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2006 Miss America Jennifer Berry Jan. 26, 2006 Click here for pictures of the event!
In a calculated effort to soak up a little of the Las Vegas intoxication with glitz and risk - the song that will open the pageant Saturday night is a remixed version of Elvis Presley's "A Little Less Conversation" - has also come at a price, depriving hundreds of other pageant devotees of nearly every external touchstone they have come to associate with Miss America. Gone, for example, is Boardwalk Bob, who had sold programs on the night of the pageant for as many years as anyone associated with it could remember. Also gone is the long time tradition of the Miss America parade and the "Show Me Your Shoes" spectacular. For that matter, there is no Boardwalk, its planks - notorious for catching the high heels of contestants and spectators alike - replaced by the drab sidewalks and scaffolding of the booming Las Vegas Strip. And, on the morning after Miss America has been crowned, she will not, as had been tradition, wade up to her ankles in the ocean. The closest major body of water probably lies at the base of the dancing fountains of a competing hotel, the Bellagio across the Strip.
The Miss America pageant will be held January 21, 2006 in Las Vegas, NV. The delegates will be at the Aladdin Hotel and Casino on the famous Las Vegas strip. The program will be seen on cable TV on the Country Music Television network (CMT) for the first time.. In the photo above, the delegates are gathered with reigning Miss America 2005 Deidre Downs and host for the event, James Denton, who plays "Mike the plumber" on Desperate Housewives. Tuesday: Night One of Prelims
Wednesday: Night Two of Prelims
Thursday: Third Night of Prelims
Konzelman, 23, of Carlsbad, won a $2,000 scholarship. She is a graduate of California Baptist University.
Schambeau, 25, a certified skydiver who aspires to head the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, won $1,000 for her victory in the swimsuit competition Final Results
Jennifer Berry, a student at the University of Oklahoma, outlasted 51 other women to become Miss America 2006, earning a $30,000 college scholarship and a yearlong speaking tour in the process. She also won an additional $2000 for being a talent prelim winner. Jennifer also won $2000 for being the first runner up for the Quality of Life award. Jennifer's platform issue is Building Intolerance to Drunk Driving and Underage Drinking. Listed on the President's Honor Roll at the University of Oklahoma, Berry's scholastic ambition is to obtain a Master's Degree in Education. Her career ambition is to be an elementary school teacher.. She was crowned by outgoing Miss America Diedre Downs.
Jennifer answered a question saying she looked much different in sixth grade: "I had big huge glasses, frizzy hair and I was about 5-foot-8. And I remember being in music class and a girl came up to me and said, 'Why did you have that picture taken with those horrid glasses?'" She said she was "heartbroken" by the comment, but that it ultimately helped her "become the woman that I am by accepting the person that I am."
Miss Alabama Alexa Jones second runner-up, receiving a $15,000 scholarship. Alexa was also a runner up for the Quality of Life Award. Miss Virginia Kristi Glakas and Miss District of Columbia Shannon Schambeau rounded out the top five, receiving $10,000 and $8,000 in scholarships respectively.. Kristi and Shannon both had previously placed as a preliminary swimsuit winner and received an additional $1000 scholarship The remaining top ten semifinalists were Miss South Carolina Erika Powell, Miss Texas Morgan Matlock, Miss Arkansas Eudora Mosby, Miss Pennsylvania Nicole Brewer, and Miss Florida Mari Wilensky. The semifinalists each received a $7,000 scholarship. Video clips from old pageants were aired on the telecast, and two traditions that had been absent since the 1980s were revived: The women wore sashes naming their states and elected a Miss Congeniality. The Miss Congeniality Award is the only award voted on solely by contestants, and is given to the contestant who is most liked and respected by her peers. Miss Hawaii Malika Dudley won Miss Congeniality. She received $2,000 in scholarship as well. And when it came time for "There She Is, Miss America," it was a real flashback, and a very pleasant surprise — a recording of late Miss America host Bert Parks singing it. He emceed the show for 25 years before being replaced. James Denton from ABC's "Desperate Housewives" handled the duties Saturday night. We personally would like to see him back again as he did an excellent job. The four Nonfinalist-Talent awards went to: Miss California Dustin Leigh-Konzelman, fiddle; Miss Delaware Becky Bledsoe, opera; Miss Minnesota Karyn Stordahl, classical piano; and Miss Tennessee Tara Burns, opera. The Bernie Wayne Talent award given to the contestant with the highest score in talent who plans to pursue a career in entertainment went to Miss South Carolina, Ericka Powell. More information about Jennifer Berry
Jennifer is a senior at the University of Oklahoma, majoring in elementary education. She is a member of the Student Oklahoma Education Association, recent committee board member of the university's Think If You Drink alcohol education program and studies with the highly acclaimed University of Oklahoma School of Dance. In 2005, Jennifer was a guest performer with the Tulsa Opera along with five other school of dance students. Jennifer received the University of Oklahoma's president's honor roll in 2004 and 2005 and the dean's honor roll in 2002 and 2003. In 2001, Jennifer graduated from Jenks High School. While in high school, she was a member of the National Honor Society. She was also active in student council and Key Club, a community service organization, and a member of the varsity pom squad. Jennifer served as president of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America as a senior. She began studying ballet at 3 years old and fell in love with the arts. At the age of 9, Jennifer began spending her summers studying ballet at such prestigious companies as the Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle, the Peoria Ballet in Illinois and the Tulsa Ballet. She received a full summer scholarship to study with David Howard Dance Center out of New York beginning at the age of 11. When Jennifer was 13 years old, she created a successful Summer Dance Workshop with two of her friends acquiring over 100 students within three summers. Jennifer taught ballet throughout high school, instructing students from ages four to 18. Jennifer's love for dancing and interest in the Miss America Organization eventually led her to the Miss Oklahoma Pageant. In 2001, she received a nonfinalist talent award when she was just 17 years old. The following year, Jennifer was a top 10 semifinalist and a preliminary swimsuit award winner. In 2003, Jennifer placed third runner-up and received a preliminary swimsuit award. In 2004, Jennifer received third place in the Kiwanis Club Community Service Award, preliminary interview award and once again placed third runner-up. After competing for five years, Jennifer captured the title competing as Miss Grand Lake. She took home preliminary swimsuit, talent and interview awards along with the first place Kiwanis Club Community Service Award. At the adolescent age of 15, Jennifer lost a friend in an alcohol-related accident. Knowing firsthand her death could have been prevented, Jennifer was immediately motivated to save others from losing their lives to a senseless decision. She became an avid volunteer and spokesperson for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). When she was 18 years old, Jennifer spoke to DUI offenders as part of their rehabilitation through the Victim's Impact Panel. She is a member of Project Under 21 and served on the very first Student Committee Board for the University of Oklahoma's Think If You Drink program. Jennifer spoke to hundreds of incoming college freshman regarding the dangers of alcohol. She has also spoken to hundreds of elementary age students regarding good decision making skills and creating healthy lifestyles. Jennifer is the daughter of Tom and Kay Berry. She has one sister, Kim, and a brother-in-law, Josiah. Her list of "favorites" are:
She often wonders about: What the world will be like when her children are in their twenties. Anyone visiting Oklahoma for the first time must try: Chicken Fried Steak One thing she can't live without: Blue Bell Ice Cream Her secret wish: To play Belle one summer at Disney World. TO ADD OR UPDATE CONTENT TO TFTJ, use the Submission Forms.
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"Atlantic City grew up with the pageant, and the pageant grew up with Atlantic City," said Ms. Johnston, who has regularly escorted Miss New Jersey to the pageant as co-executive director of the Miss New Jersey Education Foundation, which administers the state competition. "The people in the hotels - the same bellhops, the same waitresses - were excited to see us every year." But, she quickly added, "I think it is great for Miss America to make a statement that we are not going to be as complacent as we were." The move here this year - pageant organizers have not yet decided where next year's will be - was driven largely by financial necessity.
Miss South Carolina Erika Grace Powell was named Tuesday night's preliminary Talent winner for her performance of "Time to Say Goodbye" by Andrea Bocelli during the first night of competition in the 2006 Miss America Pageant at The Aladdin Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Erika is a classically trained opera singer and is a jr., Furman University, vocal performance major. She picked up a $2000 scholarship for her talent win. 
Also in the spotlight was Miss Utah Julia Marie Bachison, who was the Tuesday preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness in Swimsuit winner in a two-piece gray and white Speedo swimsuit with green piping. She won a $1000 scholarship for this award. 
Miss Oklahoma Jennifer Berry was named Wednesday night's preliminary Talent winner for her Ballet en Pointe performance to "Within" by William Joseph during the second night of competition in the 2006 Miss America Pageant at The Aladdin Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. She picked up a $2000 scholarship for her performance. 
Also in the spotlight was Miss Virginia Kristi Lauren Glakas, who was the Wednesday night preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness in Swimsuit winner in an orange and black Speedo swimsuit with black piping. The 24-year-old George Mason University student from Centreville won the Miss Virginia title in her first time competing for the crown. She was the Miss Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival. She won a $1000 scholarship for this award. 
Miss California Dustin-Leigh Konzelman was named Thursday night's preliminary Talent winner for her fiddle performance of “The 12th Street Rag,” during the third night of competition in the 2006 Miss America Pageant at The Aladdin Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. 
Also in the spotlight was Miss District of Columbia Shannon Schambeau, who was the Thursday night preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness in Swimsuit winner in an orange and black Speedo swimsuit. 
A 22-year-old aspiring teacher from Oklahoma was crowned Miss America 2006 on Saturday night, January 21, 2006, the first time the pageant was held outside Atlantic City, N.J. 
Jennifer, who competed for five years in Oklahoma's state pageant, finished as third runner-up twice before winning last year and getting a shot at the national title. "This is an honor, this is surreal," she said. "I don't believe it right now. Hopefully, it will sink in, maybe tomorrow. It's a dream come true but more importantly it's a job that I'm honored to have."
The first runner-up was Miss Georgia, of Atlanta, Georgia, who earned a $20,000 scholarship after a piano performance of Chopin's "Polonaise in G Sharp Minor." Monica Pang holds a B.A. in Consumer Journalism from the University of Georgia and hopes to become a producer in the music industry. 
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