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Next year’s Miss America contestants together for the first time
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 (6:54 p.m.)
The 2013 Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Pageant in Orlando, Fla.
Photo: Allyn Dye/Miss America Organization
Rivalry among the 53 contestants of the ABC-televised 2013 Miss America Pageant set for January at Planet Hollywood won’t really fire up for another five months.
For now, it’s all about making new friendships and, for the first time, all were together at the Miss America Outstanding Teen Pageant in Orlando, Fla.
Miss Nevada 2013 Randi Sundquist, a UNLV student, and Miss Outstanding Teen Nevada 2013 Ellie Smith from Henderson returned home from Florida on Sunday night. Randi’s platform is anti-bullying, coming from her own experiences.
“We have 53 amazing and beautiful women ready to compete,” Sharon Pierce of the Miss America Organization told me today. “They were all in the Sunshine State to support the Outstanding Teen pageant, and their own calendar was filled with exciting photo shoots and filming opportunities to showcase our Miss America contestants meeting for the very first time.”
They also got to spend time with reigning Miss America 2012 Laura Kaeppeler, who won last January in Las Vegas, and 2012 teen queen Elizabeth Fechtel, who turned over her tiara to new winner Rachel Wyatt from South Carolina. Laura performed in and co-hosted the teen pageant.
Randi and her fellow contestants met with Anthony Eaton and Lauren Harris from Tall Pony Productions. They will direct Jan. 12’s ABC show here.
Randi and the Class of 2013 toured Walt Disney World, enjoying the thrills of Space Mountain, the Haunted Mansion and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Said Randi: “We had an incredible time making new memories and creating new friendships.”
Sharon from MAO summed up: “Our beautiful contestants made it a memorable trip. They will next meet again in Las Vegas. We wish our contestants the very best as they prepare for their wonderful journey to the 2013 Miss America competition.”
Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.
Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.
Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.
Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.
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