Zozibini Tunzi, Miss Universe South Africa 2019 is congratulated by fellow contestants after being crowned Miss Universe at the conclusion of The MISS UNIVERSE® Competition on FOX at 7:00 PM ET on Sunday, December 8, 2019 live from Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta. The new winner will move to New York City where she will live during her reign and become a spokesperson for various causes alongside The Miss Universe Organization. HO/The Miss Universe Organization
I have an interesting pair of articles I am linking below. It shows Miss Universe actually having more viewers than Miss America despite being shown very near each other and this never having happened before. Like ever. New lowest ratings ever for MAO also while being heavily promoted by NBC on their Christmas programming including the Rockefeller Christmas tree lighting and Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
I guess the pageant beat the scholarship program. Who would have guessed?
After a huge backlash on every social media, MAO came out with this Press Release which I repeat here unedited.
Dear Miss America Supporters, One of the hallmarks of the Miss America 2.0 vision is to continually rethink and challenge the traditional concepts of who Miss America was, who Miss America is today, and who Miss America will grow to be in the future.
Miss America 2009 – Katie Stam
Yesterday, MAO announced a new scholarship and included a quote from the donor’s parents that has offended members of the Miss America community. MAO did not put the quote in the context of the 1980s in which it was spoken and the erroneous stereotypes that were prevalent at that time.
Several MAO board members, including the board chair, as well as the CEO are former participants in the program who competed in the swimsuit competition. They, like many other past and present participants, have gone on to use their MAO scholarships to further their educations.
It is by no means the opinion of the MAO, its leadership, nor of the donor of the Equity and Justice Scholarship that educated women should not wear swimsuits, onstage or otherwise. We sincerely apologize to our dedicated participants, volunteers, and fans. We genuinely hope our misstep does not detract from the intent of this valuable new scholarship or the openness and inclusivity of the Miss America Organization’s vision. Sincerely, The Miss America Organization
Why do I say this is funny?
Because literally no one talks about Miss America UNLESS they are talking about swimsuits.
Everything in this piece says “Please…talk about us more!”
So I decided to put up their press release with a nice Miss America Swimsuit picture for all you Two Point Ohers. Enjoy!
BTW, the offending comment: “Miss America does not look like us, and an educated woman does not parade around in a swimsuit.” was published to the same email list, on the Miss America 2.0 letterhead as the press release above. I have no evidence both press releases were written at the same time.
Over the course of this year, Nia has worked extensively with Sing for Hope, an organization driving the international movement for increased inclusion of the arts in global convenings centering on social change.On Monday, Nia partnered with Sing for Hope to dedicate a brand new piano to Duke University Hospital. Nia will leave a lasting impact on children and families, just like hers, who utilize Duke’s facilities.
“Duke University Hospital schedules more hours of live music than any other performing arts space in the area, sometimes reaching up to 16 hours a day,” said Musician in Residence, William Dawson. “Music is a huge part of our program because we believe in creating a healing environment for all of our patients and their families. With Nia’s help of acquiring a piano from Sing for Hope, she is contributing to the healing environment of Duke University Hospital.” Franklin and her family know the healing power of music all too well. Before becoming Miss America, Nia was a patient at Duke University Hospital, as she was the provider of a Stem Cell transplant for her father, James.
“The 2019 Summer USO Tour was an experience that I will never forget. Our tour covered five military bases, four countries, and countless service members in less than a week. It was humbling to experience what our military does every day for our freedom. I sang “God Bless America” and “Let it Be” as a part of a variety show we all performed at each stop. Our servicemen and women truly sacrifice so much, and being able to personally see the places in which they spend their time while serving has given me a deeper appreciation for all they do.” -Nia
RALEIGH, NC(March 14, 2019) Nia Franklin Miss America 2019, an arts education advocate with a Masters in Music Composition, traveled to Raleigh this week to bring awareness to “Music in our Schools” month with the North Carolina Music Educators Association. Franklin is a North Carolina native who won the title of Miss America 2019 this past September as Miss New York.
On
Tuesday, Franklin met with the Millbrook Advanced Choir where she
spoke with students about pursuing their passions, dedicating
themselves to their craft, and following their dreams.
“The students at Millbrook High School were a joy to be around, and they even performed three music selections for me!” said Franklin. “They shared why music is so important to them in their school. The most common thread was that music gives them a great sense of community. It was important for me to visit with these students, and they are an example of why music should be in all schools!”
Tuesday evening, Franklin attended a reception hosted by the North Carolina Music Educators Association, where she performed for attendees and discussed how her education in the arts has lead her to where she is today.
On Wednesday, the North Carolina Music Educators Association spent time with Franklin at the North Carolina State Legislative building. There, Franklin met with lawmakers like Sen. Paul Lowe Jr., Rep. Verla Insko, Speaker of the House Tim Moore, and Senate President pro tempore Phil Berger to talk about the importance of keeping and funding the arts in all North Carolina schools.
“It was my honor and privilege to view the State Capitol from so many different perspectives, especially in support of the NCMEA,” said Franklin. “It was a joy to hear so many legislators proclaim their support of the arts and also my chance to advocate for them.”
Following her meetings, Franklin joined in the North Davidson High School Choir, her alma mater, before addressing both the House and Senate where she performed God Bless America and the national anthem. You can see them sing HERE.
Visiting with students across the country is just one part of Franklin’s job. In addition to her work with NCMEA, Franklin has worked with the likes of Lincoln Center, ASCAP, and Juilliard School to bring attention to the need for more arts education in schools.
Along with her arts advocacy, Franklin is the national ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (#ChildrensHospitalsWeek is next week!) and serves as a partner for Sing for Hope, an international organization.
This July 4th, not only are we grateful for our nation’s independence, but we are also grateful for all of the men and women who are members of our armed forces. As they continue to put their lives on the line to preserve the freedoms we all enjoy, we celebrate and thank them for their selflessness. How is Miss America doing that? Nia has embarked on the USO Tour this Fourth of July! We are so excited to once again have this opportunity to thank our members of the military, and from our Miss America family to yours, we hope you have a happy and safe holiday with friends and family!
Michael Nicholas II ( https://twitter.com/manicholasii ) has been PROLIFIC in his updates regarding MAO news. He thoughtfully tags me, so I thought I would not only retweet them, but give you a dose of them here.
@PageantCast Joining the Miss America Class of 2020: Miss Maine Carolyn Brady Miss Louisiana Megan Crews Miss Virginia Camille Schrier Miss North Carolina Alexandra Badgett Miss Wyoming Jordan Hardman #PageantCast
@PageantCast Also joining the Miss America Class of 2020: Miss Maryland Caitlyn Stupi Miss Minnesota Kathryn Kueppers Miss Montana Mo Shea Miss Arizona Jacqueline Thomas Miss Mississippi Mary Margaret Hyer #PageantCast
@PageantCast Miss America 1987 Kellye Cash’s daughter Tatum Sheppard, competed at Miss Virginia last night and wore the same dress her Mom wore during her Miss America reign. Tatum finished as the 4th Runner Up. #PageantCast
@PageantCast Congratulations to Wednesday night's preliminary winners, Miss Orlando Lindsay Bettis in On-Stage Interview and a tie between Miss University of South Florida Avalon Jade Theisen & Miss Florida Citrus Michaela McLean. #MissFlorida#PageantCast
@PageantCast Thursday night preliminary winners Miss River City Aaliyah Manning, Miss Tallahassee Alana Scheurerer & Miss Tampa Lauren Nielsen. #MissFlorida#PageantCast
‘THE 2020 MISS AMERICA COMPETITION’RETURNS TO LONGTIME NBC HOME WITH TWO-HOUR LIVE TELECAST
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – May 29, 2019 – NBC and the Miss America Organization announced today that “The 2020 Miss America Competition” will air LIVE on NBC. Discussions are currently underway with potential venues.The date and location of the competition will be announced soon.
Miss America on NBC
The scholarship competition returns to NBC, its former home of two decades, with a two-hour telecast that will follow the 51 compelling candidates as they compete for life-changing scholarships to be used to continue their efforts toward community service and education. The show will continue to highlight a diverse group of young students and professionals who are advancing the message of female strength, independence and empowerment through their efforts in the areas of scholarship, talent and social impact. The Miss America Organization has ushered in a new era of progressiveness and inclusiveness, led by an all-female leadership team.
“NBC is excited to once again team with our friends at the Miss America Organization in what we know will be an entertaining telecast featuring so many inspiring women,” said Doug Vaughan, Executive Vice President, Special Programs and Late Night, NBC Entertainment.
“Miss America is thrilled to be back home at NBC with our 100th anniversary just around the corner. NBC is the perfect partner to tell the real stories of these intelligent, talented and socially conscious young women who will be the country’s next leaders,” said Regina Hopper, Miss America President & CEO.
Over the last two years, the Miss America Organization and its state competitions have awarded nearly $6 million in scholarships.
Miss America 2019, Nia Franklin, is a gifted singer/songwriter who has been promoting her social impact initiative “Advocating for the Arts” through appearances at colleges and universities. She has performed with orchestras and operas across the country, spoke at arts schools and held master classes. At the invitation of New York Philharmonic, she hosted the Philharmonic’s “Phil the Hall” and was called by the New York Times the “ideal host” for the program that opens up classical music to everyone through free programming. Among other events, Franklin has been a part of the New York Metropolitan Opera’s and the L.A. Opera’s opening nights, was the keynote speaker for the Center for Education Reform and Lincoln Center’s most recent board meeting, and has worked with Sing for Hope to promote the arts.
As its National Goodwill Ambassador, Franklin has also brought joy to hundreds of children being treated at Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. In keeping with the Miss America Organization’s longstanding relationship with the military, she has also spent time supporting our men and women in uniform through her many appearances with the USO.
ABOUT THE MISS AMERICA ORGANIZATION
The Miss America Organization, a 501(c) (4), is one of the most recognizable household names in America working to empower young women through education and service. The Miss America Organization is comprised of 51 licensed state organizations, including all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Miss America candidates contribute tens of thousands of community service hours annually and have raised more than $17 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and Miss America scholarships since 2007. The Miss America Foundation, a 501(c) (3), provides academic, community service, and other scholarships to young women.
THE 4TH ANNUAL MISS AMERICA SERVES DAY
PRESENTED BY CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORK HOSPITALS
Atlantic City, NJ (April 9, 2018) – Miss America 2018 Cara Mund lead titleholders and volunteers across the country during the 4th Annual Miss America Serves Day presented by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. State and local titleholders joined family, friends, and volunteers for service projects in their communities across the nation to raise funds for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and Miss America scholarships.
Cara and Miss America 1984 Suzette Charles kicked off the national event on April 6th with a visit to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where they spent the afternoon with patients and staff, worked on craft projects, and hosted the daily bingo game in their Seacrest Studios.
(Donald B. Kravitz/Getty) (Donald B. Kravitz/Getty) (Donald B. Kravitz/Getty) (Donald B. Kravitz/Getty) (Donald B. Kravitz/Getty)
“This weekend was for the kids,” said Cara Mund, Miss America 2018. “Miss America Serves is an initiative that began four years ago and has continued to grow each year. 70% of the funds raised go to local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and 30% to Miss America state scholarships. I am so proud to see all the local and state titleholders organizing their own projects across the country and making a real impact in their communities. In the Miss America program we advocate the importance of service year-round, but it is so special to come together each year in a national effort to make a difference.”
On April 7th, the official day of Miss America Serves, as the National Goodwill Ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Cara dedicated her day of service to Children’s Specialized Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ. She met with patients and staff, worked on craft projects with the kids, and gave out custom Miss America cookies!
Numerous service projects took place across the nation in children’s hospitals, veterans homes, parks, food kitchens, and more. Thank you to all of the Miss America state and local titleholders and volunteers who participated in this weekends event to raise funds for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and Miss America scholarships.
Would you like to donate to Miss America Serves? No problem! The Miss America Serves site is accepting donations through the end of April. To donate and support a local team or Miss America 2018 Cara Mund’s team, Cara’s Crew, visit www.MissAmericaServes.org and search for the participant of your choice.
Source:
About The Miss America Organization (MAO) The Miss America Organization, a 501(c)4 non-profit organization, oversees a national network of 51 organizations, including all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Miss America contestants contribute tens of thousands of community service hours annually and have raised over $17 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and Miss America scholarships since 2007.
About Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals that provide 32 million treatments each year to kids across the U.S. and Canada. Donations stay local to fund critical treatments and healthcare services, pediatric medical equipment and charitable care. Since 1983, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has raised more than $5 billion, most of it $1 at a time through the charity’s Miracle Balloon icon. Its various fundraising partners and programs support the nonprofit’s mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. Find out why children’s hospitals need community support, and learn about your member hospital, at CMNHospitals.org and facebook.com/CMNHospitals.
THE MISS AMERICA ORGANIZATION ANNOUNCES THE 4TH ANNUAL MISS AMERICA SERVES DAY PRESENTED BY CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORK HOSPITALS
APRIL 7, 2018
Atlantic City, NJ (April 2, 2018) – Miss America 2018 Cara Mund will join titleholders and volunteers across the country to participate in the 4th annual national day of service, Miss America Serves presented by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, on Saturday, April 7, 2018. State and local titleholders will join forces with family, friends, and volunteers for a national day of community service to raise funds for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and Miss America scholarships.
Miss America Serves began with its inaugural event in 2015 to create a national effort for participants and leaders in the Miss America program to show their everyday passion for community service. Across the country, people have witnessed and benefited from the community service efforts of the titleholders and leaders in their local communities, helping at hospitals, homeless shelters, food banks, senior care establishments, veteran’s homes, and more.
Miss America 2018 Cara Mund will lead the events spending time on April 6th with patients and staff at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and on April 7th she’ll visit Children’s Specialized Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ, before heading back to Atlantic City where she will join past Miss Americas, community leaders, and volunteers for an afternoon renovating a home with Habitat for Humanity.
Miss America Serves
Some of the Miss Americas participating include: Susan Powell Miss America 1981, Suzette Charles Miss America 1984, Gretchen Carlson, MAO Chairwoman and Miss America 1989, and Nina Davuluri Miss America 2014.
Since 2007, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has been the official national platform of the Miss America Organization. More than $17 million has been raised for both the Miss America scholarship program and for 170 member hospitals to care for more than 10 million kids each year across the U.S. and Canada.
The Miss America Organization thanks all of the state and local organizations across the nation for their efforts planning community service projects and raising funds for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and Miss America scholarships.
To join a team or donate, visit www.MissAmericaServes.org.
About The Miss America Organization (MAO) The Miss America Organization, a 501(c)4 non-profit organization, oversees a national network of 51 organizations, including all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Miss America contestants contribute tens of thousands of community service hours annually and have raised over $17 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and Miss America scholarships since 2007.
About Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals that provide 32 million treatments each year to kids across the U.S. and Canada. Donations stay local to fund critical treatments and healthcare services, pediatric medical equipment and charitable care. Since 1983, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has raised more than $5 billion, most of it $1 at a time through the charity’s Miracle Balloon icon. Its various fundraising partners and programs support the nonprofit’s mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. Find out why children’s hospitals need community support, and learn about your member hospital, at CMNHospitals.org and facebook.com/CMNHospitals.
.JPG?g=1523281744398)
