Pageant News Bureau

Miss New Jersey USA 1999, Melissa McLoughlin, married John Kruk of the Philadelphia Phillies on Dec. 20, 2000.

Henrique Fontes, creator and founder of the Global Beauties Web Site (www.globalbeauties.com) is featured in the December 26 edition of the Miami-based advertising Internet site, AdVertica (www.advertica.com), which calls itself "Latin America's Advertising and Marketing Portal." Fontes, who has had great success with his site since its debut in early 1999, is interviewed about his work. He has established a reputation in the pageant world as diligent and gracious.

A reception in honor of Holly Mills, Miss Texas USA 1998, was held in Houston recently to benefit the Nellie B. Connally Breast Cancer Foundation. Ms. Mills plays the role of Miss Ohio in the film "Miss Congeniality." Melissa Edwards-Malton, a former runner-up to Miss Texas Teen USA and Miss Texas World, was the event's chairwoman. Other hosts included the Miss Rice Belt USA Pageant, and Julie Phillips of the Elizabeth Anthony Collection/Pageant Consultants in Houston. Guests came from all over the state to bid on live and silent auction items, including a gift basket of mementos from the "Miss Congeniality" set. The special guest of the evening was Nellie B. Connally herself, the former first lady of Texas. More than $9,500 was raised for the foundation.

"Entertainment Tonight" on Dec. 22, 2000, continues coverage of the saga of Shanna Moakler, who was Miss USA 1995 and Miss Rhode Island Teen USA 1992, and her messy breakup with boxer Oscar De La Hoya.

Sandra Bullock, star of the new pageant movie "Miss Congeniality," escaped injury on Dec. 20, 2000, when she was a passenger in a plane that crashed in Jackson Hole, Wyo. The plane was attempting to land in a blizzard, and it was seriously damaged, but no one was hurt.

Janice McQueen Ward, Mrs. United States 1999-2000, has landed a guest star role on "Arrest and Trial," to air on UPN late in December 2000.

Elizabeth Barchas, Miss Idaho USA, appears on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire's College Edition" on Dec. 20, 2000. Ms. Barchas, who is also a former Miss Idaho Teen USA, is a student at Emory University.

Rosemarie Frankland, Miss World 1961, was found dead at her home in Marina Del Rey, Calif., on Dec. 8, 2000. Ms. Frankland won the Miss World title while representing the United Kingdom. She was also first runner-up at Miss Universe 1961.

Two former beauty queens who made their names in the entertainment world in the 1940s died in early December 2000. Christabel Leighton-Porter, who was a pinup for British fighting men in World War II, and was a model for the sexy comic strip "Jane," died Dec. 6 at age 87. Marie Windsor, who distinguished herself as a beautiful villain in Hollywood's "B" movies, died Dec. 10 at age 80.

Former Miss France Sonia Rolland is becoming a popular singer in her homeland. She won applause at the most recent Miss France Pageant.

The "Cabaret for the Crown" fund-raiser in early December 2000 in New York attracted a stellar pageant crowd. Miss USA, Lynnette Cole, was on hand, as was former Miss World competitor Sallie Toussaint. Singer Kate Shindle, a former Miss America, provided part of the entertainment. The event was a fund-raiser for the Miss Manhattan Pageant.

TV alert: Cindy Vela, Miss Latina 2000, appears on "Walker, Texas Ranger" on Dec. 16, 2000, on CBS. She plays a waitress. Check local listings.

Holly Ann Campbell, Ms. Plus National Achiever 2000, married Stephen Bradley on Dec. 1, 2000, in Las Vegas. A few days later, she discovered that she is a finalist in the BBW model search, with an opportunity to be featured in the magazine.

Sarah Hoyer, Ms. Virginia American United States Teen, has landed a role portraying a travel agent in the film "The Daring Capers" for New Dominion Films.

Miss Latina 1999 Maria Trevino has been asked to audition for the role of Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald on NBC’s daytime series "Passions." She is engaged to Tejano star Jay Perez, with plans to marry in February 2001.

Former Georgia beauty queen Teresa Wade has released a CD, "A Little Bit of You," available through www.teresawade.com.

Miss Teen Latina 1999, Aries Paz, has signed on with Groove Records and is currently cutting her own CD.

Less than two months after ending her reign as Miss America, and slightly more than a month after marrying Kentucky Lt. Gov. Steve Henry, Heather French Henry is reporting that she is pregnant. The couple expect the baby in July 2001.

Sallie Toussaint, a former Miss World competitor and former Miss Connecticut USA, wrapped up work on a Reebok commercial on Dec. 5, 2000.

O n t h e N e w s s t a n d

The December 2000 issue of Details magazine features a four-page story on the molding of Miss Venezuela contestants.

Ali Landry, Miss USA 1996, is featured in the January 2001 issue of Cowboys and Indians magazine, with Matt Damon on the cover.

In the December 2000 issue of Maxim magazine, Jennifer Gareis, who plays the "virtual sex slave" in the new Arnold Schwarzenegger film "The 6th Day," discusses her pageant experiences in the Hawaiian Tropic and Miss USA systems.

In the December 2000 issue of Stuff for Men, actress Donna Dixon, a former Miss Virginia (America), is the subject of a profile.

TV ALERT

Nuestra Belleza Mexico 2000 (Miss Mexico) will be broadcast on Dec. 3, 2000, on Univision. Check local listings.
The Arts and Entertainment Network (A&E) will air "Children's Pageants" on Dec. 1, 2000. It concerns a pageant system in Texas. The host is pro football legend Terry Bradshaw, a Louisiana native. Check local listings.
The comedy movie "Dangerous Curves" airs on Dec. 3, 2000, on the USA Network. It's about young men who crash a beauty pageant to get a dream sports car. Check local listings.
The Miss Colombia Universe Pageant will be televised on Dec. 10, 2000, on Telemundo. Check local listings.

Beauty queen Shawn Cunningham, an anchor/reporter for WEVU-TV News 10 in Naples-Fort Myers, Fla., has been made a national contributing correspondent for the syndicated TV newsmagazine "SOS America."

Nancy Nguyen, the 4-foot-10 beauty recently profiled by PNB, is playing one of three "cute little waitresses" in the Martin Lawrence movie "Black Knight," which is currently being filmed.

Miss Teen Canada 2000, Lorraine Savoie of New Brunswick, has been chosen national spokesperson for Caroline, Annabelle and Marcelle cosmetics. The national ad campaign comes out in magazines across the country in March 2001.

Professional boxer Oscar De La Hoya is suing his former lover, Miss USA 1995 Shanna Moakler, and some of her associates, alleging that she has refused to vacate his posh Bel-Air, Calif., house since their breakup in August 2000, and in fact is keeping him from the property. The former couple have an 18-month-old daughter, Atiana.

Actress and former PNB cover girl Kelly Willyard of Beverly Hills was recently featured on the TV program "Titans." She will be playing a doctor in a holiday episode of the program "Gideon's Crossing."

Buddy Strong, All American Woman 2000, had a cameo role on the "Bette Midler Show" on Nov. 8, 2000, playing a travel agent. She is preparing to do a commercial for a well-known diet product.

Entertainer Lee Greenwood, whose wife, Kim, is director of the Miss Tennessee USA Pageant, is leaving his music theater in the state. He has fulfilled his five-year contract and will be traveling extensively to promote his latest CD.

Libby Taylor, executive director of the Miss Kentucky Organization (Miss America system), has been hired by the state of Kentucky as the personal assistant to former Miss America Heather French, the new wife of Kentucky Lt. Gov. Steve Henry. This is the first time in history that the state is providing an assistant to the wife of the lieutenant governor. Ms. French, who was Miss America 2000, married Henry only days after finishing her reign.

TV alert

Kimberly Pressler, Miss USA 1999, will appear on the "X Show" on Fox TV on Nov. 8, 2000. Check local listings.
A "Simpsons" episode in which Lisa enters a beauty contest will be rebroadcast on Fox TV on Nov. 11, 2000. Check local listings.

Denise Bannister, Mrs. United States 2001, has appeared as a guest in a 4-day spot on the soap opera "The Guiding Light." She is with the William Morris agency in Manhattan.

Mrs. National America, JoLynn Bultemeier, graduated on Oct. 27, 2000, from International Business College, earning a degree in business administration. She also received the Outstanding Student award.

Miss Venezuela Universe contestants will be the subject of conversation on the Caracus-based talk show "Los Buenos Dias de Maite." It can be seen on Nov. 3, 2000, on Univision. Check local listings.

Shari Short, Miss Idaho Teen USA 2000, has an album of original songs coming out in 2001. The album is being produced by Russell Graham, one of the founders of Air Supply.

Less than two weeks after completing her reign as Miss America, Heather French married Kentucky Lieutenant Gov. Steve Harvey on Oct. 27, 2000. The ceremony took place in Louisville. Ms. French, who is also from Kentucky, created some controversy with her public romance. Her attendance at campaign events led to accusations that she was too involved in partisan politics. Several previous Miss Americas married politicians, at least two of them during the 1990s.

A.R. Riverol, author of "Live From Atlantic City," has a new book out, a novel about the pageant world in the turbulent 1960s. It's titled "Crowning Glory." Ask your favorite bookseller.

O n t h e N e w s s t a n d

The Oct. 30, 2000, issue of US Weekly Magazine has a full-page story on Miss America 2001, Angela Perez Baraquio. Also included are three color pictures.

Jean Peters, whose success as a beauty queen turned her into an overnight movie star half a century ago, died on Oct. 13, 2000, in California. She was 73. Ms. Peters won a contest in Ohio in the late 1940s that awarded her with a Hollywood screen test. After the test, she was given leading roles immediately. She was a glamorous brunette who often portrayed ethnic types. One of her most memorable roles was in "Niagara," which also starred up-and-coming beauty Marilyn Monroe. Ms. Peters retired from films suddenly in the mid-1950s, marrying reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes and dropping out of sight. They eventually divorced, and she resumed acting in the 1970s.

Keri Lynn Pratt, who was Miss New Hampshire Teen USA 1994, will appear on "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" on Oct. 27, 2000. She will appear on "ER," playing a pageant contestant, on Nov. 2, 2000.

TV alert:

The PAX Network will rebroadcast the Mrs. America Pageant on Oct. 15, 2000. Check local listings.

Carrie Stroup, a recent PNB cover girl and semifinalist at the U.S. finals of Hawaiian Tropic International, is spending some time in Los Angeles, considering an expanded career in modeling. She will appear briefly in some scenes of the NBC sitcom "Friends" later in the fall.

O n t h e N e w s s t a n d

Regardie's Power, a magazine about the movers and shakers of the Washington, D.C. area, names traffic reporter Amy Robach as one of the "Power 100" in the nation's capital. She is a former Georgia beauty queen who held the title of Miss Gwinnett County. Other luminaries on the list include Gen. Colin Powell and journalist Tim Russert.

The Oct. 16, 2000, issue of People magazine has a large collection of stories and pictures of all past and current Miss America winners, minus reclusive Bette Cooper.

The Oct. 9, 2000, issue of the New Yorker, with a cartoon drawing of pageant contestants on the cover, has a seven-page story on Miss New York (America) 1999, Brandi Burkhardt.

The first issue (October 2000) of the new Details magazine contains a feature on tragic tycoon Mark Hughes and his involvements with beauty queens.

TV alert:

"Inside Edition" will have a "cover story report" on the 2000 Miss America Pageant, current contestants and past winners on Oct. 9, 2000. Check local listings for time and channels.
E! Television Network and the Discover Network will rebroadcast past editions of "Behind the Scenes of Miss America," and "The Road to Miss America," respectively, through October 2000. Check listings.

U.S. 2000 Olympic gold medal swimmer Lenny Krayzelburg will be a celebrity judge at the 2000 Miss America Pageant on Oct. 14, 2000.

PNB offstage archive