New Miss Iowa Crowned!!!

The new Miss Iowa 2007 was crowned on Saturday night at North Scott High School in Eldridge, Iowa.

Her name is Diana Reed, Miss Capital City, who is 23 years old and a student at the University of Iowa where she received the Highest Distinction, a 4.0, and has been the Golden Girl from 2002-2006!  Diana is also a Ten Time National Show Twirl Champ, the 2004 Iowa State Fair Talent Search Champ!  Her career ambition is to perform on Broadway and open a Baton and Dance Studio.  Diana's proud parents are Douglas & Debra Reed of Norwalk, Iowa (where Diana was the 2002 Valedictorian of Norwalk High School).

She excelled at her interview session with the judges on Thursday afternoon, which score carries a 25% weight for the competition!  Her platform is Keeping Character Alive: The Importance of Character Education.  During the interview, contestants must: exhibit strong communication competencies (speech, vocabulary, and grammar); show leadership and a sense of accomplishment; have knowledge of and commitment to a community service advocacy issue; have validated aspirations, opinions and responses; and have qualities, abilities and sincere desire to be Miss America!

She also did very well with the lifestyle and fitness and evening wear portions which she competed in on Thursday evening.  Criteria for these two areas include: physical fitness; sense of confidence and stage presence; drive, energy, charisma and composure; walk, posture, carriage and grace; style and personality; physical beauty; and appropriate attire.  These two competitions together carry a total of 35% of her total score.

On Friday night, Diana excelled in the Talent competition   Her Dance Twirl performance was flawless as she proudly and ambitiously entertained the audience.  Her excitement and enthusiasm is very contagious!  The talent portion carries a weight of 35% by itself and is therefore the single most important aspect of the total competition.  Contestants must show: true talent and entertainment abilities; interpretive ability; technical skill level (execution, technique, synchronization, and control); stage presence and on-stage personality; totality of all elements (including costume, props, voice, use of body, and choreography).  Diana competed against some excellent talent including Anne Michael Langguth, Miss Johnson County, who won the Talent competition and received the Lucky Lang Realtor(R) Award which included a college scholarship!

Diana also had her On-Stage Question portion on Friday night (it actually is comprised of two questions) which she handled well.  This is no surprise as she was featured in 2006 as Fortune Small Business Management Magazine's Student Entrepreneur, named the 2007 Outstanding Business Student, and is President of the Beta Gamma Honor Society!  During this phase contestants earn 5% of their total score and must show: an ability to articulate both a sincere, engaging personality and her own opinions; confidence and stage presence; an ability to answer the questions in the time allotted and in context; and an ability to be a spokesperson for the Miss America Organization.

Miss Iowa will go on to compete next year in Las Vegas for the title of Miss America.  The Miss America Organization is the single largest source of college scholarships for women in the world!  She also will be the National Goodwill Ambassador for the Children's Miracle Network by making appearances throughout the country at the 170 children's hospitals that help over 17 million children every year!  The total in-kind scholarships offered to 2007 Miss Iowa contestants is $631,400!  The Miss America Organization and it's state and local organizations together have made available over $45 million in cash and college scholarship assistance to the thousands of women who have competed throughout 2007!

Farewell to Emily Nicholas, Miss Iowa 2006.  We wish you continued success as you prepare for your career and your marriage in September to Cory.

Lucky :)