Pageant
News and Updates The Miss Missouri Organization compiled by: |
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I am taking a moment to recognize what I feel are the Miss Missouri Volunteers of the Decade. This is the first ever award given by the Miss Missouri Website. Paul and Lelar have given so much to the Miss America Organization through the Miss Missouri Pageant over the years. Their efforts have produced many state and national finalists. And more than that this same involvement has fostered many friendships with contestants, local, state and national pageant volunteers. John Brown isn't the only one that will and has missed Paul's involvement during pageant week!
So Thank You Paul and Lelar, for all you have and continue to do to make this program what it is and what it will be in the future.
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A first-time Miss Missouri Scholarship Pageant contestant, in addition to
being a first time participant in local competition for the pageant, received
top honors following conclusion of Saturday evening's event. Miss River City
Lindsay Casmaer, 23, of Hazelwood, received the crown and a $10,000 cash
scholarship at the annual event, held at the Gymtorium on the campus of Missouri
Military Academy in Mexico.
Casmaer advances to competition for the Miss America crown, to be held in Las
Vegas.
A 2005 University of Pennsylvania graduate with a degree in neurobiology, and
who presently conducts Alzheimer's research at Washington University in St.
Louis, Casmaer said she did have some pageant experience.
"I actually competed in the America's Junior Miss program, largely because of
scholarship money," she said. "I was incredibly scholastic in my high school,
and I really wanted to go to a college that was going to cost me quite a bit of
money. And so I competed in Missouri's Junior Miss, and won in my senior year of
high school. And I went to America's Junior Miss in Mobile, Alabama. I did not
win, I did not make Top Ten or anything like that. But I did kind of get a bug."
Referring to that competition, she added "I really appreciated the ability they
gave me to kind of improve my speaking, my performance."
Following high school, Casmaer said she then "went to Penn, which was kind of a
crazy four years academically. And I really didn't have any time to compete in
pageants. But when I came back to St. Louis, and saw the wonderful locals that
were going on there ... I just knew that if I wanted to kind of help out my
student loans that were going to start to kick in soon, that this would be
something I should seriously strive for."
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Casmaer, who has performed in "The Nutcracker Suite" at the Fox Theater in
St. Louis, won Wednesday's talent competition with a ballet routine set to a
rendition of William Joseph's classical piano piece "Butterflies And
Hurricanes." The win helped propel Casmaer to the final round, and as Saturday
night's program came to a climax, she shared the stage with Miss Mid-Missouri
Abigail Eden. The 22-year-old Eden was then announced as first runner-up,
indicating Casmaer was the winner.
"Abby Eden is a gorgeous girl," said Casmaer. "The whole week we've actually
kind of been like bosom buddies. We've just kind of sat by each other, and been
kind of the quiet ones when we needed a down moment. And so it was just so
uncanny to stand there with her ... I didn't care if I won or not. I was just
thrilled to see her standing there. And we both just said to each other 'We
would be thrilled if either one of us won.' I have never said a more true batch
of words in my life."
Eden received $4,000 in cash scholarship and a silver tray as first runner-up.
Miss Gateway To The West Brittany Leigh Davis was second runner-up, receiving
$3,000 in scholarship money and a silver tray. Miss Branson Jessica Sullivan was
named third runner-up, receiving $2,000 in cash scholarship and a silver tray.
Miss Spirit Of St. Louis Erika Hebron was fourth runner-up, and received $1,500
in cash scholarship and the silver tray. She also received the MLPA Scholarship
as the first-time contestant with the most talent points; and a $250 cash award
for most talent points in the competition.
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Others receiving scholarship money on Saturday included Miss Gateway St.
Louis Sandra Struthers, $300 as non-finalist with the most points; and $300 as
non-finalist with the most talent points; Miss Northwest Counties Lacey
Fitzgerald, $300 as non-finalist with the most points in Lifestyle and Fitness
in Swimsuit.
Casmaer, Bell, Eden and Sullivan each also were awarded scholarship money for
finishing in a four-way tie in the overall evening wear competition.
Casmaer also won $300 as first-time most points winner, and in addition, each
contestant was awarded $75 in scholarship money from the Miss Missouri board.
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Just minutes after an opening show production Saturday evening, the 10
finalists were announced, selected from 34 total contestants. Additional
semi-finalists included Miss Kirksville Tara Osseck; Miss Malden Erin Bell; Miss
Springfield Lane Teters; Miss Western Stasha Baker; and Miss Metro St. Louis
Crystal Mathews. Each received $750 in cash scholarship prizes.
Mary Bauer, 15, of Cape Girardeau, was announced as Miss Missouri's Outstanding
Teen.
With the win, Casmaer advances to Miss America competition, with a date to be
announced. Laughing, she said she would have to inform her boss, who "thinks I'm
in Mexico, literally, as in the country."
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But resultant time requirements as the 2007 Miss Missouri are worth it, said
Casmaer, who also praised everyone involved with coordination and production of
the pageant.
"I'm feeling amazing," she said. "I cannot believe that I'm standing here with
this crown on my head ... I have had just such a whirlwind week, coming here as
a first-time contestant, and winning my first local, and coming here with the
support of my board ... not really knowing how it was going to go, but now
standing here."
In conclusion, she stated, "I just thought I would love to do this and see how
it turned out, and it happened to turn out pretty well."
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Miss Malden Mary Bauer was crowned Miss Missouri’s Outstanding Teen 2007
Saturday evening on the stage at Mexico High School Emmons Hall by Miss
Missouri’s Outstanding Teen 2006 Melanie Collier.
Miss Jackson Julie Mothershead was chosen first runner-up, Miss Branson Emily
Wicks was named second runner-up, Miss Mid-Missouri Kalei Perdu was chosen third
runner-up and Miss Northwest Counties Seanica Reineke was named fourth
runner-up.
The third annual Miss Missouri’s Outstanding Teen Pageant began by naming the
top 10 finalists, chosen by the judges during preliminary competition among the
28 talented teens entered in the pageant.
Preliminary competition included intensive individual interviews with the
panel of judges, evening gown, talent, on stage question and lifestyle and
fitness sportswear.
The top 10 contestants were Miss Branson Emily Wicks, Miss Eastern Missouri
Madison Burke, Miss Mid-Missouri Kalei Perdu, Miss Northeast Counties Caroline
Murray, Miss Jackson Julie Mothershead, Miss Malden Mary Bauer, Miss Columbia
Darbi Fuhrman, Miss Northwest Counties Seanica Reineke, Miss St. Louis County
Danielle McKeirnen and Miss River City Kelsey Lawrence.
Winners in the talent contest were Miss Malden Mary Bauer, vocal, and Miss
Northwest Seanica Reineke, lyrical dance. Winners in physical fitness in
sportswear were Miss Spirit of St. Louis Jessica Arl and Miss Northeast Counties
Caroline Murray. Winners in evening gown were Miss St. Louis County Danielle
McKeirnen, Miss Jackson Julie Mothershead and Miss Malden Mary Bauer.
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Special awards presented Saturday and the recipients were: Community Service,
Miss Florissant Dymond Hayes; Best Smile, Miss St. Louis Metro Courtney Thomure;
Physical Fitness Miss Heart of the Ozarks Alexandria Steele; Academic Excellence
Miss Branson Emily Wicks; Miss Photogenic Miss Heart of the Ozarks Alexandria
Steele; Miss Congeniality (selected by fellow contestants) Miss Malden Mary
Bauer; and People’s Choice (based on audience preference) Miss Southwest
Counties Taylor Deen.
The Judges’ Award, presented to a non-finalist for encouragement, went to Miss
Maryville Sarah Rutledge.
Non-finalist talent competition resulted in a tie between Miss Maryville Sarah
Rutledge, vocal, and Miss Southern Missouri Katie Kelly, vocal.
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Additional contestants included Miss Knob Noster Jennifer Sorell, Miss
Hannibal Ariana Galluzzio, Miss Springfield Kelsey Rogers, Miss Forsyth Ashton
Greenwood, Miss Gateway to St. Louis Kafarra Douglas, Miss Texas County Katelyn
Grindstaff, Miss Sikeston Kelsey Dacus, Miss Queen City Gilda Reed, Miss Pulaski
County Ashley Stockton, Miss Northwest Kassie Jones, Miss Ray County Christy
Lucas,
A variety of featured entertainment was interspersed throughout the pageant to
allow contestants time to change attire and judges’ decisions to be tallied.
Pages for the pageant were Haley Auwarter, Maggie Geeson, Carina Patton and
Ceirra Schmidt.
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Miss Missouri’s Outstanding Teen 2007 Mary Bauer will travel to the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Pageant which will be held Aug. 7-11 in Orlando, Fla.