Hailey Steele, the former Miss South Dakota's Outstanding Teen 2005, and her band mate Leland Grant appeared on NBC's The Voice, and will compete for the this season's grand prize–a recording contract.

The duo performed Monday night in front of judges Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Blake Shelton and Adam Levine. Hailey's band, The LiNE, got together in November 2008, and it hopes to make it in the country music world. Watch The Voice Mondays at 9 p.m. Eastern.

Source and Photo: MAOT

Miss America Laura Kaeppeler wowed football fans and the media on Sunday when she spent the day in Indianapolis, Indiana, for the Super Bowl. She took part in game-day events, and even took a seat for the big game. Laura participated in a sandwich judging contest that benefited Taste of the NFL, a charity that raises money for food banks across America. To donate, visit Kick Hunger Challenge online.

Laura brought attention to the Miss America Organization while being interviewed on "Radio Row" by reporters from NFL.com, Sirius/XM Radio and Yahoo! Sports.

Source and Photo: MAO

Miss America, Laura Kaeppeler appeared on ABC's Good Morning America this morning at 8 a.m. Eastern. In her second appearance on the show, she took part in the Taste of the NFL event preceding Super Bowl XLVI. The show was broadcast from the location of the Super Bowl, Indianapolis, Indiana. If you missed this morning's broadcast, check ABC.com to watch the full episode later this week.

Source: MAO

The Miss Alabama pageant may be most well known for giving us our first deaf Miss America, Heather Whitestone, but the pageant has both a rich history and an exciting future.

The Birmingham News started the pageant in 1921. In the early years, both Miss Birmingham and Miss Alabama competed for the national title of Miss America. Eventually, Miss Birmingham (along with Miss Mobile and Miss Montgomery) became local titles. Today, the pageant has a grand total of forty-seven locals–closed, open and university pageants.

It takes a lot of people and time to keep the Miss Alabama pageant going throughout the year, and especially during pageant week. Executive Director Nan Teninbaum credits many people behind-the-scenes for the success of the pageants.

"Our board of directors is most definitely a working board," says Nan. "Everyone has assignments. We couldn't do it without the parents of former Miss Alabama’s who pitch in and help."

Another group of people that help tremendously with the pageant are Miss Alabama alumni. Whether they are former Miss Alabama’s or local contestants, they are great resources for the Miss Alabama pageant.

"You have got to involve your alumni," says Nan. "Let them know that you need their help. A young lady who has been through the program will love to educate someone else on the values of her experience. I have found many times that the young lady who never wins gets the most out of the experience.

The pageant also has a large group of generous donors and sponsors that allow both the pageant and the titleholder to have the best year possible. It's clear that the Miss Alabama program is doing something right. With three Miss Americas to call their own, nearly fifty local pageants, and dozens of volunteers, it's easy to see that the organization is on the right track. According to Nan, their collective success comes from simple dedication.

"We get paid for our time in so many different ways," says Nan. "We wouldn't do what we do if we didn't truly believe in the program."

Read more about the Miss Alambama pageant in the December/January 2011-12 issue of fourpoints

Written by: Julie Anne Long. Photo: Danny Barrett of Pageant Works

The Phoenix Children's Hospital got a royal visit on Monday from Miss America, Laura Kaeppeler. It was her first hospital visit this year.

The Children's Miracle Network Hospital patients got to spend time talking and doing crafts with Miss America. At the end of her visit, Laura presented the hospital with a check for more than $360,000 that will be used in the learning center, "One Darn Cool School," at the hospital.

"It's been a great morning, and full of lots of laughs from the kids. They are so much fun. I hoped to brighten their day but, they brightened my day just as much," Laura said.

Click here to see a video of Miss America at the Phoenix Children's Hospital.

The Children's Miracle Network is the official platform of the Miss America Organization.

Source and Photos: Miss America Organization

Now pageant enthusiasts can enjoy the sweet sounds of a former Miss on Just In Time, a compilation of show tunes and favorites of Miss America 1981, Susan Powell.

"Music gives voice and language to express our souls in ways that words and speech just can't do. it's a language all its own," she says.

Just In Time is "elegant," and will bring listeners into a world of fresh musical translations using only voice and piano–played by Philip Fortenberry. To listen to the music is to be in the same room as the musicians.

Susan plays piano as well, although she says it is a hobby done "when no one is listening." She also went to college on a partial trumpet scholarship, and played it in the September-October performance of Guys and Dolls as Sarah Brown in the Mission Band.

Susan recorded Just In Time at the end of last year, and it is available for purchase on her website. 

Miss America Laura Kaeppeler continues her media tour tonight at the E! Entertainment studios where she will be interviewed and featured on E! News tonight. The Midwestern queen will spend time making appearances in sunny California to promote the Miss America Organization, its scholarship program and her platform.

Watch E! News tonight at 7 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

Source: MAO

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

The newly crowned Laura Kaeppeler performed her first duty as Miss America by appearing on Good Morning America Tuesday. The former Miss Wisconsin flew directly from the pageant in Las Vegas, three suit cases in tow, to appear on the show.

"I couldn't be more thrilled," she says.

Laura also appeared on Fox & Friends Wednesday morning, and discussed her plans for the $50,000 scholarship awarded by Amway.

"I'm actually looking forward to going to law school after this year to really carry out the work of my platform of mentoring and advocating for children who have parents in prison...I hope to use it...to be a legal voice for children who don't have one," Laura says.

Laura rang the opening bell of NASDAQ this morning.

Photo: MAO

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