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Tag: pageant

  • Miss America 2014 Distracts Forlorn Atlantic City

    The Miss America 2014 pageant is a welcome distraction this year in the midst of financial crisis.

    The city began the year with 12 casinos on the infamous boardwalk. But on the same day that the Miss America 2014 competitions started, Trump Entertainment Resorts filed for bankruptcy and threatened to close what will soon be its lone remaining casino, the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort.

    The Trump Taj Mahal is the fifth casino to crumble this year on the boardwalk. Among others that have fallen prey to financial difficulty are The Atlantic Club, Showboat, and Revel.

    It’s a sad time for Atlantic City right now, but pageant officials are hoping that the Miss America 2014 pageant, as well as the fun preliminary competitions, will help raise spirits.

    “Our hearts go out to the many, many people who have lost their jobs,” said Sam Haskell III, CEO of the Miss America Organization.

    He continued, “We hope that the Miss America competition, the Show Us Your Shoes parade and all the wonderful events this week are going to help bring some happiness and joy to this great city that serves as the birthplace of Miss America. We know what’s going on here and we want to be something positive.”

    The Miss America 2014 pageant hasn’t gone off without a hitch so far, however. Miss Rhode Island, Ivy DePew, collapsed onstage and was taken to a hospital for treatment right before awards for the day’s competitions were announced.

    It doesn’t seem too serious. Dena Blizzard, the pageant’s host, told the audience “She just got a little overheated.”

    Pageant officials expect Ivy DePew to be fine and return to competition.

    Good luck to all of those competing in the Miss America 2014 pageant. Hopefully it will take Atlantic City’s minds off of the crumbling casino industry, even if it’s just for a little while.

  • Miss Teen USA: ‘SEXtortionist’ Pleads Guilty

    NBC News reports that a computer science student pleaded guilty today to three counts of extortion and one count of unauthorized access into Miss Teen USA and other young women’s computers. Charges were brought against the hacker because he allegedly threatened to  post nude photographs of the women online.

    The 19-year-old Jared James Abrahams of Temecula, California, was released on bond until his sentencing, which is scheduled for March 17th, 2014. At the hearing, Abrahams is expected to enter a guilty plea, defense attorney Alan Eisner said. The teenager faces possible imprisonment of up to 11 years and fines amounting to $1 million.

    Abrahams is alleged to have hacked into Cassidy Wolf’s computer as well as that of of seven other women from various states and counties, authorities said.  Miss Cassidy Wolf is the current Miss Teen USA. For four years she attended the same school as Abrahams in Temecula, just southeast of Los Angeles, and graduated in 2012.

    A plea statement filed last month gives details from last year until June of this year. The computer science student hacked into computers,  social media accounts, and emails accounts belonging to the victims. He was then able to control webcams and surreptitiously photograph the unsuspecting women, the FBI reported. Abraham was said to have sent anonymous emails to the victims,  informing them that he was in possession of their nude photos and would publish them online if they failed to send him additional pictures or undress for him. He promised to destroy the images only if they complied with his demands.

    Wolf did not comply with Abraham’s demands and called the investigators after receiving threatening emails containing her nude photos. However, according to police, at least two of the other victims went along with his demands.

    A Florida man accused of employing similar tactics was sentenced to ten years in prison for hacking into Scarlett Johansson and Christina Aguilera’s online accounts, and publicly revealing their nude photos.

    (main photo via YouTube.com)

  • Megan Young is Crowned Miss World Philippines 2013

    Megan Young is definitely basking in the ambiance of royalty with her new title of prestige – Miss World. The 23-year-old was crowned Miss World Philippines 2013, Sept. 28, at the Hindu-dominated, Indonesian resort island in Bali.

    In an impressive denouement last night, Young executed a laudable performance out-shining a total of 126 beautiful contestants from various walks of life around the entire world. The glamorously grueling competition was comprised of beach fashion, fitness, world fashion, talent, and the gravely important “Beauty with a Purpose” category, which honed in on the significance of charitable work.

    Her magical night was captured by spectators in more than 180 countries internationally. Adorned in a pale pink, shimmering gown, Young received the crown from her predecessor, Miss World 2012, Wenxia Yu of China. She also made history as the first Filipina to ever win the illustrious title of Miss World.

    Young, a United States native, is of both Filipino and American descent. She is currently a college student majoring in Digital Film Making at De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde. The aspiring filmmaker is definitely not new to on-screen presentation, as she has appeared for various programs as an actress and announcer since the age of 15.

    She received her first ‘big break’ on the television talent search show, “StarStruck.” Two years after “StarStruck,” she moved on to the Philippines’ major commercial television network “ABS-CBN.” While she does have a love for acting, she desires to move into the director’s role and work behind the scenes.

    According to CNN, when Young was asked of her sentiments toward achieving such a grand feat, she was literally and figuratively speechless. “No words! Thank you so much for everyone for choosing me. I promise to be the best Miss World ever,” exclaimed the new queen.

     

    Image via Wikimedia Commons