Pageant News Bureau - Miss UGA 2

Bulldog Beauty

Photos by Joe Whiteko / PNB

Ashley Foster is crowned by Jenna Gay, Miss UGA 2006

Legendary PNB photographer Joe Whiteko, as his many admirers know, is a native of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. But as a young man, with a dream of enjoying warmer climes and photographing beautiful women, he made the South his home. He became Georgia's own Joe Whiteko.

One of his favorite pageants is Miss UGA. The University of Georgia, home of the Bulldogs, is an educational pearl. It's known not only for its academics and athletics, but also for its cheerleaders and beauty queens. The old myth that beautiful women detract from learning has been proved false on this campus. On the contrary, they raise the level of intelligence wherever they are found.

With former Miss UGA and Miss Georgia, Monica Pang (who was also first runner-up at Miss America)

.The Miss UGA Pageant in early 2007 was like an advanced course in feminine pulchritude. And feminine pulchritude is always enhanced by the photographic prowess of Georgia Joe.

The winner was cellular biology major Ashley Foster, from the small Georgia town of Evans. The first runner-up was Veronica Rohrmoser, who was also the interview winner. The second runner-up was Veronica Hart, and the third runner-up was Elea Soler. The fourth runner-up was Amanda Erwin. The talent winner was Erin Beasley.

Whiteko is a man of the world, toasted and quoted in every corner of the far-flung pageant empire.

But look at these ladies! No wonder the man lives where he does! And no wonder the folks in Georgia wouldn't have it any other way.