Miss America 2015
 

The pageant is in September, and I know a lot of states are crowning their ladies soon if they haven't already done so.

Miss Alabama was crowned tonight, and the winner was Miss Leeds Area, Caitlin Brunell. She just recently graduated from Bama, and is a Phi Mu.

She's not the only Greek woman on the list this year, of course. (I found Alaska, Nebraska, and Vermont thanks to nyapbp's blog—always an interesting read :))

The list so far…

Miss Alabama Caitlin Brunell Phi Mu, University of Alabama
Miss Alaska Malie Delgado Alpha Sigma Alpha, University of Alaska Anchorage
Miss Kansas Amanda Sasek Alpha Sigma Alpha, University of Central Missouri
Miss Nebraska Megan Swanson Alpha Sigma Tau, Belmont University
Miss Vermont Lucy Edwards Delta Delta Delta, University of Vermont

I was thinking that Miss Missouri Jessica Hartman is Greek, but based on some more googling, I am unsure.

Does anyone know if Alex Eppler, Miss Oklahoma (University of Oklahoma) is a sorority woman since most of the Miss Oklahomas tend to be Greek?

I do not think Jessica Hartman (Miss Missouri) is Greek.

I am not sure about Miss Hawaii, Stephanie Steuri, Miss Hawaii.

She's Miss Texas USA and she'll be competing for that title tonight. The Miss Texas contestant for the Miss America competition won't be chosen until July.

Go ahead and mark Miss Mississippi down as a Chi Omega. The state pageant isn't until July, but trust me, it's a tradition.

Kidding! I kid.

Miss Alabama was crowned tonight, and the winner was Miss Leeds Area, Caitlin Brunell. She just recently graduated from Bama, and is a Phi Mu.


Caitlin's grandmother is a Pi Phi and is one of our Foundation Ambassadors.

A Chi O friend of mine became Miss Mississippi when the reigning one became Miss America!

Upcoming Pageant schedule:

June 14:
Iowa
Minnesota
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
Michigan
Delaware
Montana
Illinois
Rhode Island

June 15:
District of Columbia

June 21:
Tennessee
Indiana
Maine
Arizona
Arkansas
South Dakota
Florida
Georgia
North Carolina
Utah
Ohio
Colorado
Wisconsin

June 24:
West Virginia

June 28:
Virginia
California
Puerto Rico
Oregon
New Mexico
Louisiana
South Carolina
Connecticut
Maryland

June 29:
Massachusetts

July 5:
Washington
Texas

July 12:
Idaho
Mississippi
Kentucky

I hope she'll be the first Miss America's Outstanding Teen (a pageant run by the Miss America Scholarship organization) to also win Miss America.

One of my pledge class sisters won Miss America's Outstanding Teen! She also won Miss Clemson University, although that's not quite as big as Miss America:p

I would love for her to win Miss America, but really for no other reason than it's time for another Miss Alabama to win. ;)

I'm also on the lookout for state winners who are sisters of mine, too. :)

There were a few more NPC women who won this weekend:

Miss District of Columbia - Teresa Davis, Kappa Alpha Theta, University of Georgia

Miss Rhode Island - Ivy DePew, Delta Gamma, University of Memphis

I don't think Alexandra Eppler is Greek. My brother-in-law is an OU Delt from Eppler's hometown and he had no knowledge of her having a sorority affiliation. It isn't mentioned in any of the press or her LinkedIn account either.

Thanks, irishpipes!

Miss Alabama - Caitlin Brunell - Phi Mu, University of Alabama
Miss Alaska - Malie Delgado - Alpha Sigma Alpha, University of Alaska Anchorage
Miss Arkansas - Ashton Campbell - Chi Omega, University of Arkansas
Miss District of Columbia -Teresa Davis- Kappa Alpha Theta, University of Georgia
Miss Florida - Elizabeth Fechtel - Alpha Delta Pi, University of Florida
Miss Georgia - Maggie Bridges - Alpha Delta Pi, Georgia Tech
Miss Kansas - Amanda Sasek - Alpha Sigma Alpha, University of Central Missouri
Miss Nebraska - Megan Swanson - Alpha Sigma Tau, Belmont University
Miss Tennessee - Hayley Lewis - Phi Mu, Belmont University
Miss Rhode Island - Ivy DePew - Delta Gamma, University of Memphis
Miss Vermont - Lucy Edwards - Delta Delta Delta, University of Vermont

11 NPC women so far representing 9 NPC organizations!

Miss Georgia announced tonight is a Georgia Tech Alpha Delta Pi!

Announced on ADPi's FB page:
Miss Florida Elizabeth Fentchel, University of Florida
Miss Pennsylvania Amanda Smith, Florida State
Miss Georgia Maggie Bridges, Georgia Tech

Miss Alabama - Caitlin Brunell - Phi Mu, University of Alabama
Miss Alaska - Malie Delgado - Alpha Sigma Alpha, University of Alaska Anchorage
Miss Arkansas - Ashton Campbell - Chi Omega, University of Arkansas
Miss District of Columbia -Teresa Davis- Kappa Alpha Theta, University of Georgia
Miss Florida - Elizabeth Fechtel - Alpha Delta Pi, University of Florida
Miss Georgia - Maggie Bridges - Alpha Delta Pi, Georgia Tech
Miss Kansas - Amanda Sasek - Alpha Sigma Alpha, University of Central Missouri
Miss Nebraska - Megan Swanson - Alpha Sigma Tau, Belmont University
Miss Pennsylvania - Amanda Smith - Alpha Delta Pi, Florida State University
Miss Tennessee - Hayley Lewis - Phi Mu, Belmont University
Miss Rhode Island - Ivy DePew - Delta Gamma, University of Memphis
Miss Vermont - Lucy Edwards - Delta Delta Delta, University of Vermont

12 NPC women so far representing 9 NPC organizations!

I think it's really cool when some of these women, even though they are from different sororities, represent from the same university. This year, so far, it looks like we have two from Belmont!

Miss Delaware stripped of crown over age controversy:

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/...oversy-n142381

The first runner-up (and if Miss Delaware is stripped of her title she will become Miss Delaware) is Brittany Lewis who is an Alpha Kappa Alpha.

This situation seems odd, however, as the officials knew her age before she won the title.

Wow. Just wow. So, a few things. First, what kind of society are we living in that her "old" age of 24 and almost 25 is "too old" to compete in a pageant that usually has tons of college-educated women in it? I mean, some of them are in graduate school. That's pretty ageist. Second, it sucks that she already left her internship and program for a year to do the pageant only to get the rug pulled out from under her. Horrible! Third, she is already going into a field to help people---a field in which we need more people--but, her "old age" got her cut from the scholarship money. Last, if she is in school for social work, I am quite certain UPenn will allow her back to finish working on her MSW. I cannot see anyone turning down an already admitted student into such a program based on compassion because of this. This whole thing is just horrible for this young woman.

Miss Florida, Elizabeth Fechtel, has been stripped of her crown due to a tabulation error. The first runner up, Victoria Cowen, has been crowned.

Per the Miss America Facebook page:
In Florida, upon the realization that a tabulation error resulted due to a judge making a change on their score sheet that was not caught when the scores were tabulated, the Miss Florida title was wrongly awarded to Elizabeth Fechtel. Action was taken with an independent CPA to thoroughly review the judges scores and it was determined that the named 1st runner up, Victoria Cowen, was actually the winner of Miss Florida 2014.

Wowza....two controversial issues with Florida and Delaware. I feel so bad for these women...how devastating.

Updated - removed Miss Florida, Elizabeth Fechtel

Miss Alabama - Caitlin Brunell - Phi Mu, University of Alabama
Miss Alaska - Malie Delgado - Alpha Sigma Alpha, University of Alaska Anchorage
Miss Arkansas - Ashton Campbell - Chi Omega, University of Arkansas
Miss District of Columbia -Teresa Davis- Kappa Alpha Theta, University of Georgia
Miss Georgia - Maggie Bridges - Alpha Delta Pi, Georgia Tech
Miss Kansas - Amanda Sasek - Alpha Sigma Alpha, University of Central Missouri
Miss Nebraska - Megan Swanson - Alpha Sigma Tau, Belmont University
Miss Pennsylvania - Amanda Smith - Alpha Delta Pi, Florida State University
Miss Tennessee - Hayley Lewis - Phi Mu, Belmont University
Miss Rhode Island - Ivy DePew - Delta Gamma, University of Memphis
Miss Vermont - Lucy Edwards - Delta Delta Delta, University of Vermont

I'm really feeling sorry for both of these women...it's so "public" and neither was to blame.

I'm sorry the Miss Florida error is just so WRONG on so many levels. Co-Miss Florida is what they should have done. Am already sick of the jokes Florida can't count votes; it's the impact to the girl that is just so wrong. And what also won't help a UF girl gets dethroned by a FSU girl...

Miss Alabama - Caitlin Brunell - Phi Mu, University of Alabama
Miss Alaska - Malie Delgado - Alpha Sigma Alpha, University of Alaska Anchorage
Miss Arkansas - Ashton Campbell - Chi Omega, University of Arkansas
Miss District of Columbia -Teresa Davis- Kappa Alpha Theta, University of Georgia
Miss Georgia - Maggie Bridges - Alpha Delta Pi, Georgia Tech
Miss Florida - Victoria Cowen - Kappa Delta, Florida State University
Miss Kansas - Amanda Sasek - Alpha Sigma Alpha, University of Central Missouri
Miss Nebraska - Megan Swanson - Alpha Sigma Tau, Belmont University
Miss Pennsylvania - Amanda Smith - Alpha Delta Pi, Florida State University
Miss Tennessee - Hayley Lewis - Phi Mu, Belmont University
Miss Rhode Island - Ivy DePew - Delta Gamma, University of Memphis
Miss Vermont - Lucy Edwards - Delta Delta Delta, University of Vermont

As Elizabeth was previously Miss America's 2012 Outstanding Teen, I would think she might handle the news with grace and poise.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion but it is still hard and definitely not a good situation...and not something you wish on anyone. I think the organization should step up to the plate and match scholarship. It is still just wrong and I hope the school stands and supports her.

They are already misogynistic, why would ageism on top of that be a big surprise? I am more and more disturbed by this whole pageant thing the older I get. Why in the world would a "scholarship" be dependent on how you look in an evening gown or bikini? What kind of crap is that? Maybe the #YesAllWomen thing really got to me, but I've become so incredibly aware of the misogyny in this country and I'm so sick of it. What kind of messages are we giving our daughters?

When Matt Lauer asks the CEO of a Fortune 5 company if she can handle being a mom and a CEO, that's BS. When we focus so strongly on what the First Lady wears to the Inauguration Ball, that's BS. When I posted pics of my graduation on my FB, the MAJORITY of the comments were about how pretty I looked. I got my MASTER'S DEGREE! The accomplishment that day was NOT how I looked.

/<end rant>

She put up a blog post about it...she's a class act all the way. Very poised young lady.

http://elizabethfechtel.wordpress.com/

This^. Yes, this^^, And this^^^. Finally, this^^^^. And in summation this ^^^^^.

And just to let you really know we feel about misogyny:
http://cdn.ksk.uproxx.com/wp-content...y-eye-roll.gif

New winners in BOLD:

Miss Alabama - Caitlin Brunell - Phi Mu, University of Alabama
Miss Alaska - Malie Delgado - Alpha Sigma Alpha, University of Alaska Anchorage
Miss Arkansas - Ashton Campbell - Chi Omega, University of Arkansas
Miss District of Columbia -Teresa Davis- Kappa Alpha Theta, University of Georgia
Miss Georgia - Maggie Bridges - Alpha Delta Pi, Georgia Tech
Miss Florida - Victoria Cowen - Kappa Delta, Florida State University
Miss Kansas - Amanda Sasek - Alpha Sigma Alpha, University of Central Missouri
Miss Louisiana – Lacey Sanchez – Phi Mu, Southeastern Louisiana/Louisiana State
Miss Maryland – Jade Kenny – Alpha Delta Pi, University of Alabama
Miss Nebraska - Megan Swanson - Alpha Sigma Tau, Belmont University
Miss Pennsylvania - Amanda Smith - Alpha Delta Pi, Florida State University
Miss Tennessee - Hayley Lewis - Phi Mu, Belmont University
Miss Rhode Island - Ivy DePew - Delta Gamma, University of Memphis
Miss South Carolina - Lanie Hudson - Alpha Delta Pi, Clemson University
Miss Vermont - Lucy Edwards - Delta Delta Delta, University of Vermont

15 women from 9 NPC organizations:

ADP - 4
ASA - 2
AST - 1
DDD - 1
DG - 1
KAT - 1
KD - 1
PM - 3
XO - 1

Not only am I thrilled about the fact that I have four sisters competing in this pageant so far, one of them is a newly-graduated alum from my chapter! Two of the past three Miss South Carolinas have been from my chapter, too-Ali Rogers was the winner in 2012.

clemsongirl....Miss South Carolina USA was an ADPi from College of Charleston too. So many of our sisters representing SC in pageants! Very cool :)

Miss California - Marina Inserra, Delta Zeta from San Diego State University

https://www.facebook.com/DeltaZetaSD...98293&filter=3


First and foremost, it's a beauty pageant. It was founded that way, and it remains that. The addition of scholarships, platforms, and interviews have made it, in my opinion, a much more well-rounded organization, but it is still a beauty pageant.

I competed several years in the Miss America organization, I found it encouraging, friendly, and I can honestly say that it helped develop my public speaking and poise. My first real job out of college required a lot of public speaking and I contribute much of my ability to do that well to the MAO.

If you look at the scoring system, 60% of the scoring is based on private interview (typically a 10-minute, press-conference style interview), and talent. For most contestants, the majority of time was spent on those phases of competition.

Anyway, all this is to say that I personally started competing on a whim in college, and found my experience to be really positive. I know of dozens of accomplished, smart women who feel the same. And while the scholarship aspect may have been a nice bonus, the majority of the women I knew who competed did so because they enjoyed the competitions themselves. Many women had strong dance or music backgrounds, and this was one of the few places they could show that off in their 20s. Plenty enjoyed the glitz and the girly aspects more than anything else. And plenty just found the camaraderie and meeting new people fun. I actually think that in terms of stereotypes and misconceptions, the MAO and sororities have a lot in common.

I'm keeping track of non-NPC orgs as well (provided they have a sort of recruitment period ;)) so I've added Miss Delaware back to the list and also added Miss Illinois who is a member of Mu Phi Epsilon professional co-ed music fraternity.

Alas, the SAI that was competing for Miss Massachusetts didn't win. Maybe there's one in one of the remaining state pageants. *crosses fingers*

Miss Delaware considers lawsuit:

http://m.today.com/style/miss-delawa...ing-1D79863050

So let me get this straight, because someone screwed up during tabulating, Elizabeth gets the crown taken away from her? How in the world is that her fault! (Just an FYI I would feel this way whether Elizabeth was an ADPi or not).

Elizabeth should be getting a lawyer and suing as Amanda, Miss Delaware is.

To me it sounds like the 1st runner ups were "bitter" for not winning and caused the "tiff" that propelled the state pageants to look over everything again and take these crowns away. I'm sorry that isn't right.

As for Amanda, what boggles my mind is them claiming she is too old. Hello, why the world were the regional and state pageants allowing her to compete? They knew when her birthday was.

And the kicker with her situation is that the runner up is also 24!

Caveat: I know nothing about pageant rules. However, where an error is not due to the fault of the contestant, what about co-winners? Both receive crowns, and both make appearances. For highly coveted appearances, both attend. Yes, it will cost the pageant organization more, but that's the price the organization pays.