Pageant News Bureau, Miss America 2007, page 4

P a g e a n t N e w s B u r e a u

Las Vegas, Nevada

Jan. 29, 2007

Tiffany Lawrence, Miss West Virginia

The preliminaries

The first preliminary winners for Miss America were chosen on Thursday, Jan. 25. Shilah Phillips, Miss Texas, was the first talent winner, singing "I Believe in You." The swimsuit winner was Lauren Nelson, Miss Oklahoma.

On Friday night, Jan. 26, Pilialoha Gaison, Miss Hawaii, was the talent winner for her Tahitian dance. Miss Nebraska, Molly McGrath, was the swimsuit winner.

Miss California, Jacquelynne Fontaine, was the talent winner and Miss Pennsylvania, Emily Wills, was the swimsuit winner on Saturday night.

A NOTE ON SWIMSUIT:

This year's official swimsuit at Miss America is Venus Swimwear. A decade ago, this would have seemed a strange marriage indeed. Miss America was known for its conservative attitude toward showing flesh. It was one-piece country. Venus was known as a bikini company that operated its own sexy, pageant-style model search. Now Miss America has gotten sexier and Venus has eased out of the contest business. And the two make a perfect fit, if we say so ourselves.

Allison Rogers, Miss Rhode Island, was announced as Miss America's Quality of Life award winner on Jan. 27, 2007. Hilary Griffith, Miss Arizona, was the first runner-up in this category, and Melinda Toole, Miss Alabama, was the second runner-up.

Not in their own words

Beauty queens are a modest lot, and these Miss America girls have an extra helping of humility. They won't praise themselves. But when other people say good things about them, those sweet words ought not to be lost to history.

So here are what other people said about some of the contestants. We kept the quotes brief to conceal the identities of the tattlers.

	Miss Ohio, Melanie Murphy -- "She's sweet. If you told her she was beautiful or sexy, it would embarrass her. She doesn't think of herself that way."
	Miss New York, Bethlene Pancoast -- "She's talented ... makes tap dancing look exciting again. She's generous, too."
	Miss Washington, Kristen Eddings -- "Polite. She always has something nice to say, always wishes you well."

Miss X, Mystery State -- "She's got it all together. Good body, knows how to say the right thing. That's why I hate her. Ha, ha! Just kidding ... ha, ha!

Photos for three above items courtesy of Miss America

Politically irresistible

Tiffany Lawrence phoned PNB's offices from somewhere in the sylvan countryside of West Virginia. She was traveling across the state on her way to a political event, still hours from her destination and hoping not to be late. But she was bubbly and friendly and eager to chat.

That's the way it is with a natural politician: When she talks to you, she makes you feel as if you are the only person in her world, even if she just learned your name and has 10 other things to worry about at the moment. Because she really does care.

With the mascot of the University of West Virginia Mountaineers

With the mascot of the West Virginia University Mountaineers

We don't use the word "politician" loosely. Ms. Lawrence is active in the Mountain State's Democratic Party and worked in the 2004 presidential campaign of party nominee John Kerry. Her career goal, totally seriously, is "to become governor of West Virginia." (But she would like to be Miss America first.)

A few years ago, there was a bit of a stir about some Miss Americas -- from both parties -- being outspoken about their political views. But even though Ms. Lawrence is an unabashed Democrat, she doesn't send off partisan vibes. She noted that she not only has Republican friends, she used to work at the state Capitol for a Republican legislator. And her personal politics, she assures us, are "pretty moderate."

So there we are. She's a tough competitor who's willing to work hard to win. But she's a happy warrior who respects the competition. That's one inspiring story as we head into the Miss America competition.

Pageants could learn a lot from politics.

Photos by Joe Whiteko / PNB

The picture of loveliness

The camera loves Heidi Ekstrom, and in her case the feeling is mutual.

Long before she ever thought of becoming Miss Illinois, she was interested in taking pictures, and now she's a highly trained photographer. She plans someday to teach the art of photography in high schools. (She is absolutely the first Miss America contestant we have ever met with that ambition.)

Heidi Ekstrom, Miss Illinois

One of Heidi Ekstrom's photographs

We asked her if she had ever taken pictures of herself. She said sometimes that was part of her assignments, but she didn't sound terribly enthusiastic about the pictures. Isn't that just like a beautiful woman? Doesn't know how beautiful she is.

Ms. Ekstrom is a second-generation pageant queen, but didn't compete until she was 20. And if you think she got the idea from her mom ... well, it was quite the opposite. "I didn't tell her at first." Her own big concern, she said, was how the other contestants would act, but "everyone has been wonderful."

Her talent, as you may know, is ballet en pointe. She once planned to make it her career as well, but finally admitted to herself that her heart would not be in it. "If you're a dancer, that's your life," she said. "I wanted something more stable."

For a girl who has spent a lot of time on her toes, Ms. Ekstrom has her feet firmly on the ground. But she's looking up at the stars -- with a telephoto lens.

Photos courtesy of Heidi Ekstrom

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