Pageant News Bureau - Miss Alabama 2007

P a g e a n t N e w s B u r e a u

Frankly, my dear, Shazzam!

Photos by Joe Whiteko / PNB

Jamie Langley, Miss Alabama 2007

We've always liked the word "Alabama." It's long but easy to say, and it's even easy to sing. It rolls off the tongue like a freight train heading north.

According to experts on the subject, Alabama is the only state that is commonly abbreviated from both the front and the back. Some people say "Alabam," and some say "Bama." Any way you cut it, it sounds sweet.

Jamie Langley being crowned by Melinda Toole

Jamie Langley with Alabama's Outstanding Teen, Meg McGuffin

We decided that the "bam" syllable is the key to the whole word. "Bam" is brief but packs a punch. It's what people exclaim when they take strong action, or when they try to recount some powerful experience. It even rhymes with the slightly naughty word that Rhett said to Scarlett after he decided to scram.

So it's no surprise that when we saw Joe Whiteko's photos of Jamie Langley, who was crowned Miss Alabama on June 9, 2007, we said "Bam!" Some of us were tempted to use Rhett's word, but we kept our tongues under control.

Check them out for yourself, and see what word escapes your lips.

Jamie Langley with the first runner-up, Colene Burns

P a g e a n t N e w s B u r e a u