PEOPLE WATCHING competitionclips 2012 G LOBAL N ATIONS P AGEANTS that interview is scored at 50% of the overall score, emphasizing brains over beauty, and contestants are required to have volunteer work in their communities. The Global Nations Pageant promotes educa- tion and has recently started the Suzanne Makuch Memorial Edu- cational Scholarship program for the Teen and Miss Divisions. This scholarship will be award- GOING GLOBAL: 2012 National Queens (L-R), Judge and reign- ed at the Nationals in Las Vegas, ing Ms. Latina International United States Erica Cuascut, Ms. Global Nevada in 2013 to the one contest- Nations Andrea Holland, Mrs. Global Nations DeAnna Emborski, ant that exemplifies volunteer work pageant CEO/Director Jennifer Ross-Killgore, Miss Global Nations and shows an educational passion Tiffany Knight and Teen Miss Global Nations Layne Alkire. for her future. This scholarship is named in honor of CEO/National ontestants from all over the United Director Jennifer Ross-Killgore’s mother States converged in Sacramento, who passed away this year and who spent California for the Global Nations Na- most of her life as a teacher and volun- tional Pageant. Ladies ages 13 years and teering at such places as the Ronald Rea- up came from as far away as Virginia and gan Library, her local historical Society, Florida to compete for the coveted Na- the LDS Temple and many other places. tional Title. The contestants were welcomed to The Global Nations National Pag- Sacramento with an orientation and wel- eant has four divisions—Teen, Miss, Ms. come dinner. After a long first day of and Mrs.—and is unique in the sense walking, picture taking, autograph sign- C M R . AND nother scintillating evening was cele- brated at the Indo Caribbean Center for its 9th Diwali competition crowning of Miss Diwali Florida 2011. Beautiful young Florida women hugged the lime- light as the stunning beauties completed the final judging. The question and answer session was fielded by five distinguished judges, and two attorneys from Orlando oversaw the final scoring of the pageant. 116 PAGEANTRY 2012 GLOBAL NATIONS Teen Miss Global Nations 2012 ____Layne Alkire Miss Global Nations 2012 _______Tiffany Knight Ms. Global Nations 2012 _______Andrea Holland Mrs. Global Nations 2012 _____DeAnna Emborski M ISS D IWALI F LORIDA 2011 P AGEANT KRYSTAL CLEAR: Krystal was the clear winner of the Miss Diwali Florida 2011 crown and the title of Mr. Diwali went to Tristan Mangol. A ing, touring and shopping, the contestants prepared for interviews with the judges. To round off the day, the contestants were treated to a fun reception and were serenaded by singer and one of the official entertainers for the National pageant, Mr. Tony R. After a few full days of excitement, interviews and social events, the contest- ants spent the final day in rehearsal. Then it was time for the finals. The prize pack- age for all four divisions totaled more than $38,000. Special awards were given out for Photogenic—Tiffany Knight; Best Evening Gown—DeAnna Embors- ki; Fitness—Catherine Colle; Director’s choice—Tiffany Knight; People’s Choice—Julia Guity; and Pageantry Spir- it Award—Christine Edwards. After a great night of competition the winners were announced. □ Nineteen-year old University of Cen- rent issues and attitudes that affect them tral Florida student Krystal Jaikaran was and the community, as well as their per- crowned Miss Diwali Florida 2011 on a sonal successes, hobbies, community in- glitzy night at the Soiree Banquet Hall volvement and ambitions. and Conference Center. Selecting the queen to wear the Miss This year, the ICCC carefully selected Diwali Florida Pageant 2011 crown was the performers for this event to keep the surely a challenge for the judges, as the show top class. The crowd stood to atten- scores were neck-and-neck. Krystal tion as the beautiful Sarika Ram opened the Jaikaran won the title of Miss Diwali Flori- evening’s program with the singing of the da 2011 and Malini Bramdatt was named American National Anthem. Sarika Ram first runner-up and Miss Congeniality. has indeed left her mark as one of Central Seventeen-year old Olympia High Florida’s top vocalists after belting out fa- School student Miss Alisha Mangra was mous Bollywood hits, including “My Name the second runner-up. Miss Tejal Cindy is Sheila” from the movie Sheila Ke Jewani. Ram won the title of Jr. Miss Diwali and The Miss Diwali Florida and Jr. Miss Teraana Persaud finished a close 2nd. This Diwali contestants—residents of Florida year’s title of Mr. Diwali went to none with roots in places like Guyana, Trinidad, other than the escort of Miss Diwali Flori- Jamaica, Orissa and Ooty, India—were da 2011, Tristan Mangol. ambitious young ladies of high academic Awards for Best Sari and Best Evening achievement and pursuing careers in fields Wear went to Krystal Jaikaran. □ such as medicine, criminal justice and so- cial work. Competing for the Mr. Diwali MR. AND MISS DIWALI title again this year were some of Orlando’s eligible young men. Contestants had the Miss Diwali Florida ___________Krystal Jaikaran opportunity to express themselves on cur- Mr. Diwali Florida _____________Tristan Mangol