Sunday - Dreamgirls

The shorties in the group must stick together!

(Left to Right: WV, WY, ND, SC, VT, MI, NC, NM)


















Waiting for the show to begin . . .

(L to R: AZ, MI, ID, NM)

Saturday - Fashion Show Mall

In our dressing rooms before heading off to the Fashion Show Mall . . .


(Left to Right: MI, MS, AR, CO)

Our First Day of rehersals . . .

Thank you to Cathy Veri of Rhinestone Studio who designed and made our fantastic zip-ups! The back is personalized with our state titles. They are a huge hit Cathy!

www.rhinestonestudio.com

(Left to Right: NH, MA, MI, MD, PA, OR, MN)

Miss America Week Cont.

January 22, 2007 - 2007 Miss America Pageant!

Okay, it's still very much surreal but I am finally starting to feel like I am at Miss America. Our productions and walks are coming together, the camera's are always on (and so must we), and the set is beautiful! It is going to be such an incredible show and I feel so lucky to be a part of this year's production. Without giving too much away, the show will have much more of a viewer geared theme and those at home will feel like we are right there in your living rooms. And those of you coming out for the show - we'll practically be in your laps! I can't wait to get out on the stage!

Yesterday after rehearsals we had some extra time to ourselves before our next event - which was a wonderful luxury that will not last much longer! So when it was time to depart for our next event, we were all relaxed and refreshed. We loaded on the the bus and arrived at the IMAX theater in the Palms Hotel to enjoy a private screening of the new Dreamgirls film - and I must say it is just as good the second time around! I felt a special connection to the story as much of it takes place in Motown :) As we exited the theater, CMT cameras were right around the corner to catch our reactions and reviews!

This morning Tiffany (Miss West Virgina) and I started with our new favorite part of the day - a bagel with cream cheese, a Large Cafe Americano and a USA Today - then headed for our dressing rooms! Rehearsals flew by and Jennifer Berry joined us for awhile as we posed for some individual press photos. Since we are genius contestants and are just flying through all that we have to learn for production we were released early yet again today! Rather than relaxing the whole time, Tiffany and I decided to take a stroll through the Dessert Passage Mall. We ordered room service for dinner and took our time preparing for tonight's appearance . . . Gondola rides at the Venetian Hotel & Casino!

Tonight was amazing. When we pulled up to the Venetian and exited our buses, we stepped onto a Red Carpet complete with cameras, screaming fans and trumpets! The Miss America people really know how to make an entrance! From the breathtaking hotel, the singing Gondoliers, the decadent desserts and the never ending camera flashes . . . we all left feeling like stars. Even Robin Leach from Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous joined us! (You know you've made it when . . . :)

Time for my beauty rest now . . . bona sera!

Live from Las Vegas . . .

January 20, 2007 - The 2007 Miss America Pageant

Hello Michigan!

Well Day 2 is now complete here on the strip and let me tell you we are all having a ball!

I was one of the first contestants to arrive yesterday morning. All of my luggage and competition wardrobe made it as well (whew!). I had all afternoon to meet my hostess, Shirley (who is fantastic), check into the hotel, unpack, and try on competition wardrobe for the MAO staff.

Our first official event of the week was a red carpet arrival ceremony in the newly renovated lobby of Planet Hollywood! Each of us were introduced and presented a rose from the mayor of Las Vegas and we posed for the endless flashes from the paparazzi! At the conclusion of the ceremony, the top 7 finalists for the prestigious Quality of Life Award was announced. . . and I was one of them!!! As you know, my work with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and America's Stars is very close to my heart so it was such an honor to be recognized. What a way to start the week! Next Saturday morning we will have a separate interview and the runners up and winner will be announced at a press conference later that day.

Afterwards, we were able to change into some comfortable clothes for dinner, an orientation and a special surprise . . . a preview of the Becoming Miss America: Pageant School special that we filmed in September. The show will air Friday night on CMT and you won't want to miss it!

Today after our rehearsals, we got all glammed up and headed to the Fashion Show Mall. I think this appearance takes the award for "best entrance" . . . we appeared in a glass box that rose out of the floor in the middle of the mall! When the box opened we were each introduced and had a chance to strut our stuff on a (seemingly) mile long runway before hundreds of onlookers! Next the crowds converged on us and we signed autographs until we ran out!

Then it was back to the Aladdin/Planet Hollywood for dinner and a private reception where we met some of the hotel's guests, signed more autographs and posed for photos. I was surprised to meet so many people from Michigan - two guys from Muskegon, one from Ann Arbor and one from Birmingham were headed into the second round in a blackjack tournament. Here's hoping that Lady Luck will shine on all of us Michiganders here in Las Vegas!

I think that the one thing I am most grateful for is that all of us contestants are already so close. This Miss America class made history in September when we all met in Los Angles to attend pageant school. In addition to that, I've been able to get to know some of the other contestants in Orlando for Miss America's Outstanding Teen Pageant and just last month for the Rocky Balboa Premiere! I can't imagine showing up here for competition not knowing the other ladies, let alone not having so many close friends. We are all so relaxed, having fun catching up and truly relying on each other as we share this incredible experience.

It's almost as if this is just another weekend appearance with the girls. It still hasn't sunk in that this is competition, THE competition and that in 8 days one of us will be Miss America! When we walk through the Casino in our crowns and everyone turns, when we walk by the stage as it's the set is being built, when we were fitted for our competition wardrobe - I have to remind myself that this is Miss America! After so many years of dedication, hard work and perseverance it's almost incomprehensible that it all comes down to this week. So I don't think about it. The way I see it, all the work is done, we are ready and we are prepared - all that's left to do now is have fun, take it all in and enjoy!

I can't wait for all of you - my family and friends - to arrive and experience this with me!

Love to you all!
-Angela

Lighting Up Wishes!

For all of you on the West side of Michigan, this one's for you! Brad Boyink has created a fabulous Christmas Light Display of over 20,000 lights synchronized to six different Christmas carols that can be heard on FM 88.1. He plans to add a new song each week until Christmas.
He asks that those who come make a donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. His goal is to raise $4,000 by Christmas - and he is well on his way! Already, hundreds of guests have visited his display!

The music and lights show runs from 6-10 p.m. nightly and 6-11 p.m. Saturdays. Boyink needs seven computers and extra electricity to power it. Boyink's Christmas Lights display is at 16204 Heather Court, Spring Lake, Michigan (click the link for a map).

If you are in the Grand Haven area, please make some time this weekend to visit the Boyink's lights and share some Holiday spirit with the Make-A-Wish Foundation!

Cards That Count Update!

Thank you so much to all of you that have sent cards! The response has been wonderful. I just wanted to let you know that the Make-A-Wish Foundation is in the lead with 38% of the cards! The campaign is not over yet, so keep 'em coming . . .

Again, if you send 5 Bounty e-cards on behalf of the Make-A-Wish Foundaiton, then send me one with a list of the 5 emails. I'll double your efforts and send each of those people my own Bounty e-card! My email is miss2006@missmichigan.org.

Holiday Magic

Tis' the Season for Holiday Magic!

One of my favorite Make-A-Wish Foundation programs is here - Holiday Magic! Each year, I look forward to seeing the new cards and reading the featured wish-stories. My favorite cards always seem to be those featuring the art of some of our wish-kids :) This year, I am privy to Gielle's creation - you met her just a few weeks ago in my post about Dishin' Up Wishes?

Now is the time to send your holiday greetings to friends and family - and wouldn't it be great if your card sent some magic as well? Then these are perfect! Cards feature art by our wish-kids, professional designs and photography. Each also carries with it a special story and notifies the recipient of the gift that was made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation through the purchase of the card. There are also gift inserts and new this year, a 2007 Make-A-Wish Calendar! Special imprinting is also available.

Click here to purcahse your Holiday Magic today!

Already sent your cards? Well, you can't possibly be finished with your Holiday shopping! Stores across the state are teaming up with the Make-A-Wish Foundation this Holiday Season to make their own Holiday Magic! Visit these fine retailers and give the gift of a wish this Christmas!

• Bath & Body Works - One dollar from the sale of "The Perfect Christmas" 2-CD set will benefit Make-A-Wish! www.bathandbodyworks.com
• Discover Card - When you purchase a Cocoa Gift Card, Discover will donate 5% of the value to the Foundation! Click Here to purchase your Cocoa Gift Card.
• Claire's Boutique and Icing by Clarie's - Handbag of Hope, designed by a teenager Ali Spizman and inspired by wish child, Hope, who wanted to help grant the wishes of other children in her area. A minimum of 10% from each bag sold will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. www.claires.com
• Macy's - Macy's cardholders have the opportunity to give to charities including the Make-A-Wish Foundation while earning 10% rewards back on their holiday purchases! www.macys.com
• Things Remembered - Offering four gift options and a new gift bag, all benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Each can be engraved with a personal message. www.thingsremembered.com.
• Zales - Limited-Edition Zales Holiday Bear is available for $14.99 with a purchase of $99 or more. A $5 donation will be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation for each bear sold. www.zales.com.

Upgrade

As you may have already noticed, En Pointe looks a little bit different today. I have upgraded to the new Blogger Beta program over the weekend, and lost a little bit of the beautiful formatting that you may have been used to. As I figure out this new program you will continue to see more changes. For instance check out the information bar to the right. You will notice some new additions to that space like information about myself and this blog, links to some important and frequently discussed websites, and archives. Although En Pointe may look a little more bland - it is much more functional! I promise, to make it prettier as I get better :) Thank you for reading!

America's Thanksgiving Day Parade

November 23, 2006 -

What an incredible honor to be a part of the 80th Annual America's Thanksgiving Day Parade! This event is more than just a parade, it is a time-honored tradition for families all over Michigan and a celebration of the Detroit spirit. Some of the highlights include . . .

• A new, "old" route! This year, the parade followed a route modeled after the original in 1924 along Woodward Avenue beginning at Mack Ave. and ending in the beautifully restored Campus Martius Park. This new route highlighted so many of Detroit's precious jewels such as Fox Theater and spotlighted the newest additions such as Merchant's Row and Compuware.
• Sunshine! Last year the bitter Michigan cold forced many spectators to watch on their televisions. This year, the sunshine helped to pack the streets!
• Glove warmers :) It may have been sunny outside, but in the shade of my float those glove warmers were a blessing!
• Shoes! My float just happened to be adorned with giant shoes and dancing princesses - my two favorite things :)
• Starbucks Coffee. The Starbucks station just happened to be set up directly across the street from my float's parking spot. Something else to be Thankful for . . .
• Volunteers - putting on such a spectacular event does not happen overnight! Volunteers donate more than 17,000 hours to painting floats, production, and of course marching in the parade! The volunteers are truly at the heart of this Thanksgiving tradition. I spoke to one such woman who has walked as a clown for more than 20 years. Her now grown son was in line at Hockeytown Cafe at 6 A.M. to get a window table to watch the parade!
• The Detroit Police Department. Work so hard on Thanksgiving morning to ensure the security and safety of the thousands of folks who come downtown. They may occasionally give a ride to a lost, cold Miss Michigan - Thank you to Detroit's finest!
• Holiday's on Parade - this year at the Michigan State Fairgrounds. With rides, games, entertainment, Parade floats and of course Santa Claus! Great family fun all weekend long!