So last Sunday (June 5, 2016), there are three shows that were on that evening that I care about watching, but unfortunately was not able to watch live due to being on the road. But I got to watch the replays!
Ugh! When will my mom gonna learn that we should be going back home to Vivian after sundown? Or else that stupid cop over at Oil City will "stalk" us and pull us over for absolutely no reason at all! Fortunately, that cop wasn't there when we passed by! Yay!
Not the point of this article! Enough said! Moving on!
Which three shows am I talking about?
NBA Finals Game Two: Warriors vs. Cavaliers
Because NBA Finals is just so darn interesting every year!
Part Two of the Season Premiere of Girl Meets World
And....
Miss USA 2016
Which is the focus of my article this week
Before anything else...
Y'all might ask...
Orland, why the in the world are you watching pageants like Miss USA? Just why?
Here's the thing y'all, my two best friends in high school were pageant girls way back when. I think highly about them and I'm just happy on the career paths they had chosen for themselves.
I'm gonna say this for the record, I am hoping, wishing, and praying to date and one day marry a pageant girl. What's not to love about about them? They're strong, kind, and confident group of women. Besides, a lot of them have a very slow aging process. This article will not be enough to name examples. And oh, beautiful babies are a guarantee!
And remember, I'm a Filipino, and we Filipinos take that pageant thing seriously! If you are friends with some Filipinos over social media, expect us to blast Twitter and Facebook when it's time for Miss Universe with a lot of comments! A lot!
Let me thank some of my social media angels...
Who gave me some "blow by blow" updates that night while I was not watching the whole thing live. And they just did a heck of a job tweeting! I'll feature some of our conversations throughout this article.
Lauren Vizza - Miss Louisiana Tech 2011, Miss Louisiana 2012, Miss Shreveport USA, 2013, Miss Vieux Carre 2014, Miss Central Parishes USA 2015. Yeah, since she's a local, I got to track her journey.
I'll be keeping up with @MissUSA on Twitter tonight! Headed back from Dallas getting @rachelbmv9 ready for Miss LA! #missusa #missamerica
— Lauren Vizza (@Lauren_Vizza) June">https://twitter.com/Lauren_Vizza/status/7395842645... 5, 2016
Just follow @PrincessProbz @ItsMalloryHagan and @MissDelaware12 for all the #MissUSA chat you need! #MissUSA2016
— Lauren Vizza (@Lauren_Vizza) June">https://twitter.com/Lauren_Vizza/status/7395988664... 5, 2016
Social media is allowing me to keep up with one of my favorite nights on television while on the road. THANK YOU. #Twitter #periscope
— Lauren Vizza (@Lauren_Vizza) June">https://twitter.com/Lauren_Vizza/status/7396031933... 5, 2016
To be honest, I thought that I will be able to see her compete on that Miss USA stage and just slay it! But I guess not.
Mallory Hagan - Miss New York 2012, Miss America 2013.
Omg catching up on @MissUSA!!
— Mallory Hytes Hagan (@ItsMalloryHagan) June">https://twitter.com/ItsMalloryHagan/status/7395942... 5, 2016
You gotta love all her tweets that night! She should be one of the judges next time!
Alyssa Murray - Miss Delaware 2012.
Can't wait to cheer on #Delaware at #MissUSA from my couch tonight!
— Alyssa Murray (@MissDelaware12) June">https://twitter.com/MissDelaware12/status/73957758... 5, 2016
@Lauren_Vizza I know that I can always trust @MissDelaware12 for that kind of thing!
— Orland Batongbakal (@danielorland) June">https://twitter.com/danielorland/status/7395998942... 5, 2016
For all pageant commentaries on Miss America, Miss Universe, and Miss USA, you can indeed trust Alyssa for many funny tweets and commentaries.
During the times when Candice Bennatt and Lauren Vizza competed at the Miss Louisiana USA stage, we had exchanged many funny tweets with each other. The three of them competed at Miss America stage back in 2012.
She's an expert y'all.
General Observations
Diversity
Over the years, Miss USA contestants becomes all the more diverse ethnically. You will see what makes up the United States through those women.
This year is no different at all. Many contestants have mixed ethnic descents. European descents have been the most represented, followed by Latinas and Native American descents.
I see that Asian descents is at all time low this year, and I'll feature one of them below. Because this is how we roll! We Asians got each other's backs!
The Pageant Itself
But first, let's do some pre-pageant behind the scenes, shall we?
These are some juicy ones! So please bear with me!
Snapchat Takeovers
From April 12 until June 4, each contestants were given a day to take over the Miss USA Snapchat account. The aim of it is for the public to get to know each of the candidates better. Each of the the women showed a day in their lives from the time they woke up until before they go to bed. The women showed everyone around their hometown, the places they go to, and the people they interact. They also get to answer some questions about their lives, platform, work, school, diet, beauty regiments, fitness regiments, favorites, pageant experiences, and the list goes on. They were also on hand in giving various advice that may concern confidence, fitness, diet, and relationship.
And they were all gracious enough to answer everyone's questions!
Miss 52
For the first time in Miss USA history, 52 women were competing for the crown.
Here's a brief preview of what the contest was.
'Finding Miss 52' identified one lucky woman to join the 51 state contestants onstage for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of becoming the next Miss USA. Submitted applications were reviewed by an expert judging panel who selected 10 'Finding Miss 52' finalists based on originality, creativity, and personality.
And while I would love to tell everyone my little knowledge about this, I'll let Olivia Jordan herself explain what it was.
Beginning May 10, fans around the world was able to vote for their favorite 'Finding Miss 52' contender on Twitter by using #FindingMiss52 as well as a specific finalist hashtag, or via Finding52.missusa.com.
You all heard it right, the social media people voted for it after a panel of judges namely:
And last but not the least....
had narrowed down the choices to 10 contestants.
After the Social Media voting, the fans have selected Alexandra Miller, a 26-year-old Oklahoma City woman, as the winner Finding Miss 52 the nationwide search for a 52nd contestant to join this year’s Miss USA competition. Miller traveled to compete for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of becoming Miss USA 2016 in Las Vegas.
Miller is no stranger to competing for the title of Miss USA and has been 1st runner-up twice at the Miss Oklahoma USA competition. She says those moments challenged her and allowed her to become comfortable with the woman she is today. Through Finding Miss 52, she finally had the opportunity of competing on the MISS USA® stage and feels the search has provided her with yet another chance to fulfill her dream. Miller previously studied at Wichita State University and has a bachelor’s degree in marketing with minors in management and Spanish.
Let's watch that exciting Facetime call between Alex and Paula Shuggart
Moments after the announcement, she graced the fans a little interview via Facebook Live:
A piece of sad news
On the early evening of May 26, I saw on my Facebook feed the following message posted:
We wanted to share with Allie's Facebook and Instagram friends that Allie became quite ill in the few days preceding the start of Miss USA. Yesterday, though still very sick, she attempted to register and start the process of fittings, etc. but due to a deteriorating condition, a decision was made by her parents with the help of doctors, the Miss Universe Organization and the NC state director, that it was not in her best interest to continue in the competition. Allie and her family appreciate your love, concern and months of support. We assure you that we will be getting her the medical help, rest and recuperation needed to return her to a healthy state. Of course like all of you, Allie and her family are heartbroken that her dream has come to an abrupt end. We are restricting communication to social media in an effort to shield her from any persons that might attempt to invade her privacy during a very difficult time. We will not be answering questions. If you wish to leave messages of encouragement and love please leave them on her Facebook page or send cards to either our home or the RPM office in Aiken, SC. She needs to use what energy she has to get well so we ask for your prayers and patience as we focus on her health and well being. Thank you!
It was them followed by the production company that handles Miss North Carolina USA:
And followed by a personal statement by the pageant director the following morning.
It is very rare that I share emotions in a public forum, however as I woke up this morning, I found myself overcome with a sense of family!
The RPM Family - From the moment we accept a young woman to compete with us, we accept her into a nurturing environment. When they win, they are welcomed into our lives and become sisters, and we do our best to look after them as though they are our own. Our current titleholders shared a sadness yesterday, and we witnessed the genuine caring for Allison Ruth Dunn as she made that difficult decision to withdraw from the Miss USA pageant. Last night they welcomed Devin Gant, our new Miss North Carolina USA with open arms.
The Miss Universe Family - Suffice it to say, Paula Shugart has a gift! Without going into detail, let’s just say that she too has built a family that will rise to any occasion, and the genuine caring for the young women who compete is real! I for one am eternally grateful and will never forget their willingness to do whatever it takes, in the best interest of both Allie and Devin.
Allie’s Family – Parents play a very special role in the lives of their children, but for the most part moms are the ones that hold their daughter's hands and walk the pageant journey with them. I am without proper words, and simply cannot describe the respect I have for Terri Dunn who is my hero!
Devin’s Family – We have prepped our RPM titleholders for 8 months, arming them with everything that we have to be Miss USA. In 8 hours, this remarkable young woman, with the help of her family had her packed and prepared and in route to compete on the Miss USA stage on June 5. Joan Barefoot Gant, too is a champion and I felt the emotions she had last night. A mixture of overwhelmed joy for Devin, and a genuine sadness for Allie and her family.
Pageant Family – We put out a statement late yesterday regarding Allie’s decision to return home to NC and I stayed up late to read every word that was written. The comments were heartwarming, thank you!
I’m filled with love, respect and gratitude to those mentioned and to my mother who taught us that there is nothing in the world more important than our family(s). The last two days reaffirmed why I am so very thankful for this God given opportunity to work with and know so many amazing people.
It was indeed heartbreaking for something like that to happen. What she went through just on preparing to compete can be a rigorous process. She had about half a year's worth of preparation, words cannot describe how one feels about this news. Her health condition must have been too serious for her to go back to North Carolina after the decision was made rather than stay and watch the whole thing unfold.
I admire Allie for her dedication and for her determination to represent her home state, the fact that she is already in Las Vegas days before this decision came is enough evidence to prove it. I believe that her pageant journey and her dreams of competing did and will not end on that day she had to resign her title. Since she's still young, I have high hopes for her once she has fully recovered and healed on her illness. If and when the Miss USA decided to hold another search for a new Miss 52 for next year, she can definitely be a good fit on what they will look for. Most definitely if there is no rule that would prevent her from competing for the state crown again, she will get it and she will compete on that Miss USA stage and she will do phenomenal!
I wish Allie well on her future plans! I hope she just keeps on fighting and she definitely can be an inspiration to everyone, boys and girls alike.
But before moving on to another brighter side of the story, let us first see Allie's Road to the Crown video which states her platform.
On another news, let us get to know Allie's immediate successor, Devin!
According to Devin, she definitely expects a different thing, to compete for Miss North Carolina USA crown this coming October. But seems like fate had a way to make things flow rather smoothly for her. She claims that the evening gown she wore was supposed to be the one would wear when she competes for Miss North Carolina, and it was just very timely that the gown arrived early. Wow! Who's not mind blown by that?
Devin, you have made many people proud in competing in that stage! You definitely have made Allie proud in particular for taking her place and competing in that stage for her. You will also go the distance!
To get the even juicier stuff about the Miss USA 2016 pageant, you all just need to read my next article.
But for now, PEACE OUT!
