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Louisiana 2009
Katherine Putnam Jun. 20, 2009 Story by: Lance Traweek
Congratulations to Nicole Blaszczyk, Miss Louisiana 2009, for placing a third runner up to Miss America 2010. The Miss Louisiana America pageant is taking place June 18-20, 2009 in Monroe, LA. The reigning Miss Louisiana America 2008 Blair Albene is on hand to crown her successor. In an opening number, the contestants danced onstage as entertainer Brent May sang "Life is a Highway." Each young woman then introduced herself to a cheering audience. Judges include Taryn Foshee, E. Lynn Harris, Amanda Mainord Reeves, Stephanie L. Barnes and McNeil Chestnut. Final Results With tear-filled eyes and expressions of gratitude, Miss Shreveport Katherine Putnam was crowned Miss Louisiana 2009 by predecessor Blair Abene on Saturday night. Putnam, 22, attends the University of Louisiana at Monroe with a major in piano performance. She put that talent to work, playing the "Hallelujah Chorus." In an interview with emcee Ed Walsh after winning the title, Putnam expressed her disbelief with winning the crown. "It's so surreal — I can hardly believe it," Putnam said. "I worked so hard and had the support of so many wonderful people. I am so thankful to God." When asked if she is ready for her reign as Miss Louisiana 2009, she responded with assurance. "Yes, I have been training for the Miss America pageant since I started the Miss Louisiana pageants — so I'm ready to go," she said. "Let's go to Las Vegas!" Putnam's platform is the Miracle of Music. It's to "promote music therapy and music appreciation in schools across the state," she said. Miss University of Louisiana at Monroe Hope Anderson, who won the swimsuit-fitness preliminary Friday, was named first runner-up. She will take Putnam's place if for some reason Putnam is unable to serve as Miss Louisiana. Miss Lafayette Kenley Minchew, the talent winner Friday night, was named second runner-up, Miss Natchitoches City of Lights Courtney Haynes was third runner-up and Miss Port City Joy Thomason was fourth runner-up. The remaining semifinalists were: Miss Louisiana Watermelon Festival Brittany McGehee, Miss Bosier City Erica Durr, Miss Crescent City New Orleans Lacy Thibodeaux, Miss North Louisiana Bayou Brandy Hotard, and Miss Spirit of the Red Ravayna Tracey. Friday Prelim Results Months of perseverance were put to the test in the second round of competition for the 29 contestants, racing to garner the state's top crown. Miss University of Louisiana at Monroe Hope Anderson won the swimwear and physical fitness competition, while Miss Lafayette Kenley Minchew took the talent competition. Anderson, a mass communications major at ULM, attributed her victory in the second round swimwear competition to leading an active and healthy lifestyle. "I'm a pointe dancer, so I get a lot of my exercise from long hours of practice," she said. "Young women can find it easier to stay fit by doing something they love." Minchew, a theater performance major at Louisiana State University, sang and danced to the Broadway vocal, "Showoff." "Singing and dancing is my passion," she said. "Staying passionate makes it a lot easier to chase your dream." Thursday Prelim Results Brittany McGehee, a piano pedagogy and communication studies major at Bryan College, and Katie Cook, a community health-pre-occupational therapy major at Louisiana State University-Shreveport, won the opening night pageant preliminaries Thursday at the Monroe Civic Center.Cook, Miss Spirit of Pineville, won the swimwear and physical fitness competition, while McGehee, Miss Louisiana Watermelon Festival, took the talent competition, playing a classical piano composition, "La Companela." Stay tuned for further information and results.
Louisiana Trivia:
Louisiana is another on the list of states that have not produced a Miss America. They have placed many times in the top ten at Miss America. In 1997, Mette Boving took to the semifinals. In 2004, Jennifer Dupont was first runner-up! That's fairly close. In fact, three other Miss Louisianas were first runners-up to Miss America and they are Patricia Brant, Erica Schwartz, and Faith Jenkins in 2001. The most recent to place in the top five was Katherine Putnam, 3rd runner up in 2010. Heather Dupree was a first runner up to the Quality of Life award and Erica Schwartz was a second runner up to the Quality of Life award. TO ADD OR UPDATE CONTENT TO TFTJ, use the Submission Forms.
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