This June Miss Bay County, Alicia McInerney, will make history at Miss Michigan, presenting a talent that has never before graced the stage.  Alicia will make her mark in the history books by figure skating for the talent portion of the Miss Michigan competition–a first in the history of the Miss America Organization.

“I’ve said since the first time I competed in Miss Bay County, if I make it to Miss Michigan, I want to skate,” says Alicia.

This June Alicia will step out onto a sheet of synthetic ice determined to wow the judge’s panel and audience as she represents Bay County and vise for the title of Miss Michigan 2012.

Growing up Alicia was a competitive figure skater for more than ten years, training locally at the Bay County Civic Arena. Alicia says that rink is a part of who she is. 

“The first time I ever stepped foot onto a rink was at the Civic Arena. I didn’t realize then what it would come to mean to me,” comments Alicia. 

Over the course of her skating career Alicia went on to compete internationally and was ranked eighth in the Midwest in the United States Figure Skating Future Champions Series. Alicia’s skating is taking on a new life through her year as Miss Bay County. Alicia’s passion for skating also led to her platform, Ignite the Passion Within–a movement focused on encouraging young people to find their passion and use it to build a better life. Click here to find out more about the Miss Bay County Organization and Alicia’s journey to Miss Michigan and Ignite the Passion Within.

Source: Linda Bilhimer

Miss America Laura Kaeppeler is on the road speaking to centers and organizations about her platform–Circles of Support, Mentoring Children of Incarcerated Parents. Most recently, she attended a YMCA Safe Place Services fundraiser at Mellwood Art and Entertainment Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

Laura spoke to more than 500 guests about her experiences as a teenager with a parent in prison.

"I know what it's like to be one of those children, I know what it's like to walk down that road and in those shoes," Laura said.

But to Laura, organizations like Safe Place Services make a positive impact on children whose parents have been or are still incarcerated, and by participating in their programming, kids can break away from negative stereotypes.

Some clients of Safe Place Services were present to hear Laura speak. Clayton Marshall, who is now 22-years-old, started participating in the Safe Place Services when he was 14-years-old. With a mom in and out of prison for drug charges, he said his involvement in Safe Place helped improve his outlook on life.

Laura spoke March 19 and 20 at Safe Place Services centers, and she met with the Domestic Policy Council in Washington, D.C. on Saturday to discuss her platform.

Sources: MAO, WHAS11 Louisville, Kentucky and Indiana News

Reality TV star and Miss America 2012 judge Kris Jenner dishes on the swimsuit competition, role models, and more!

fourpoints: How do you feel about the swimsuit competition? Some previous judges have said it is unnecessary part of the pageant.
Kris Jenner: I liked the swimsuit competition. If the contestants had not looked healthy, I might have a problem with it. But you can tell by their hair, their skin–they are healthy!

fpts: Did any of your daughters ever compete in pageants?
KJ: Pageants were not a part of their lives, no. We always watch Miss America as a family. But if one of my girls had come to me and said, I want to do this, I would have said, you bet.

fpts: What were you looking for in a Miss America?
KJ: Definitely a role model. This Miss America pageant is a different game than it was fifty years ago. Today, with all the things that a contestant has to deal with–Facebook, Twitter, all of social media–she has the ability to reach even more people.

fpts: Did anything surprise you about the pageant?
KJ: What did surprise and impress me is the work ethic that all the contestants have. They look at this as a job, not just a beauty pageant, which is something I try to instill in my girls.

To read more of Kris Jenner's responses and other answers from the experts in the field, subscribe to fourpoints magazine!

Tuesday is IHOP'S National Pancake Day! Visit any International House of Pancakes Tuesday from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. to get a free short stack and support the Children's Miracle Network.

Guests attending the pancake smorgasbord will be asked to provide a donation to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, the official platform of the Miss America Organization.

Pageant winners including Miss America Laura Kaeppeler will be in attendance to help serve and to promote the platform. Laura will visit a Hollywood, California IHOP tomorrow.

IHOP National Pancake Day has raised approximately $8 since its first year, 2006. Proceeds support local charities, including the Children's Miracle Network.

Sources: Dine Equity and MAO Photo D. Sharon Pruitt

The 2012 Miss America Outstanding Teen Princess Camp pre-sale registration ends today, February 15, 2012. Click here to register now, and use promo code PRINCESS12 to save $300!

Applications for the MAOT mentoring program are being accepted for girls ages five-twelve-years-old. The Princess Camp will be held in Orlando, Florida on August 14-19.

Princess Camp gives young contestants the opportunity to team up with MAOTeens and learn the tricks of the trade. Girls will get on-stage experience in a production number in the national pageant, and other on-stage events. Courses designed for the girls will give them insight from experts and authors. Expect nothing but fun during the camp's fashion show, photo-shoot and make over session. Campers will also spend time with Miss America's Outstanding Teen, and walk the Pink Carpet as MAOTeen celebrities.

Spaces are limited. Register your princess today!

Source and photo: MAOT

The 2012 Miss America Pageant received its highest ratings in eight years Saturday. The ABC broadcast of the pageant was the number one non-sports network program Saturday from 9-11 p.m. 

The viewing audience increased 47 percent, 2.8 million viewers from the time the pageant began at 9 p.m. through the first half hour. During the final half hour, 10:30-11 p.m., the telecast totaled 8.0 million viewers and earned a 2.2 rating. Aside from the 2011 New Year's Even programming, ABC scored the pageant as the best non-sports Adult 18-49 rating in the time the pageant aired since December 2010.

Although the pageant aired at the same time as an NFL playoff game, The Miss America Pageant increased its overall audience in adults 18-49 more than 13 percent from last year's broadcast. The 2012 pageant scores were the best it has received since 2004. 

Source: MAO

All 53 contestants competing for the 2012 Miss America Pageant debuted in their EXPRESS fashions at the annual arrival ceremony at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Josh Strickland, one of Planet Hollywood's stars, hosted the ceremony. The contestants returned to the Theatre for the Performing Arts at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino for the seventh consecutive year, and the arrival kicked off a week of preliminary competitions (interview, lifestyle and fitness, talent and evening wear), culminating in the live telecast on ABC, Saturday, January 14 at 9 p.m. (EST)/tape delay (PST).

On hand to welcome and introduce the 2012 Miss America Contestants were Rossi Ralenkotter, President and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Tom Collins, Commissioner and Board Chair of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, David Hoenemeyer, Regional President of Bally's, Paris and Planet Hollywood, Sam Haskell, III, Chairman of the Board of the Miss America Organization and Art McMaster, President and CEO of the Miss America Organization.

Source: Miss America Organization

Join the Miss America pageant family today in supporting Children's Miracle Network!

I can’t believe I haven’t weighed in on the 2012 judges panel yet! Where does the time go? 

As you all know, the panel was announced last week. Check it out here.

As always, the panel did spark a bit of controversy. Some people aren’t happy with the panel, and that’s okay! Kris Jenner was certainly a surprise to me and while I don’t necessarily think she’s the greatest person alive, I am more than a little curious to see if her daughters come to the pageant. I want to see them in person, I can’t help it! 

I don’t have a lot to say about the individual panel members – I think that MAO team will train them well in the scoring system and they will pick a lovely girl out of the 53 lovely contestants. But, the panel debate did spark another debate in my head.

Is there such a thing as a pageant expert?

If a pageant was so moved —and I am talking local, state, or the national Miss America pageant—could they find a panel of judges who were confirmed pageant experts? And would that panel be able to pick the “perfect” titleholder?

I’m not entirely sure I think this is possible. I have judged pageants myself, and I would not call myself a pageant expert. I am well versed in the scoring system and I understand what the job of a titleholder is (although each title does have its own requirements), and there are certain subjects I have studied—but I'm not an expert. I feel confident about the titleholders I have helped choose regardless of me being an expert, or not.

Of course, there are people out there who have judged hundreds of pageants, and perhaps they are being closer to an expert than I am. But the judges aren’t the only part of the equation—the contestants and their performance comes into play. How they perform is the focus, obviously, and nerves / mood / etc. affect that.

I don’t think there is such a thing as a pageant expert. I think the best you can do, if you are choosing a panel, is pick people you trust and admire. Then train them on the scoring system and the job you are asking them to fill. From there, it’s really up to the contestants.

What do YOU think?

Wednesday, December 7 in the 8 a.m. ET hour*

Tune in tomorrow, December 7, to hear the LIVE announcement of the national judges selected for the 2012 Miss America Pageant on ABC’s Good Morning America during the Pop News segment, in the 8 a.m. ET* hour.

* Please check your local listings