about her (she was a favorite to win and finished 4th runner up), I posted and signed my name and left my e-mail address so that those people could contact me with any questions. From then forward, I kept following the big pageants and kept posting as "Kristin" until I learned how to make a heart in html and became "Kristin ♥". Now I actually moderate a pageant messageboard along with some other very rad folks, two of whom were my roomies in Vegas!

Because we're all big pageant fans (and especially some of the people that go to Miss America and Miss USA every year), we know a lot of the insiders. The last time I was at Miss USA, I met the reigning Misses Universe, Teen USA, and Puerto Rico, as well as Paula Shugart, the President of the Miss Universe Organization. This time I met Shanna Moakler (former Miss USA/Travis Barker's ex-wife/reality tv star/Playboy Bunny... quite a resume), Kim Pressler (former Miss USA), Crystle Stewart (Miss USA 2008 - saw her crowned live), Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez, Miss Teen USA 2009 Stormi Henley, a bunch of current and former state titleholders and directors, Natalie Morales from the Today Show, and... I think that's it. It's funny, because on a normal street, no one would know who these people are. But, put a bunch of pageant fans in a room, and it's a completely different story!

Other than pageant stuff, I hung out at the pool, did a little gambling (ended up even), and went out. One of my good high school friends was randomly in town, so he and his buddies met us (pageant folks) out at Blush in the Wynn. It was hilarious because it was a bunch of girls and gay men, so everyone was interested in them! haha

The pageant itself was great, but I was pretty sad that my girl, Miss Oklahoma USA Morgan Woolard, didn't take home the crown. First runner up is certainly nothing to sneeze at though! She was absolutely amazing and has an incredibly bright future ahead of her.

And, now for just a few of the many pictures I took... I got several pictures with Miss USA 2008 because I was at her table at Blush, but let's just say she was having a bit of a wardrobe malfunction, so I won't be posting them. :)

Miss Teen USA - Stormi Henley

Miss Universe - Stefania Fernandez

Craig, Jorge & their favorite Florida girls (Allison on the L was Miss FL America and Melissa on the right was Miss FL USA and I'm just their friend) :)

TNBoy and me (that's his name on the MBs)

The ladies of Pageant Central! I was honestly surrounded by girls that were 5'10" and up all weekend. I'm a measely 5'3" on a good day! L-R: Elin, Siobhan (MissMerlin), me, and Meredith (RockyGirl)

Elin, me and Angela at True Beauty Rocks

John! Purple and green 4-eva! We were good buddies in HS. Look for him on the PGA tour soon.

Sio!


The boys... loved by all! haha

Miss USA opening number in dress rehearsal

Natalie Morales and Curtis Stone (the hosts) in dress rehearsal

I give it a 10! Morgan in dress rehearsal.

Roomies! Elin came all the way from Sweden for the pageant! That's dedication!

John, Elin, Travis and me post pageant

My lovely FL ladies - Melissa and Allison

Natalie Morales! She was SO nice. Talked with her for a long time at the after party.

GORGEOUS Morgan Woolard, Miss OK USA and 1st RU to Miss USA 2010!

me, Elin and Morgan

Cheering when Morgan made it into the top 5! Still can't believe I was on TV... I'm a nerd.

The new Miss USA, Rima Fakih, and the reigning Miss Universe and Miss Teen USA

2 comments:

Kristin said...

I'm pretty sure I saw the wardrobe malfunction on fbook. But I was like no, it couldn't be.

Is he really going to be on the PGA Tour?

Kristin said...

Hopefully so! He's got the skill, just needs to put it all together with the mental part.