Miss Universe: Predictions & Thoughts

Watching Miss Universe while 18 weeks pregnant was not the most ideal thing to do!

I realize that I am not that huge right now, but the stomach is only getting bigger by the day (Are you following my weekly Bump Updates?), and we still have another 22 weeks to go. I thought perusing some of my pictures as Miss Wisconsin USA would abate my anxiety of only getting larger or providing some hope that I, at one point, was thin!

Unfortunately, it only did the opposite!

Luckily, I thought ahead and ate a relatively healthy diet the whole day, which was one very small consolation for my misery. Since Sunday, I have killed, as much as a pregnant lady is advised, my CrossFit workouts on Monday and Tuesday! Oh, the struggles of body image while pregnant.

Early Sunday morning, Prince and I got up and reviewed all the 88 candidates vying for the title of Miss Universe. Ok, Prince just sat in my lap while I did all the decision-making. Every once in a while he would wiggle or squirm but he agreed with all of my decisions - smart dog.

Coach enjoys watching the pageants with me, and typically joins on my prediction game but he decided that narrowing the contestants from 88 to 15 was too daunting.

Here is my top 15, picked before the show, in no particular order:

Brains, Beauty & Basketball's Top 15 Predictions

USA*	Guatemala	Colombia*
Guam	Philippines*	Dominican Republic
Puerto Rico	Paraguay	Venezuela*
Costa Rica	Spain*	Jamaica*
France*	Peru	Great Britain

As you can see from my asterisks, I did pretty damn well with predicting the Top 15 for Miss Universe 2014!

I was most bummed that Miss Guam, Brittany Bell, did not make the cut. She actually competed at Miss USA in 2010 as Miss Arizona! Love her natural curly hair too (not pictured in any of her 'official' Miss Universe photos!)

I absolutely LOVED that the opening number showcased their National Costumes! I remember hoping that Miss USA would bring back the State Costume competition for Miss USA when I competed, but it did not occur. The last time that this was held at Miss USA was 1993. I would love to see a resurgence of this area, even if it is not weighed in the final standings.

After opening number, the girls changed into Sherri Hill sponsored two piece cocktail outfits – I believe there were three styles for the top and two skirt options. I actually prefer when everyone wears the same outfit, or they are all different. My brain wanders from girl to girl pondering if she chose the right ensemble for her figure. Oh gosh. Just have one dress option or many. Maybe I am a little neurotic!

And from there, our official Top 15 semi-finalists were announced. Here is the official Top 15, with my asterisks by the Top 10 that thought would continue after the swim suit competition.

 Brains, Beauty & Basketball's Top 10 Predictions (in asterisks)

Colombia*	Indonesia *	Jamaica*
Italy	Venezuela*	Ukraine
India	Spain*	Brazil*
France	Philippines*	Netherlands*
USA*	Argentina*	Australia

Excuse me a moment - toot toot! Uhm yes, I was pretty much dead on for the Top 10, with 9/10 of my girls going forth.

I enjoyed the swimsuit portion of the competition except all of the extra accessories that the non-finalist contestants adorned. At one point before that portion of the competition, the camera showed the girls backstage getting ready to enter and I simply prayed that the contestants would not be wearing the gloves, headpieces, and feather boas.

Luckily, the girls came out wearing their Yamamay sponsored swimsuit with simple, silver cover-ups which was great! Of course, the cover-ups were removed instantly, but the effect and movement of the silver material always bodes well for the camera.

After the swimsuit competition, we dwindled down the Top 10 to 5. Here is the Top 10, and my 5 picks!

Brains, Beauty & Basketball's Top 5 Predictions (in asterisks)

Jamaica*	Spain
Colombia	Netherlands*
Ukraine	Venezuela
Argentina*	Australia
Philippines*	USA*

Prior to the on-stage question, this was my order for the title!

Jamaica - Miss Universe

USA - Tie for 1st RU

Colombia - Tie for 1st RU

Ukraine - 3rd RU

Netherlands - 4th RU

During the commercial break, I said a few prayers for Miss Jamaica. Actually, I said them aloud because Coach said an “Amen!”

Ugh, I was utterly disappointed in nearly all of the contestants’ responses… However, I also sympathized for the contestants because I could barely understand many of the questions being asked of the judges! Like honestly, you must enunciate and speak clearly. I mean Colombia had a clear advantage since she was able to hear the question in English, and then her interpreter repeated it in Spanish! And I will be completely honest, after Miss Jamaica’s response, I was simply crumbled and got lost in my anguish for what I had just heard. My prayers to the pageant gods had not been heard.

I mean look at this woman…

ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!

And many in the stands and Twitter-land agree with me. This Washington Post article discusses many viewers dismay when Miss Jamaica was named 4th runner-up!

At the end of the day, pageants are so hard to predict! Any of the 88 women who vied for the title could have done a fabulous job as Miss Universe, especially the Top 5 from Sunday night. I, along with many others, were simply blown away by Miss Jamaica and disappointed when she did not go home with the title! I am certain that many more doors will open for her, and wish her the best of luck!

* All pictures were taken from the Miss Universe website*

Michelyn

From Miss USA to MBA

In keeping with my recent posts of pageant tips, I thought it would be a nice opportunity for my readers to receive tips from, not only myself, but other former queens. Today, I have MacKenzie Green, Miss District of Columbia USA 2010, to share a little about herself and some tips of her own.

I have virtually followed MacKenzie for some time through Facebook soon after she won her title! She is a graduate of Miami University and now is pursuing her MBA. You know I love a good example of Brains & Beauty! So without further ado, please welcome MacKenzie to Brains, Beauty & Basketball....

I'm a firm believer in reincarnation, especially when it comes to branding.

When I first started my journey as Miss DC USA 2010, I had one major goal…I refused to let my reign be “the best time of my life.” I admired the titleholders that lived on after the stage, and I wanted to be like those women. I figured I lived one dream; I might as well pursue the rest fearlessly. Then some how it felt like wonderful things kept happening to me. However, most of these things didn't feel planned, and they felt more like happy accidents.

But that was a few years ago, I've learned some things since then. I've learned that none of these things were accidental; they were rather necessary steps on my journey to my dreams. And right now my biggest dream is pursuing an MBA. Beyond any of the typical work that goes towards applying to business school, it is turning out to be an amazing heroes journey of self-discovery.

...don't start to think this means I've completely hung up my crown, or that now I’m one of those ex beauty queens that wears only sensible shoes and tight topknots. I still have remnants of that glittery sparkly girl I grew to be on my way to pursuing a crown.

I wear a few less sequins, and my heels are a little lower...but never fear the beauty queen is still here. My life has evolved in a wonderful way that I could have never imagined. I sit on the national board for the National Council of Negro Women, serving as Young Adult Vice Chair. I work as a senior associate for a financial services firm and consult in digital media, marketing, and communications. I was a UCLA Riordan MBA Fellow, and served as the 2013 Class Chair and Riordan Gala Co-manager. I completed a certificate in Corporate Finance from Georgetown University. And, to commemorate the 57th Anniversary of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, I was awarded the Legacy Award by the Southern Youth Leadership Development Institute, cited as a “Legend in the Making.”

Now you may be wondering what is the point of this humble brag. Well for one, anytime you get a chance to brag on yourself, take it proudly. But it’s for another purpose, to show you dear reader that life goes on after the crown. What your legacy in pageantry is sits solely with you. I made a promise to myself when I didn’t win Miss USA, I wanted to be the contestant that you remembered form my class. I want years from now when I’m (God-willing) receiving my appointment as Secretary of Treasury that I am one of the shinning examples of post-pageant success you can recall.

I competed in one pageant, and through divine grace had the opportunity to walk away with the crown. But I knew during my reign and beyond that I was an ambassador for my Miss DC USA 2010 fellow contestants and my hometown of DC. They weren’t lying when they said heavy is the head that wears the crown. However for me, I wore that burden proudly, because to whom so ever much is given, much is required. I am happy to have so many roles and people I represent through my achievements.

I hope what you take from my guest post today is that you can never be afraid to expect more from yourself. To continue to push yourself, and understand that everything you want badly is not always meant for you. That the road to success is never a straight line, and a plethora of other success based clichés. What I really hope is that you realize there are more than pageant stages you can shine on.

You can go to a million and one sites to get pageant tips and tricks, but what you won’t get is an honest answer to, “what happens if I don’t win?” Let me tell you the truth. You may cry, you may emotionally eat, you may beat up on yourself. But if you gave it all you can, you will get over it. And if you are like me, you will use that moment as fuel to push you to your limit. You will dream bigger, and take the lessons you learn on your pageant journey toward the rest of you life.

Pageantry is a transformative process, embrace it, and translate the lessons to your life. If I can walk on stage in a bikini, or answer an on stage question without falling all over my words, then presenting to CEOs or surviving black tie dinners is a cake walk.

Shakespeare was right when he said, "all the world's a stage , and all the men and women merely players." But RuPaul was even more right when she said, "we're all born naked, the rest is merely drag." So rather than think of my evolution and transformation as shedding one role for another, look at it as drag...and honey, I'm about to give you all kinds of business realness.

XOXO,

MacKenzie

frommissusatomba.blogspot.com

Miss USA 2014 Thoughts & Pageant Tips from a Former Beauty Queen

I know, I am a few days late to now be providing my thoughts on the Miss USA pageant, but if you are a die-hard fan, you can talk about this topic for a few months. Well, at least until Miss Universe, and then we may still desire to chatter about the Miss USA pageant too...

If you follow me on Twitter, then you know that it was a family affair on Sunday. Coach Kemp enjoys predicting who will win, and he was actually pretty spot on. He was pulling for Miss North Dakota the entire time! I too thought she was the winner. I actually met her in person while judging the Miss North Dakota USA 2012 pageants. At that time she was giving away her title as Miss North Dakota Teen USA 2011.

Wow, that girl can walk and is absolutely gorgeous in person!!! Very striking overall!!! I am certain she will have a modeling career after this, if she so desires!

Overall, I enjoyed the pageant even though I think 3 hours was entirely too long. Especially the fact that the girls stood for nearly an hour as they called out the Top 20! I did enjoy the personal videos of the girls, but think that Miss USA should consider allowing the girls to sit down as they do at Miss America. If you were wondering how they were feeling, I can tell you that they were absolutely miserable standing for that long. My feet began to ache sympathizing for their agonizing feet! Their feet, already decrepit after wearing heels for nearly 3 weeks straight, and then having to pose on-stage with cameras and judges watching for an hour was surely pure hell!

After I returned from Miss USA, may years ago, I had no desires to wear heals and/or make-up for one month!

My one other comment was during on-stage question... They ushered the parents back-stage for what? I thought it somewhat peculiar that they had the Top 6 contestants' parents back-stage. They did not ask them any questions, and it was simply awkward. I did, however, like the segments which highlighted the parents which too was a nice gesture and brought another personal touch, overall.

 I often get asked to provide tips for competing in pageants, so I figured it would be fun to outline a few of them on my blog. I am going to write several posts on this topic in the coming days and weeks. I have only had experience competing in the Miss America and Miss USA organization, so my opinions are based on my experience. I too do not sell myself as a pageant coach, all opinions are my own, and from my years of competing.

Michelyn

Question of the Day: What were your thoughts of the Miss USA 2014 pageant?

Body Fat, Body Weight, and Your Former You: From A Former Pageant Girl's Perspective

Hi Followers! Sorry, I know this post is coming very late in the day and will not encompass my planned "What I Ate Wednesday" post! I will return to regularly scheduled programming next week.

On Tuesday, when I actually document what I ate, I got a flat tire en route to the gym! Oh, don't you fear, I made it there safely, did my workout, and then the hubs came to the rescue and assisted me with transporting my car to the nearest auto care center. Basically, that early morning incident, threw off my entire day! I am so thankful that the flat tire decided to "pop" at a time in which Coach Kemp was actually in town until 10:00am! Yikes, frequent traveler husbands, can be MIA at the most inconvenient of times. But luckily, I was able to count on one of the coach's wives, Tish Mincy, to give me a lift later in the day and then a spontaneous Girls Night Out! We ended up having an enjoyable evening despite some questionable customer service at an area bistro. Not a good look as the owner is a booster. You know as a former waitress and customer service representative, you never truly know who knows who. The name of the restaurant will remain nameless, but pure disrespect and unprofessional handling by the restaurant manager, who was the main culprit. The husbands already got a FULL report of the situation. It is truly a shame since the food and atmosphere was cute for an area bistro.

Ok, so my next complaint is with the city of Toledo for all the potholes hence my flat tire! Get it together, and fill the holes! Next....

Today I ran across a great article that is so fitting for my stage in life and quest for optimal health and well-being. I have decided and am determined to stay on this voyage for the remainder of my life; through all of life's trials and tribulations, celebrations, and daily struggles. The article that I am referring to was written by a former Miss New York, Shannon Oliver, whose blog Generation grannY is now on my reader feed. In her recent post, More Than One Healthy Body: Former Pageant Girls Weigh In, she discusses how an individual "healthy body" may evolve (body weight and physique in her article) but still be considered healthy. She posits the notion that a healthy body does not have to mirror fitness magazines and celebrities. But she also touches on a more personal, and very small population of women, former pageant queens, who sometimes struggle with accepting the fact that they have gained 10-25lbs since their competition days!

What I enjoyed most was the numerous "former" queens during their pageant days verse the current weights, workout regimen, and outlook on health! I have on numerous occasions reminisced through my old pageant day pictures, especially those from when I competed at Miss USA and longed for the body I once had.  

Today looking at this picture, I am not even that impressed, although the scale tipped at the lowest it's ever been for me, at least as a grown adult. When I competed at Miss USA I weighed 130lbs, wore a 2-4, and am 5'8"! All of my friends and family, exclaimed that I was so thin, but I was actually one of the 'larger' contestants. Today I weight about 10-15lbs more, and am a size 4-6. So, when you look at pounds, it is not that significant which brings up another fact - muscles weigh more than fat!

Today, I am now more concerned with body fat than the number on the scale! I actually can't recollect my body fat percentage when I was competing, but I do my weight; maybe because that was the number I was most concerned about - losing the pounds and seeing the scale move DOWN! And, that's all anyone wanted me to report!

Question of the Day: Do you struggle with comparing your current weight/physique to your "golden" days? 

Michelyn