Pageant News Bureau - Miss USA 2004

Analyze this

Janel Haw, Miss Colorado USA, was born during the reign of one of our favorite Miss Universes -- Janelle Commissiong of Trinidad and Tobago. The similarity in names is no coincidence: Her mother wanted a Miss Universe in the family. And so far, so good.

It's true that "Janelle" and "Janel" aren't spelled exactly alike. But Americans are known for trimming letters out of words. They spell "neighbour" as "neighbor" and "programme" as "program." Some spell "Barbara" as "Barbra." (There may even be an American out there who would take the "g" out of "Commissiong," but that would be wrong.)

PNB likes a beauty queen who has something neat to say about the place she's representing, and Ms. Haw hit a home run when we asked her about Colorado. "It has beautiful mountains," she said, "but it's more than mountains." That should be the state motto.

Ms. Haw really enjoys being Miss Colorado USA. "It took me seven tries" to capture the title, she told us. That's an amazing record of persistence, because the pressure at this level of competition gets greater each year. To survive it is extraordinary, to come through and win takes the inner strength of a Bruce Lee (plus the beauty of a Janel Haw).

Speaking of strength, Ms. Haw may sometimes hold your future in her hands. Maybe she has done so already. In her non-pageant job, she's a medical claims analyst. If somebody gets hurt at work, she analyzes the medical claim to determine what the worker is entitled to. "I'm basically a middleman," she said. We're sure she's good at it, but . . .

Frankly, we think she rates a more glamorous job, and fortunately she has her eye on a couple of them. For one, she wants to be a food and hotel critic, analyzing restaurant menus and wine lists instead of medical claims. The other job you can guess: Miss USA.

Put the two together, and you'd have a perfect dinner date.

Photos courtesy of Janel Haw and Miss Colorado USA

She's got the looks (and she makes them)

Maria Lekkakos of Massachusetts would be in the beauty business even if she weren't a beauty queen.

She makes her living turning other people into beauties. She's an esthetician, which is sort of like a cosmetician, but with a broader range, and she has her own "full-service day spa." It offers facials, manicures, pedicures, massages, makeup and whatever else makes a customer irresistible.

The word "esthetician" is of Greek origin. So is the word "cosmetician." The ancient Greeks were the first people to perfect the art of makeup. Cleopatra, who was more Greek than Egyptian, used her people's beauty secrets to ensnare the most powerful men on earth.

Why are we telling you this? First, you have a thirst for knowledge, especially about Cleopatra. Second, Ms. Lekkakos is Greek, and we like the fact that she's keeping the traditions of her ancestors alive.

She actually went to Greece to learn many of her professional secrets, and she has worked in much of Europe.

She has always enjoyed pageants. She watched them on television as she played with dolls, and the first one she ever entered was a "little Greek pageant" called Queen of Hearts. Now she's in the game for a very practical reason. "I want to publicize my business. I want to work with celebrities, be an esthetician to the stars."

This is smart, very smart. Ms. Lekkakos doesn't have to win Miss USA to succeed. But what if she does win? It's very possible, you know. Somebody else will have to mind the spa.

By the way, can you say "Massachusetts esthetician"? It's tough.

Photos courtesy of Maria Lekkakos and Miss Massachusetts USA

Living on location

When Beth Richards found out that she and the other Miss USA contestants would be competing in Los Angeles, she was delighted. She was planning to go there anyway.

Actually, she was planning to go back. This Mississippi blonde is a budding actress, and she "seriously" wants to be a movie star. She has already seen Tinseltown up close several times.

On one such visit, during an intermission at a Josh Grogan concert, she was called out of the audience and got talked into singing. "I never would have been able to do it if I didn't have pageant experience." In 2003, she spent most of the summer around Hollywood, getting a role in an indie film called "State's Evidence."

Each time in L.A., Ms. Richards got her feet a little wetter in the entertainment world, but she never quite took the plunge. First she wanted to finish up her theater degree back home. Also, she saw how difficult life could be for a struggling actress in a town full of struggling actresses.

And besides, she loved Mississippi, and there was the culture shock she experienced in Southern California after leading a "sheltered life" in the Magnolia State.

What's a girl to do in a case like that? Win a crown. Ms. Richards used to compete in the Miss America system, and got as far as third runner-up at the state level. Then she tried Miss Mississippi USA, "90 percent for the networking opportunities," and she won. It may be the big break she can't refuse.

If she does become a movie star, she will be a great one. She has values and a sense of perspective. She has seen a lot of celebrities, but says, "I admire people who are famous because of talent, not because of hype."

We asked her if she had seen a certain famous actor (who will remain nameless), and indeed she had. Was he really as short as we had heard? "Yes," she said, "I could have put him in my purse!"

Someday, he will feel honored if he could be in that purse.

Photos courtesy of Beth Richards

Friends call her "Sweet Caroline"

Caroline Medley reminds us of classic movie cutie pies like Joan Blondell and Virginia Mayo. (If you don't know who they are, look them up.) Her face is made for big smiles and pretty liitle pouts, and she has a wholesome, carefree kind of sexiness. She's not just a Georgia peach, she's peaches-and-cream cheesecake.

We didn't try any of these compliments on her, because we got distracted when she started talking about her job. "I'm an entrepreneur," she told us. "I like to work in my pajamas."

If you're thinking of sending your résumé to the office where she works, forget it. Ms. Medley wears those pajamas at home. She's a Web designer and online sales director, and does a lot of telecommuting.

She's also a student at Georgia Tech, one of the most prestigious schools in the South. She doesn't consider herself a brain, but she likes the atmosphere of high achievement. "I'm surrounded by world-class athletes and 1600 SATs."

Being a beauty queen wasn't one of Ms. Medley's interests when she was growing up. She lived in the community where the Atlanta Falcons did their training at the time, and the football players used to run by her house. That may have led her to become a cheerleader.

In high school, she won a modeling contest over 1, 500 other girls. But until recently, she had only modeled a little bit since. For the past few years, Ms. Medley has focused on business, "the practical route to success." But now that she's standing at the doorstep of the entertainment world, "it's something I'd like to pursue."

She's a distant cousin of Bill Medley, one of the famous Righteous Brothers. Is there room for two celebrities in this extended family? Let's find out.

Photos courtesy of Miss Georgia USA