Pageant News Bureau - 2007 United States Miss Earth

Thank heaven the Earth isn't flat. It's curved and voluptuous, like a woman. (Male astronauts like to go into orbit just to get a look at it.) You could say that the Earth is the inspiration for beauty pageants everywhere.

The 2007 United States Miss Earth pageant -- which picked a contestant to represent the good old USA at the Miss Earth Pageant in Manila -- was held in August in Portland, Ore. It's a marvelous place, known as the City of Roses for its lush flowers. It even smells good, usually. And the local scenery is breathtaking.

And if the scenery didn't do it for you, bodacious Amanda Pennekamp, Miss Earth United States 2006, was on hand to give up her crown. She's been signed up for a major entertainment contract in Vegas (a place that is sort of like the Earth).

Because this is a "themed" pageant, there was a lot of wonderful talk about saving the Earth. Recycle, put out a bird feeder, don't waste fertilizer. It's a great cause, and we're working on it.

Though Miss Earth is a beauty contest, there was also a talent competition at the U.S. event. The winner was Miss Earth Texas, Aishwarya Raju, whose name reminds us of another beauty queen.

Lisa Forbes of Kansas was crowned Miss Earth United States. And here come those elemental titles that make the Miss Earth system unique: Jana Murrell, the Midwest competitor, was United States Miss Air. Sunshine State's Christina Rumfelt was United States Miss Water. Carson Hanrath of Tennessee was United States Miss Fire. Kimberly Hoff of Arizona was United States Miss Eco-Tourism.

Some people call Miss Earth the pageant of the future. It's definitely growing. And United States Miss Earth is flying high, too. Amanda Kimmel, who held the title
for 2005, is soon to appear in "Survivor -- China." (What is it about girls named Amanda?)

And next year, the United States Miss Earth folks will have a teen pageant. It's gonna be hotter than a solar panel.