Pageant News Bureau - Miss Washington 2007

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

Seattle special

Photos by Joe Whiteko / PNB

Elyse Umemoto being crowned by Kristen Eddings

The state of Washington gave America one of its greatest and most sophisticated entertainers -- Bing Crosby. It was also the home of two of America's greatest fictional hillbillies -- Ma and Pa Kettle. What a contrast!

It's such a spectacularly diverse state, with tall peaks, high deserts, mighty rivers, a long seashore and ultra-hip cities. And the people are as rich a mix as the landscapes.

We brag about her state because we don't want to get all sentimental about Elyse Umemoto, who competed as Miss Seattle and was crowned Miss Washington 2007. Everything we could say would be true, but news professionals are supposed to be cool and objective. We want her to respect us, so we're holding our compliments in check.

With Summer Wyatt (Miss West Virginia) (taken at the Miss America's Outstanding Teen Pageant in Orlando)

With Kristen Edding

Visiting queens...(L to R) Sadie Quigley (Miss Idaho), Kate Wismer (Miss South Dakota),
Elyse Umemoto, Kari Virding (Miss Oregon), and Kristen Mantooth (Miss Montana)

Still, the truth will out. We had to pass along the assessment of an anonymous pageant fan who saw Ms. Umemoto win. "She's incredibly beautiful," this person said. "She caught my eye from the start."

The name "Elyse Umemoto" has a lovely ring to it. And the ringing has just begun.

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