BetUS has lines listed for all 50 states, plus D.C.
The favorite: Jacqueline Bruno (Massachusetts), 7.5:1
23 years old, 5'10"; 3rd Runner-up at Miss Teen USA 2003
How do they come up with this stuff?? I really don't know how much we can take from that 2003 Miss Teen USA finish. One has to think her beauty pageant skills have eroded since then. That is like saying Jeff Kent is an MVP candidate this year because he won the award in 2000. It's just not realistic. There is no value here.
Next In Line: Lindsey Jo Harrington (Oklahoma), Jamie Hill (South Carolina), Crystle Stewart (Texas), Michelle Font (Washington), LauRen Merola (Pennsylvania), each 8:1
The picture on the right is Ms. Merola. And no, her first name is not a typo. Somebody should set her up with this guy. Through my research I have discovered that her talent is a lyrical dance to "I Believe", and she attended Point Park University, which has a reputation for "excellence in dance and theatre".
Ms. Harrington is one of the favorites despite having no previous experience- she is currently a 21-year old senior at Oklahoma St. I wonder if this knowledge would have effected Bill Self's decision.
Ms. Hill (not this one) was a contestant on the tenth installment of The Amazing Race. Her team- herself and fellow cheerleader Kellie- finished 10th out of 12 contestants. This does not bode well for her chances.
I just realized that Shawne Merriman is one of the judges. I don't know how to react to that.
The Sleeper: Amanda Kozak (Georgia), 35:1
23 years old, 5'10", runner-up at Miss America 2007
Ms. Kozak is attempting to become only the fifth woman to place in the top 5 of both Miss America and Miss USA. Shouldn't she be the favorite, considering here finish in a similar contest last year? I obviously don't get how this works at all.
The Longshots: Abbey Curran (Iowa), Daniel Roundtree (New York), 75:1
Another thing I don't understand- Wikipedia has Ms. Curran's hometown listed as Kewanee, Illinois, and Ms. Roundtree's as Miami. Ms. Roundtree and Amy Diaz (Rhode Island) even participated in Miss Florida USA 2007. Shouldn't there be rules against this kind of thing? I do think I see why Mr. Roundtree is so unlikely to win though- she was a "non-finalist" in the Florida competition.
The rest of the odds are here. The contest starts on Friday.
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13 comments:
What kind of world are we living in where Miss Massachusetts is the favorite to win a beauty pageant? When does ANYONE from New England win one of these things?
On the bright side, they nailed the Miss New Hampshire odds. 60-1, second lowest, is just about right.
I think LauRen Merola is a better fit with Bulls reserve JamesOn Curry
Let me answer some of your questions & make a couple of other comments...
(1) Jackie Bruno is indeed one of the favourites to win... she's got one of the best figures, one of the best gowns, and she's the highest placing returning Teen USA titleholder. Considering that former Teen USA state titleholders have won 6 of the last 9 years, that means something. In response to the previous comment, Massachusetts has actually won twice in the past 10 years. The streak started with Shawnae Jebbia winning in 1998, when Susie Castillo was Miss Massachusetts Teen USA. In 2003, Susie (then Miss Mass. USA) won Miss USA... and Miss Mass. Teen USA was Jackie. So many say Jackie will continue the streak! (You might recognise Susie from TRL?)
(2) There is no talent at Miss USA... LauRen did compete in a Miss America state pageant though (that's where the talent came in)
(3) Miss America goes for brains and talent and less on looks, Miss USA is mainly looks with a bit of brains in there too. That's why Amanda Kozak isn't necessarily a favourite. But don't discount the brains of the contestants... the vast majority are either college students or grads, a few have postgrad degrees, one is currently pursuing a PhD and one (Amy Diaz) graduated at 19 and by 22 had two Masters degrees
(4) The residency requirement means that you can attend school in one state even if your hometown is elsewhere. Although Abbey's hometown is in Illinois, she attends college in Davenport, Iowa and thus has residency. Amy competed in Florida when she was a student at Barry University in Miami. Danielle is originally from FL (hence competed there) but is attending college in NY. Actually, LauRen is also from FL (competed there for six years) and so is Michelyn (the PhD student). And there are three Texans representing other states (all of whom competed at Miss Texas USA) - Veronica Grabowski (NV), Candice Crawford (MO), Elisabeth Crawford (no relation) (MI) as well.
Hope this cleared a few things up!
Carly
http://www.pageantupdate.net
What an absurd amount of useless information.
I will still gamble heavily on this event.
Miss MA trained at my gym in SE Mass and she certainly has a great figure and is very attractive. Good luck to her.
And I thought I had some info in my head that was useless to 99.8% of the world....wow.
Unbelievable. Did Carly's response really happen? Seriously, that can't be real. I guess it's nice knowing your post is getting passed around the pageant community.
Vegas, if you ever start a HOF for threads, this has to be a first ballot inductee.
Does anyone realize that Jamie Hill is a former Playmate of the Month aka Lauren Michelle Hill? She had appeared on the cover as a college coed in jean shorts and a laptop computer on a Playboy pictorial "Girls of the SEC" representing University of South Carolina. I think it was in 2005 or 2006. Either way, just Google Lauren Michelle Hill and her pictures will show up, much better than any pageant photos. Didn't know Playmates could now run for Miss USA. NOT THAT THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT.
funny, didn't miss luoisiana work in a bar and date her manager who was married, twice her age and resulted in divorce!
- and that is the face of what represents our country... nice research pagent boards!
To Anonomous 4/12/08 At 3:40 am. No one realizes that because it is not true. I see you are up at 3:40 am trying to look for naked pictures of contestants. That is a sleazy to say teh least. That is her sister who is 5 years older and the pictorial is from 2001 and the 2 covers she did were from 2000 when Lauren Hill was a college student at USC her sister Jamie Hill, Miss South Carolina was in middle school. Please remember that it is defamatory and sladerous IF IT IS NOT TRUE. Get your facts straight before you post it on a public message board.
Vegaswatch,
I think we may have found our Pageant Sharp to shadow in Carly.
Great post.
Lindsay Jo Harrington gets my vote.
Great post.
In response to anonymous 4/16/08 at 1:37 pm, you are the authority on this because? As for looking for naked pix of contestants I was not, so hold off on the moral judgment since you too have information that could label you "sleazy." As a Playboy subscriber for many years, the resemblance to LMH who was also a cheerleader at South Carolina was uncanny. The fact that you pointed out the pictorial was in 2001 and I concur, would make her too old for the pageant. So in rebuttal to you, I am getting the facts straight and posting on a public message board that Jamie Hill IS NOT Lauren Michelle Hill and like I stated previously, even if she was, what crime would she have committed by appearing in Playboy?
umm to whoever said jamie hill is lauren michelle hill is wrong...my mom is cousins with them but they never talk...jamie and lauren are sisters not the same person so get your facts straight.
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