Boring, second runner-up Katie Hill, America’s Perfect Miss Shannon McAnally, first runner-up Jenny McClain and third runner-up Mariah Ellis represent the Top 5 of the inaugural America’s Perfect Miss Pageant.

REDEFINING

Perfection The inaugural America’s Perfect Miss Pageants gave typical scholarship competitions a shot in the arm with a fashion-infused delivery

PHOTOS BY: RICK MARTINEZ - STUDIORM

What is achieved when you combine the beauty, elegance, fashion savvy, and style of a fashion show with the pure suspense and fierce competition of a classic pageant? Simple. The America’s Perfect Junior Teen, Teen and Miss Pageants.

Michael Galanes, formerly a state director with Miss USA/Teen USA, NBC/Donald Trump Productions, has certainly begun a new American tradition. The fashion show-inspired pageant with and its spectacular and unique crowning finale was staged August 14-17 at Walt Disney World’s Radisson World Gate Resort. More than 100 models checked in from all over the country and competed in a press conference style interview, swimsuit and evening wear fashion show.

Frank Arcidiacono, the show’s producer and director, has previously worked with the Miss America and Miss USA Pageants and has been a featured performer at Walt Disney World. He knows performance.

“If you were to walk in to the event, you would truly feel you were in a cutting edge fashion show,” Frank remarked. “The runway was well lit, the backdrop video screen allowed the audience to see the event on TV, the models were walking like they were on a catwalk in Paris and the fashion was far from ‘classic pageant.’ I was able to use very contemporary music, the judges were scattered throughout the audience and true press media visited the event and asked the models questions relevant to the two biographical topics the models had provided to America’s Perfect Pageant.”

The pageant combined the best of both worlds (modeling and

pageantry) as the America’s Perfect Junior Teen, Teen and Miss competitions allowed each contestant to shine in her own unique way, and redefine “perfect” with her own style. The system already has over 20 state directors and all were in attendance for the inaugural show.

The prize package was indeed perfect, with winners receiving a full scholarship to the Connecticut School of Broadcasting (a

$15,000 value), $2,000 cash, $5,000 in cosmetic dentistry, as well as wardrobe, modeling contracts and photo shoots; additionally over $30,000 in prizes and scholarships were awarded. More than 100 contestants graced the runway, and the models designed the opening number outfits using progressive and trendy hairstyles and make-up. This beauty event seemed more relevant than pageants of the distant past, and these girls proved they are ready to ^{book major modeling jobs. JUBILANT JUNIOR: Minnesota’s Danielle Joiner} was radiant in white as she walked off with the

^{After all of the models} America’s Perfect Junior Teen title. worked the runway, the