Kaitlynne Postel, 2nd runner-up to Miss Kentucky USA (photo by Jim Morton) Congratulations to Miss Kentucky 2007, Kaitlynne Postel, who placed 2nd runner-up in the Miss Kentucky USA pageant held on December 19, 2008.  The new Miss Kentucky USA is Maria Montgomery.

Click here to read the feature article on Emily in Kentucky Monthly Check out the December 2008 edition of Kentucky Monthly which features Miss Kentucky 2008, Emily Cox, on the cover as well as a feature article on Emily inside.  Click on the photo above to read a portion of the article on Kentucky Monthly's website.

Click here to visit the Don't Forget the Lyrics website

**Tune In Alert**   An Unforgettable Miss America Holiday Special Feature on FOX's Don't Forget the Lyrics, with Wayne Brady Friday, December 12, 2008  9 P.M. EST* on FOX Miss America 2008 Kirsten Haglund, Miss America 1981 Susan Powell and Miss America 2000 Heather French Henry will be featured in a special holiday episode of Don't Forget the Lyrics, hosted by Wayne Brady. As a part of the celebrity charity series, our Miss Americas will be in the national spotlight to try their best at guessing song lyrics to capture prize money to benefit the Miss America Scholarship Fund.  Kirsten, Susan and Heather step up to the microphone for some holiday fun and to hopefully earn winnings in this spirited season of giving! Be sure to tune in and celebrate the season! * Check Your Local Listings

Click here to visit the TLC website

52 Women. One Miss America. The competition beginS when TLC premieres “Countdown to the Crown” on January 2, 2009  for the first time ever, america gets to judge and place four girls into the pageant finals  Last year, TLC and Miss America gave the pageant contestants a “Reality Check” and showed what it really takes to win the ultimate dream of becoming Miss America. This year, the stakes are even higher – a chance to win a spot in the pageant’s coveted “top 15” – when the 52 state titleholders live together and face a series of competitions in TLC’s COUNTDOWN TO THE CROWN. The four-part reality series kicks off Friday, January 2, 2009 at 10 PM (ET/PT).  Each one-hour episode, hosted by Tyler Harcott, finds the contestants living on the majestic Queen Mary ocean liner and navigating through a series of team and individual competitions that help them prepare for the pageant and prove they have what it takes to be a modern-day Miss America. Through it all, viewers at home get to know the girls, and ultimately have a hand in voting four contestants into the pageant.  “Miss America continues to evolve to reflect today’s young woman, and remains incredibly forward-thinking as it develops a new generation of intelligent, thoughtful, and passionate contestants,” said Art McMaster, President/CEO of the Miss America Organization. THE GOLD SASH Joining Tyler are two consultants - Kym Douglas and Antthony Mark Hankins – who guide the women through their experience and decide who is best prepared to become 2009’s Miss America. Through the challenges, the 52 contestants are expected to push their personal limits in an effort to win a gold sash, possibly advancing them into the top 15 at the Miss America pageant, which airs on TLC live from Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas on Saturday, January 24.  Voting, which begins after the 15 gold-sash finalists are selected, will be conducted online at TLC.com/MissAmerica, and via text messaging. “For the first time ever, America has the chance to be a judge and select four of the contestants they think deserves to make it into the pageant,” explains Brent Zacky, VP of Development at TLC. “By giving viewers the chance to get to know the girls during COUNTDOWN TO THE CROWN, we are confidant four great contestants will take the stage in January to compete for the Miss America title.”  THE CHALLENGES Each week’s episode welcomes a guest consultant who spotlights one of the key pillars that create a successful Miss America contestant. These consultants also have a hand in selecting that week’s gold sash winner.  Episode 1: premieres January 2, 2009 at 10 PM (ET/PT) Guest consultant: Gretchen Carlson, Miss America 1989 and host on Fox Network’s FOX AND FRIENDS. ·         Team Challenge: Quest for the Crown, a scavenger-style race through the ship. ·         Individual Challenge: Pitch Perfect. The table’s set to determine the girls’ ability to remain composed, form an argument, and listen as well as she speaks.  Episode 2: premieres January 9, 2009 at 10 PM (ET/PT) Guest consultant: Shakara Ledard, renowned supermodel ·         Team Challenge: Fitness First Obstacle Course – the teams face off in a fun endurance race to the end. ·         Individual Challenge: Runway Photo Shoot. Which girl has mastered her poise and confidence on the runway? Episode 3: premieres January 16, 2009 at 10 PM (ET/PT) Guest Consultant: Clinton Kelly, from TLC’s What Not To Wear. Clinton will also reprise his role as a special correspondent for the Miss America pageant. ·         Team Challenge: Miss American Shopper. Will it be retail rivalry when each team has to share one shopping budget? ·         Individual Challenge: Little Black Dress returns with a fashion-forward eye on personal style and resourcefulness. Episode 4: premieres January 23, 2009 at 10 PM (ET/PT) Guest Consultant: Susan Powell, Miss America 1981 ·         Team Challenge: Miss America’s Got Talent. It’s a talent showdown as the teams perfect a routine and compete against each other. ·         Individual Challenge: Rock the Runway, where all of the planning pays off in their final chance to secure a sash.   Additional press materials, including series photography, are available at press.discovery.com.  COUNTDOWN TO THE CROWN is produced for TLC by Tijuana Entertainment. Executive producers are Troy Searer and John Foy.

Dottye Nuckols Lindsey, Miss Kentucky 1951

It is with great sadness that the Miss Kentucky Organization announces the passing of Miss Kentucky 1951, Dottye Nuckols Lindsey, on November 8, 2008, at the age of 79.  Dottye was one of the most beloved former winners, she annually attended the state pageant and also organized a luncheon for many years for former Miss Kentucky winners.  Dottye's obituary will be posted in the Louisville Courier-Journal and Lexington Herald-Leader newspapers on Tuesday, November 11th.  There will be no services.  LeCompte-Johnson-Taylor Funeral Home is handling  arrangements.

l to r: Courtney Norvell, Erica Canfield, Dana Elliott, Emily Cox & Andrea Walker The 2009 Miss Lexington / Miss Metropolitan Scholarship Pageant was held in Lexington at the Singletary Center for the Arts Recital Hall on November 1st.  Miss Lexington 2009 is Andrea Walker, a student at Western Kentucky University.  She sang "In His Eyes" from Jekyll & Hyde for the talent competition and her platform is "GOLD" - Gift of Life Donation: Raising Awareness and Educating Others About Organ and Tissue Donation.  Miss Metropolitan 2009 is Erica Canfield a senior at Fairview High School in Ashland.  She performed a lyrical dance to Prince's "Purple Rain" and her platform issue is Changing Lives - The Influence of Volunteerism.  The 1st runner-up was Courtney Norvell; the 2nd runner-up was Kelly Casey; the 3rd runner-up was Blaine Menke and the 4th runner-up was Leslie Neeley.

Please keep Regional Field Director, Jeff Huffman and his family in your thoughts and prayers.  Jeff's father, Clarence Elbert Huffman, passed away on Friday, October 31st.  Visitation will be Sunday, October 2, 2009 from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. at Malone Funeral Home in Grayson and the funeral will be held on Monday, October 3, 2008 at 1:00 PM at Malone Funeral Home by minsters John Dean and Frank Wallace.  Burial will follow in the Huffman family cemetery.

click the photo above to order your 2009 Miss America program book The 2009 Miss America program book is now available for purchase.  It will feature information on all the 52 contestants vying for the title this year as well as articles on the current and former Miss Americas and a wealth of pageant information.  By ordering the book and selecting Kentucky as your state the Miss Kentucky Organization will receive a $3.00 rebate on every book purchased.  You can order your copy by clicking on the photo above or visiting:  http://Magazine.MissAmerica.org.  Please support your state program and the Miss America Organization by purchasing this special publication.

Click here to visit the TLC website

On Sunday, September 21, Emily will be arriving in California to begin the taping of a four-episode reality show series for TLC. The 52 contestants vying for the 2009 Miss America title will be whisked away to a surprise location and will begin filming the reality series that will lead up to our 2009 Miss America Live! Pageant. The series will create a new level of suspense for viewers and will focus on many different elements and challenges for our 52 contestants. This will allow the television audience to become familiar with our contestants before they see them compete in January for the title of Miss America 2009. Along with filming the reality series, the contestants’ schedules are packed with fun and exciting events and activities, so they can take full advantage of the wonderful attractions California has to offer!

Click here to visit the Miss America website

Miss America 2009 Pageant Tickets are available for order through the state office.   Only Season Ticket Packages will be available for purchase.  The price is $250.00.   A Season Ticket  Package includes 1 each of the following:   Preliminary Night 1 - Tuesday, January 20th Preliminary Night 2 - Wednesday, January 21st Preliminary Night 3 - Thursday, January 22nd Final Night - Saturday, January 24th   Individual night tickets will not be sold through the Miss America State Organizations.   If you would like to purchase a State Badge which gives you access to rehearsal and visitation, the cost is $35.00 if you provide the MAO a picture ahead of time.  If you already have a picture on file, then you will not need to send the MAO another photo.  However, if you are attending for the first time, a picture will be needed by the MAO in order to process your State Badge.  If you wait until you arrive in Las Vegas and have your picture taken by MAO staff, your State Badge will cost $50.00.  Please contact Jamie Breeding for instructions on sending your picture to the MAO office.  Jamiebreed@aol.com or 859-273-4931   Your order for Season Ticket Packages and State Badges must be submitted with payment to the state office by Saturday, November 1st.   Please send the number of Season Tickets Packages, State Badges and payment to the following address:   Miss Kentucky Scholarship Organization Miss America 2009 Tickets 3284 Shoal Lake Drive Lexington, KY 40515   Hotel reservations can be made at Planet Hollywood at the Miss America rate of $179.00 per night. Please contact Planet Hollywood directly at: Phone: 866-517-3263 E-mail: reservations@planethollywoodresort.com

l to r: Dana Elliott, Taylor Sang and Candace Shoemaker The 2009 Miss Heartland Scholarship Pageant was held in Elizabethtown at the Hardin County Schools Performing Arts Center on September 27th.  Three winners were crowned in the miss division.  Miss Heartland 2009 is Taylor Sang, a 17 year-old Senior at the Louisville Collegiate School.  She performed a harp piece entitled "Moonlight" and her platform is Prevention of Alcoholism and Underage Drinking.  Miss Elizabethtown Area 2009 is Candace Shoemaker an 18 year-old Freshman at Southeastern University.  She sang "Tell Me on a Sunday" and won the talent award and her platform is the Make-a-Wish Foundation.  Miss Central Kentucky 2009 is Dana Elliott a 23 year-old graduate of the University of Kentucky.  She performed a dance to "Love by Grace" and her platform issue is Breast Cancer Awareness.  The new Miss Heartland Outstanding Teen is Erynn Landherr a 13 year old student at Noe Middle School.  She tap danced to "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and won the talent award in her division and her platform issue is Cerebral Palsy: Help & Hope.  Kelsey DeBord was crowned Miss Elizabethtown Area Outstanding Teen for 2009.  She is a 15 year-old student at Madison Southern High School.  Kelsey sang "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" for her talent and her platform is the Saracare Fund.

Click here to view the full preliminary line-up for Miss America 2009

This year's Miss America Contestant Lottery was held recently and Emily selected #16 in the Alpha Group.  She will be the second to last contestant in that group and will compete in private interview the evening of Monday, January 19; talent on Tuesday night, January 20; on-stage question Wednesday night, January 21 and swimsuit & evening wear on Thursday night, January 22.  The finals will be held on Saturday night, January 24 and will be televised on the TLC network.  Good luck Emily!

Miss America Local Pageants Insurance Coverage       Miss America local pageant organizations should have insurance coverage in place before the date of their local pageant competition.  For years now the K&K Ins. Group has provided local pageants affiliated with the Miss America Organization the insurance coverage necessary for the local events. Local pageant organizations are to contact the association's agent--John Gallaher at 573-581-8330.       Please notice the attachment and the insurance company's website address,                  http://www.gtrinsurance.com/     There is a link at the bottom of the opening page of the website “Click here to order a pageant certificate of insurance” And email address, gtr@gtrinsurance.com        Ideally this should be done very early in the pageant year.  A document showing that you have insurance coverage from accident and liability is often times required by venues before they will approve use of their facility.

Autumn with Presley Jayleigh Cavender

Autumn Cavender, Miss Cumberland Valley 2005 & Co-Director of the Miss East Kentucky / Miss Knott County Scholarship Pageant, and her husband Micah welcomed their daughter Presley Jayleigh on September 5, 2008.  Presley weighed 7 lbs 2 oz and was 20 inches long.  Proud Grammy is Susan Amburgey, Autumn's mother and Co-Director of the Miss East Kentucky / Miss Knott County Scholarship Pageant.

Lindsey Reed Sheckles, Kentucky's representative to the National Sweetheart Pageant

Congratulations to Miss Heartland 2008 and 1st runner-up to Miss Kentucky, Lindsey Sheckles, who represented our state in the 2008 National Sweetheart Pageant and placed in the top 10.   Sponsored by the Hoopeston (Illinois) Jaycees, the National Sweetheart Pageant is held annually in conjunction with the National Sweetcorn Festival.  It enables the first runners-up from state pageants to compete for a $1,000 scholarship, $500 savings bond and an assortment of prizes.  The pageant also gives them a taste of what Miss America is like on a smaller scale.  Preliminaries will be held on Friday, August 29th and Saturday, August 30th, with the final competition being held on Sunday, August 31st .    The Sweetheart Pageant has been held continuously with state runners-up competing since 1952.  In that time period Kentucky has won the title five times:  Diana Barker (1968), Linda Brownfield (1970), Carolyn Jones (1977), Chera-Lyn Cook (1997) and MacKenzie Mayes (2000).  To date seven Miss Americas have previously participated in the National Sweetheart Pageant.    For more information about the Sweetheart Pageant and Sweetcorn Festival visit: www.hoopestonjaycees.com

Please keep former Miss Lexington co-director Donna Rardin and her family in your thoughts and prayers.  Donna's mother, Shirley Shaw, passed away on August 29th.  Shirley was a member of the Metropolitan Woman's Club and also served on the Miss Lexington pageant committee.  Funeral services will be conducted at 1:30 pm Wed. September 3rd at Milwards-Southland by Dr. Mike James with burial in Lexington Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Tues. September 2nd at Milward-Southland.  In lieu of flowers, please make donations to either Hospice of the Bluegrass or Glen’s Creek Baptist Church, 4678 Steele Pike, Versailles, KY 40383.

photo by Ted Slone One of Miss Kentucky's duties every year is to assist with the selling of the grand champion country ham at the Kentucky State Fair.  This year's winning  bid was for $200,000.00 by Broadbent B&B Foods of Cadiz with proceeds going to charity.  Emily is pictured with Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer, Governor Steve Beshear, and officials of Kentucky Farm Bureau and Republic Bank.

Former Miss Kentucky's pose at the wedding   In a summer filled with Miss Kentucky weddings Miss Kentucky 2005, Kerri Mitchell, became Mrs. Bo Calloway on  August 23, 2008 at a ceremony held at the Bleak House Gardens in Knoxville, Tennessee.  The Miss Kentucky Organization would like to extend best wishes to the happy couple for a bright future together!  You can view their wedding website at:   http://www.mitchell-calloway-wedding.com/   Former Miss America contestants from 2006 at Kerri's wedding

Miss Kentucky's Outstanding Teen 2008, Ashley Ferry

Best wishes to Miss Kentucky's Outstanding Teen 2008, Ashley Ferry, as she represents our state in the 2008 Miss America's Outstanding Teen Pageant in Orlando!  Ashley arrived in Orlando on Wednesday, August 6th, and the preliminary competition will begin on Tuesday, August 12th with the final night of competition scheduled for Saturday, August 16th.  Please check the link below for daily updates on Ashley's performance and other MAOT events.   CLICK HERE FOR UPDATES ON ASHLEY FROM MISS AMERICA'S OUTSTANDING TEEN 2008

Rachelle Phillips Shults (center) with Kerri Mitchell (l) and Kaitlynne Postel (r)   Miss Kentucky 2006, Rachelle Phillips, accepted a new title on August 2, 2008, as she became Mrs. Michael Shults.  The two were married in a ceremony held in Nashville, Tennessee, surrounded by family and friends.  We would like to extend best wishes to the happy couple for a bright future together!

Maywood Amburgey, passed away Wednesday night from complicatrions of ALS.  May served as the Co-Executive Director of the Miss Perry County, Miss Knott County, Miss Southeastern Kentucky and Miss Bowling Green Pageants during the 1980's-1990's.  She was the chairwoman of the Little Miss Kentucky Pageant for three years and the local director of Miss Bowling Green/Miss Kentucky 1990 Nancy Cox.  May's daughter, Susan and granddaughter, Autumn Cavender are the directors of Miss Knott County, Miss Heart of the Highlands, Miss Southeastern Kentucky and Miss East Kentucky.  The funeral will be held at Hindman Funeral Home in Knott County at 2:00 PM on Sunday, August 3rd.  Please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers.

Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino - Las Vegas, home of the 2008 Miss America Pageant The Miss America Organization has announced that Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino will host the 2009 Miss America Live! on TLC, Saturday, January 24, 2009 at 8:00 PM EST. Preliminary competitions will take place on January 20, 21 & 22 at Planet Hollywood's Theatre for Performing Arts.  A block of rooms at a discount rate for state delegations is also available at the Planet Hollywood during those dates.  To download a reservations form please click the link below: 2009 Pageant Hotel Reservation Form

During the Friday night preliminary competition held on July 18, 2008, the following awards were given to recognize outstanding achievement among local pageants:  Highest Cash Scholarship, Miss Lexington Pageant; Highest In-Kind Scholarship, Miss Lexington Pageant; Best Judges Book, Miss Ashland Area Pageant; Best Program Book, Miss Monticello / Wayne County Pageant; Best Production, Miss Lexington Pageant.  Also, Deirdre Shufflebarger and Justin Rains were named Volunteers of the Year.

On Saturday, June 7th, Miss Kentucky 2001, Monica Hardin married James Booker in a ceremony held at Kenwood Baptist Church in Crestwood, Kentucky.  The happy couple will be residing in Louisville where Monica is a reporter for WLKY Channel 32.

Congratulations to Miss Kentucky 1999, Dr. Shanna Moore Leslie, and her husband Blake on the birth of their daughter Alexandra Kari on May 28, 2008 at 11:49 AM.  She weighs 8 lb 1 oz and is 19" long.

Please keep former Miss Kentucky, Melanie Glasscock-Simpson, in your thoughts and prayers.  Her husband Billy Simpson passed away Tuesday June 3rd.  Visitation will be 4-8 PM Thursday at Milward Funeral Home next to the Lexington Opera House on North Broadway.  Visitation will continue Friday from 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM at Central Christian Church with services at 1:00 PM.  In lieu of flowers Melanie requests that donations be sent to Markey Cancer Center.

June 19th at Applebee's Park in Lexington, the Lexington Legends baseball team will be sponsoring "Pageant Night at the Park."  Miss Kentucky 2007, Kaitlynne Postel, will be in attendance, along with many of this year's local titleholders.  Everyone is invited to attend.  The game starts at 7:05 PM but  a CMN fundraiser will begin at 6:30 PM.  Click on the logo to the left to go to the Legends website.  For photos of the event visit www.topsinlex.com

Jim & Joy Robbins, Image Improvement Inc.

Jim & Joy Robbins from Image Improvement, Inc., will be conducting individual interview sessions May 30 and 31st at Miss Priss in Lexington (401 West Main Street in Victorian Square) starting at 9 a.m. each day until 5 p.m.  All interested contestants should call them directly to set up an appointment at 765-521-2249 or 765-524-0337.  They can also be reached via email at iimprove@att.net.  Jim & Joy Robbins are longtime supporters of the Miss Kentucky Organization and have assisted many contestants nationwide with interview preparation.  Among their clientale are four former Miss America winners including the current Miss America, Kirstin Haglund, and her predecessor Lauren Nelson.  They also have worked with runners-up and semi-finalists in the Miss America's Outstanding Teen Pageant.

Please keep Miss Kentucky Board Member, Lisa Green-Ratliff, in your thoughts and prayers as her mother passed away on March 25, 2008.

Miss Kentucky's Outstanding Teen co-director Shane Hensley's mother passed away on March 11th.  Public visitation will be Thursday night, March 13th, after 5:00 PM at Carmichael Community Church located on US Highway 25 in northern Laurel County just a few miles south of I-75 exit 49.  The funeral will be held on Friday, March 14th, at 2:00 PM, also at the church.  The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made in honor of Edith Rose Williams Hensley to: Carmichael Community Church Youth Ministries 432 Old Hare Road East Bernstadt, KY  40729 Please remember Shane and his extended family in your thoughts and prayers during this sad and difficult time

Alison Lovely, 2008 Kentucky's Junior Miss (photo by Joetta Gaunt)

Congratulations to Miss Kentucky's Outstanding Teen 2006, Alison Lovely, who won the title of Kentucky's Junior Miss 2008 at the competition held in Lexington January 12th.  Alison will represent Kentucky at the 2008 America's Junior Miss program to be held in Mobile, Alabama, in June.