Once 52 would-be Miss Americas had their dreams shattered, I made my way to the press conference where the newly-crowned Miss America, Caressa Cameron, talked to us about the hard work (and disappointment) that came before her victory, her love for her homestate of Virginia, and Mama Cameron’s home-cooking (which sounds fab). She also touched on this year’s sponsors– Artistry Beauty, who provided the makeup for this year’s pageant and will continue to keep Cameron looking beautiful year round; DSW and Joseph Ribkoff, who will keep her outfits buzzworthy for the next 365 days; and Nature’s Bottles, a green company that will help the Miss America organization stay sustainable in 2010.
Even though all eyes were on Caressa, she wasn’t the only star in our midst. First, we were greeted by 14-year-old Jeanette Morelan, who earned the title of Miss Outstanding Teen 2010. Her vocals wowed us all during the opening ceremonies, where she had the honor of singing the National Anthem. Between her poise and notable talent, Morelan is a definite must-watch for future pageants.
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Next up, we got a surprise visit from Mario Lopez (I still refer to him affectionately as AC Slater). His unannounced appearance was a treat for those of us afflicted with the pain of losing Saved by the Bell all those years ago. Unexpectedly (for me, at least), Lopez was lookin’ HOT! I no longer have to wonder why Kelly had such a difficult time making her damn mind up. Those dimples, that skin. Damn.
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Once Mario introduced Caressa to the crowd, it was like there was no one else in the room– besides Robin Leach, that is. That’s right, I was up close and personal with Robin Leach. Biggie Smalls would be proud. He sat directly in front of me texting, googling Caressa, and typing up notes on his iPhone. The portly Leach seemed to dominate the Q&A portion of the press conference, but Caressa managed to be diplomatic with what little time she had and managed to respond to every question.
Do you have questions for the new Miss America? DSW will be hosting a meet & greet at their Union Square store tomorrow, February 2nd from 5PM to 7PM. Guests will have photo opportunities with Cameron, as well as the chance to win one of several $100 gift certificates to DSW. Don’t miss out on what’s sure to be a fun-filled event!
The DSW Union Square store is located at 40 East 14 Street in New York City.
