December 19-21,
2008
Lied Center – Lawrence, Kansas
Pageant
Introduction
Jennifer
Vannatta-Fisher / Co-Executive Director
Hello, and welcome to our web site! I was Miss Kansas
(America) 1998, and can tell you first hand that being
a part of pageants is a rewarding and life changing experience.
During my year as Miss Kansas, I had the honor of traveling
throughout the state meeting with many interesting and
wonderful people. Looking back, I realize that my year
as Miss Kansas will always be one of the most dynamic
and positive experiences in my life. However, I also
realize that even if I had never won the actual title,
I would still be a stronger, more confident, self-assured,
and goal oriented person simply as a result of my participation
in pageants. I truly believe in the personal growth and
individual development that is cultivated by ones participation
in pageants.
Prior
to winning the title of Miss Kansas,
I worked as a television anchor and producer.
As my year began to draw to a close,
I had to decide if I would re-enter the
world of journalism, or pursue other
opportunities. I decided to join the
staff of the MISS KANSAS USA & MISS
KANSAS TEEN USA pageant. The reasons
were simple. First, I love pageants,
and believe in the opportunities they
offer young women. Second, I enjoy working
with others, and I gain personal satisfaction
from knowing I’ve helped make a
difference in the lives of others. It
may sound cliché, but it truly
is a blessing to watch our contestants
blossom into confident young women, and
to know that our pageant helped them
to find direction and success. Finally,
I decided to become involved in this
pageant because I believe in its director.
You see, the executive director is my
older brother John.
John
became involved in the MISS USA & MISS
TEEN USA pageants 14 years ago. He began
as the director for Kansas, and later
became the director for Missouri, Oklahoma,
and Nebraska. He has taken more than
90 women to the national MISS USA & MISS
TEEN USA competitions. Under his direction,
our states have become regulars in the
top-10, top-5, and top-3. There have
even been three national winners. However,
John is most proud of the 'post-pageant'
real-life successes enjoyed by the titleholders
and the contestants who write to thank
us for their experience. You can read
some of the testimonials at www.vanbros.com.
John's
focus from the beginning, and now mine
as well, is for this program to provide
a fair environment in which young women
have the opportunity to better themselves.
We hope the pageant encourages the contestants
to gain self-awareness, self-confidence,
individual pride, and greater social
awareness. We hope each contestant improves
her ability to communicate effectively,
speak in front of people, and stand up
for her beliefs. We encourage our contestants
to find issues she feel's strongly about,
and to become involved in organizations
and causes that speak to her heart. Each
young lady who enters this program has
different goals, and we strive hard to
assist each young woman in her own personal
quest.
Regardless
of what your future career plans are,
this is an environment that can open
many exciting doors. Each year, future
career connections are made by contestants
during their pageant experience! Or,
maybe you have not decided yet on a future
career path. That’s okay too because
maybe this experience will help you find
something you want to do with your life.
This could even be your chance to get "discovered!" Its
happened to many young women before!
We're
especially proud of the fact that many
contestants each year have never been
in a pageant and they find it to be a
rewarding and worthwhile experience.
Many have won on their first attempt,
and many others return because it was
a positive experience. We like to believe
that each young woman who participates
in our pageant leaves a little more prepared
to deal with the world around them, and
more importantly, the world ahead of
them! Basically, our philosophy for the
MISS KANSAS USA & MISS KANSAS TEEN
USA Pageant is not about encouraging
young women to ‘win’ a pageant,
but to encourage excellence in young
women, and to help them develop life
skills that will ultimately help them
win in life by being the best they can
be in everything they do.
The
winners of our State Pageant will each
embark on an exciting journey, and receive
a prize package including cash, wardrobe,
and travel. They will also receive a scholarship offered
through our new partnership with Lindenwood
University. Our state Teen and Miss winner
will receive a Lindenwood scholarship
worth $57,600.
Not only the winners benefit from this
positive experience, or from our scholarship
program. Runners-up in our State Pageant
will receive Lindenwood scholarships
valued at $48,000.
Semifinalists in our State Pageant will
receive a Lindenwood scholarship valued
at $37,600.
Also, EVERY
young woman who participates in our State
Pageant, Teen and Miss divisions, will
be offered a Lindenwood scholarship valued
at $33,600!
Pageant
Weekend:
While our program places an emphasis on excellence, achievement,
and personal growth, we also strive to make the pageant
experi-ence FUN! The pageant is a three day event, and
will be held December 19-21, 2008.
On
the first day, it's fun, fun, fun! The
contestants enjoy meeting with city officials
and other VIPs, attending a fabulous
welcome dinner, and time getting to know
the pageant staff and other contestants.
The
second day is full of rehearsals. We
bring in a choreographer and a producer,
who will put together a great show. The
second day concludes with the presentation
show. During the presentation show, each
contestant is presented to the judges
in the preliminary physical fitness in
swimwear and evening gown competitions.
The
third day begins with the personal interview
competition. During the interviews, each
contestant has the opportunity to meet
indi-vidually with each judge for a four
minute interview. Each contestant has
the opportunity to convince the judges
she is right for the job of MISS KANSAS
USA or MISS KANSAS TEEN USA. Following
the interviews, the contestants return
to the theater for more rehearsals. The
third day ends with the final competition.
At the end of the final show, we will
have a new MISS KANSAS USA & MISS
KANSAS TEEN USA.
The
winner of MISS KANSAS USA will advance
to the nationally televised MISS USA
Pageant, and the winner of the MISS KANSAS
TEEN USA title will advance to the MISS
TEEN USA Pageant. Should MISS KANSAS
USA go on to win MISS USA, she would
then advance to the ultimate contest...
the internationally televised MISS UNIVERSE
Pageant.
Pageant
Competition:
Each Contestant will compete in three equal phases of
preliminary competition: swimsuit, evening gown, and
interview. The scores from the preliminary phases of
competition are added up, and the contestants with the
highest composite scores become semifinalists. The number
of semifinalists will be between 10 and 15, and will
be determined by the total number of contestants in the
competition.
