SASHES AND TIARAS.....Miss Teen USA 2013 Finals, The Winner is...Cassidy Wolf "Miss California Teen USA": Pics, Evening Gowns

Teen Queen: The new "Miss Teen USA 2013", Miss California Teen USA Cassidy Wolf

Last night were the finals of the 31st edition of "Miss Teen USA". They were held at Atlantis Paradise Island in The Bahamas. The finals were not televised on TV but rather streamed LIVE online via Ustream and Xbox Live. While watching the finals last night, I recognized the theater it was held at--I had been in that same theater 5 years ago when I was in The Bahamas for the Islands of The World Fashion Week. In fact, Los Angeles designer Kevan Hall held his fashion show there. Now, back to the "Miss Teen USA 2013" pageant. The winner was...

Good Luck Girl: "Miss California Teen USA" Cassidy Wolf (left) and "Miss South Carolina Teen USA" Tori Sizemore (right) hold hands awaiting the "And The Next Miss Teen USA Is..." moment

And The Winner Is: "Miss South Carolina Teen USA" Tori Sizemore (right) finds out she's NOT the winner (poor thang, just look at her face!)--BTW: "Miss Alabama Teen USA" ain't too happy about the outcome by the looks of it (far left)

OMG: "Miss California Teen USA" Cassidy Wolf is the new "Miss Teen USA"--sash was given to her by "Miss USA 2013" Erin Brady (right)

Teen Bikini: "Miss California Teen USA" Cassidy Wolf at the "Miss Teen USA 2013" beauty pageant--Swimsuit portion

"Miss California Teen USA", 5' 7" tall 19 year-old Cassidy Wolf from Temecula, California won the top prize. She was very surprised and excited. I watched the entire pageant and the CLEAR winner looked as if it was going to be "Miss South Carolina Teen USA" Tori Sizemore. Tori looked like a Miss Teen USA in her perfect hair, perfect ivory "Disney Princess" gown, and she answered the all-important final question with aplomb and intelligence.

The Top Five: (Left to right) 3rd Runner-Up "Miss Georgia Teen USA" Julia Martin, 1st Runner-Up "Miss South Carolina Teen USA" Tori Sizemore, "Miss Teen USA 2013" Cassidy Wolf, 2nd Runner-Up "Miss West Virginia Teen USA" Haley Holloway, and 4th Runner-Up "Miss Minnesota Teen USA"Maggie McGill

That's not to say that Cassidy ("Miss California Teen USA") did bad. She did not. Cassidy is very pretty, I liked her blue peplum gown, she looked great in swimsuit, and her final question answer was OK. But it all seemed to be pointing to "Miss South Carolina Teen USA" getting the crown. But, as it is typical in beauty pageants, you never know...

Crowns-R-Us: "Miss Teen USA 2013" Cassidy Wolf with last year's "Miss Teen USA" Logan West (left) and "Miss USA 2013" Erin Brady (right)

Top Five Finalists: (Left to right) "Miss Georgia Teen USA" Julia Martin, "Miss Minnesota Teen USA" Maggie McGill, "Miss West Virginia Teen USA" Haley Holloway, "Miss California Teen USA" Cassidy Wolf and "Miss South Carolina Teen USA" Tori Sizemore--Miss Teen USA 2013 Finals

Top Three Finalists: (Left to right) "Miss West Virginia Teen USA" Haley Holloway, "Miss California Teens USA" Cassidy Wolf and "Miss South Carolina Teen USA" Tori Sizemore---Miss Teen USA 2013 Finals

Time to Discuss The Top 16 Semi-Finalists' Gowns (with my "Nick Gown Scores!)--

First, the Winner:

Miss California Teen USA Cassidy Wolf: In my review of the Preliminaries (you can read HERE), I liked her choice of gown. Cassidy wore the same gown that she wore for the Prelimns (all 16 semi-finalists did). It was a strapless royal blue fit-to-flare gown with peplum detail and beaded waistband. It was sweet, different from a lot of the other Pageant-and-Prom choices of the other girls and therefore I liked it. The material looked a little polyester-y but I can't fault these girls for not being able to afford an actual silk gown that could set them back $5,000-$10,000.

Nick Gown Score: 9.4



And now my Best to "Uh Oh!" Gown Recap:

Miss Maryland Teen USA Hannah Brewer: Hannah's gown was one of my Top Faves in the Semi-Finalist round. She wore a vanilla colored chiffon "Goddess" gown wih a full skirt and silver mirror sequined midriff/waist. From head to toe, the entire look was perfect.

Nick Gown Score: 9.8

Miss South Carolina Teen USA Tori Sizemore: Tori almost won the top prize but yes, she came in second. For me, her evening gown was one of the top looks. It was a strapless ivory column style gown with silver sequined bustier and a "ball gown" over-skirt. It wasn't a novel idea for a gown but I give her top scores for the entire look. She looked like the Princess in a Disney Rags-to-Riches movie with Julie Andrews.

Nick Gown Score: 9.76

Miss Missouri Teen USA Brenda Smith-Lezama: Brenda was voted into the Top 16 by the Internet/SMS Text votes. I loved this gown because it was so different. It reminded me a little bit of the iconic Christian Dior Haute Couture "King Tutankhamen" Collection designed by John Galliano from years ago. It was a one-shoulder strapped mermaid-shaped gown in fuchsia pink with sequin detail. It looked so fab against her skin color and she carried it off very well.

Nick Gown Score: 9.75

Miss West Virginia Teen USA Haley Holloway: Haley was one of my favorite girls of the group. She had presence, beauty, fun personality (she might've said one to may "Like this" and "Like that" in between her Q&A answers but heck, that's how 17 year-old's talk. Could she have been more refined in her answers. Probably. But I loved her gown choice in this black column gown with sequined lace applique top section and tulle overskirt. She looked mature and refined.

Nick Gown Score: 9.74

Miss Wisconsin Teen USA Kathryn Redecker: I liked this red strapless column gown with back gathered "ball gown" over-skirt; it fit well, made her look like a Latin American Beauty Queen (very "Miss Colombia"!). I also liked that she slicked her hair back and kept it simple with the accessories.

Nick Gown Score: 9.68

Miss Georgia Teen USA Julia Martin: During my Review of the Preliminaries, I wasn't sure about this mermaid-style gown on Julia. But I have changed my mind after seeing it during the finals. She looked GREAT! The gown looked expensive, fit her very well and I loved her softened hairstyle as well. I'm not so sure about the nude pumps but other than that, she looked sweet yet very Va-Va-Voom.

Nick Gown Score: 9.4

Miss New Jersey Teen USA Christina Thompson: Sweet, pretty and just right. This is what I thought of this gown. Nothing earth-shattering, nothing offensive...it was just right. The beading looked very pretty and not cheap. I like that. Her hair and styling was also very complimentary to the entire look.

Nick Gown Score: 9.3

Miss Minnesota Teen USA Maggie McGill: In my recap of the Preliminaries I thought this was "a bit much" for a teenager. I still agree with that: the slit, the transparency, the cleavage, the Stripper Heels... But as I watched last night's finals, I think Julia looked great in the dress--and the entire look began to grow on me. For that, I give her...

Nick Gown Score: 9.10



The Ball Gown Girls:

Miss Hawaii Teen USA Samantha Neyland (left) and Miss Tennessee Teen USA Emily Suttle (right): These two Top 16 girls wore big ol' gowns. First--Miss Hawaii Teen USA wore a green strapless gown with feathered bustier. It was unusual but maybe not in a good way. She is such a pretty girl that the dress actually made her look too young. It made her a bit too sweet and too "Jr. Prom".

Miss Hawaii Teen USA Nick Gown Score: 8.2



Miss Tennessee Teen USA's gown was similar in silhouette to "Miss South Carolina Teen USA" but it was the iridescent color that well, made it look so 90s to me.

Miss Tennessee Teen USA Nick Gown Score: 8.7



The Bland Gowns:

Miss New York Teen USA Nikki Orlando (left) and Miss Alabama Teen USA Lorin Holcombe (right): Both gowns are similar colors and I do like a baby blue but in terms of styles, they are kind of a Yawn. Miss Alabama Teen USA's especially was just so not chic; it was almost Mother-of-the-Bride-ish.

Miss New York Teen USA Nick Gown Score: 8.4

Miss Alabama Teen USA Nick Gown Score: 8.0





The "Uh Oh"/Not Sure:

Miss Louisiana Teen USA Bailey Hidalgo (left) and Miss Arkansas Teen USA Abby Floyd (right): OK, these two dresses are not my faves--for sure. Miss Louisiana Teen USA's is just over-designed and over-wrought. And then , there's Miss Arkansas Teen USA and her midriff-baring two-piece "Sweet Belly Dancer" ensemble. How these two gowns got such high marks from the Preliminary judges that it helped them to get to the Top 16 is beyond me.

Miss Louisiana Teen USA Nick Gown Score: 7.7

Miss Arkansas Teen USA Nick Gown Score: 7.5

Miss Kansas Teen USA Alyssa Klinzing: I just got back from Kauai for my Summer Vacation and I think I saw a plant just like what is on her dress---in the "saltwater lagoon" at the Grand Hyatt Kauai. Seriously. Why. Is. That. On. Her. Dress??? And what Straight, no-fashion-sense judges liked this? I need to ask!

Nick Gown Score: 7.5

Congrats to the new "Miss Teen USA 2013" Cassidy Wolf! Makes us Californians proud!

SASHES AND TIARAS.....Miss Teen USA 2013 Preliminary Evening Gowns Part Two: The Best Gowns and Some "Oh Dear's!"

Which One is an "Oh Dear!" and Which One is in my Best Gown Category? Read on...

In my last post, I discussed "The Mermaid Queens" from the "Miss Teen USA 2013" Preliminary Evening Gown Competition which occurred last night (the Finals occurred TONIGHT!) and now, here's Part 2 of my Miss Teen USA 2013 Preliminary Competition Gown review--Here are some of my Favorite Column-and-Flared Gowns plus some Slit "Oh Dear's!":

Miss South Dakota Teen USA Alexis Rupp: This black (or is it Midnight Blue?) with gold trim gown on Miss South Dakota Teen USA is one of my favorites of last night's Preliminary Evening Gown Competition. I thought it was modern, elegant and "different" than the other atypical "Pageant Gowns" seen onstage. It had slight elements of an Alexander McQueen design but edited for non-Runway Drama purposes. Great gown Alexis!

 

Miss Texas Teen USA 2013 Daniella Rodriguez:  Daniella looks perfect in this ivory gown with sequined accents across the torso/shoulder and high-hip. It has slight elements of a Gionni Straccia design but not sure it is one (maybe a good knock-off!). I also love her middle-parted softly waved hair; glad it's not big and pouffy like some of the other girls.

Miss Maryland Teen USA Hannah Brewer: I just about fell off my chair when I saw that this pretty girl was only FIFTEEN years old! She looks like a young princess in this vanilla colored chiffon gown with mirrored crystal paillette midriff/waist detail. The hair and earrings are just right. All in all, one of the best of the night.

Miss West Virginia Teen USA Haley Holloway: I thought Haley looked like a Hollywood actress ready to accept her Best Actress Award. The black column gown with black over nude sequin applique is elegant and mature--and not in an "old lady" sort of way. I think the Column/Flared silhouette makes her very statuesque and commanding. If anything I would have removed the shoulder bows, but other than that: Very nice.

 

Miss Michigan Teen USA Ruby King: I absolutely LOVE the top torso section of this gown as well as the irridescent royal blue color of the bottom half; very Spartan Empress-Meets-Ball Gown Red Carpet.

Miss South Carolina Teen USA Tori Sizemore: Tori is just oh-so-pretty, she reminds me of actress Lilly Collins (Phil Collins' daughter). Her ivory strapless gown--featuring a beaded bustier top section attached to a column dress with a "ball gown" over skirt--is Pageant Right, especially for a seventeen year-old like Tori; she looks like someone who is playing the part of a Princess in a Hollywood Rags-to-Riches Disney Movie.

Miss Wisconsin Teen USA Kathryn Redeker: Kathryn also chose a strapless column gown with a back "ball gown" over skirt (like Miss South Carolina Teen USA). Hers, however, was all bright red with no beading whatsoever. I thought it was clean, dramatic and quite appropriate. Yes, this silhouette has been done before and might remind some people (ME!) of those 1990s styles but with its clean lines and no crazy sequins and applique in sight , it looks more "up to date".

Miss Oregon Teen USA Summer Piltcher: This dusty rose of-the-shoulder gown with ruched fitted bodice and flared bottom section with side front slit looks quite pretty on Summer. The style is very "Pageant Perfect" and yes, there's nothing extraordinary about it but it fits well and is a nice design. I would have just changed her hairstyle; it looks a bit messy.

Twin Colorways: Miss Virginia Teen USA Caelynn Miller-Keyes and Miss Utah Teen USA Chloe Crump wore what looks like, the same gown to last night's "Miss Teen USA 2013" Preliminary Evening gown Competition. Miss West Virginia Teen USA's in light pink while Miss Utah Teen USA's is ivory. But both have same sequin waist and shoulder detail. There might be very slight variations (Utah's seems to have a slight peek-a-boo keyhole opening above the chest) but it's almost the same. With that being said, I like it! I think it's a nice gown shape and the covered shoulders/slight cap sleeves are very NOW and on-point with what is seen on the runways and the red carpet.

Miss Rhode Island Teen USA Elaine Collado: I'm a big fan of one-shoulder gowns, as long as they are designed right. I think this one is. The light peach color is very feminine and delicate and looks great against Elaine's skin color. I also like the midriff asymmetrical sequin detail. A simple yet beautiful flared gown.

Miss California Teen USA Cassidy Wolf: There were many girls--out of the total 51 contestants--who wore very similar gowns. Cassidy wasn't one of them. No one else had this type of a gown--a strapless dress with a fit-to-flare silhouette, sequined waist and mini-peplum. It does look a bit polyester-y but I like that she chose this type of a dress as opposed to one that looked like everyone else. PS: In case you're wondering, the peplum is still "on-trend" in most parts of the USA--only in Too-Fashion Savvy Manhattan would someone probably throw you a look of "you're late" if they saw you still wearing a peplum style. But, elsewhere, you're good-to-go.

And now, the Kinda/Maybe/Sort Of "Oh Dear's" of the Bunch:

Miss Minnesota Teen USA Maggie McGill: Several things here--first off, Maggie is gorgeous! Second, she looks a lot like actress and "Biggest Loser" host Alison Sweeney. Third, I think this gown is slightly too "mature" and/or sexy for a "Miss Teen USA" competition. I like the multicolored sequin detail (it's quite fun-looking) yet...it id see-through from the thighs down, plus there's the very high slit, and then the CLEAVAGE: Dear Lord, I feel uncomfortable--even as A GAY--seeing so much of this young lady's SISTAHS. And then, she wears it with those too-high Stripper/Drag Queen Platforms I despise! Irregardless, call me "Grandpa Nick", but I think I would like this gown for "Miss USA"/"Miss Universe" contestant, but maybe not for "Miss Teen USA".

Miss Kansas Teen USA Alyssa Klinzing: Ummm...OK, I have a question: has someone told Alyssa that she's got some ENORMOUS Amazonian Plant Pod growing out of the side of her dress? This is the type of dress that on "Project Runway", the designer would get DRAGGED over the runway coals for this (I can just hear former "Project Runway" judge and designer Michael Kors now!). On a positive note: she looks sooooo happy! Bless Her Heart.

Miss Arkansas Teen USA Abby Floyd: A midriff-baring crop top and matching flared skirt. No. No. And No. Only if she's about to break out in a Belly Dance. Other than that. Nope. And trust me the "sweet" rose pink color and delicately soft lace applique doesn't help. A Sweet and Soft Belly Dancer? Nope.



Finally, I present to you...

Miss Nebraska Teen USA Jasmine Fuelberth: Turquoise blue gown with silver sequin overlay and feathered skirt with side slit and a very 1986 Aqua Net-coiffed head of hair. It's all just Too Mucheey. She looks like a grown-up "Toddlers & Tiaras" contestant. She definitely takes the "Bless Your Heart" Gown Prize.



*** Stay Tuned for my Evening Gown Wrap-Up of the "Miss Teen USA 2013" Finals Up Next!!!

SASHES AND TIARAS.....Miss Teen USA 2013 Preliminaries Evening Gown Competition, The Gown Review Part One: The Mermaid Queens

In case you weren't on the "up-and-up" of the Pageant world, the 31st Annual "Miss Teen USA 2013" Finals are tonight. Every year for awhile now, the pageant occurs from Atlantis Paradise Island in The Bahamas and unfortunately, is not aired LIVE on NBC--like the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants. Instead you can watched it LIVE on the Web via Ustream and Xbox Live.

 Last year's "Miss Teen USA 2012" Logan West, from Connecticut

Last night were the all-important Preliminaries, where a separate panel of judges choose the semi-Finalists who will be announced tonight. Poor girls have no rest between the preliminaries and the actual Finals (in the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants, there are at least several days in between to stew over what you might have done right...or wrong!). but not at the Miss Teen USA competition. And now, let's get to what I like to talk about, and that of course, are THE EVENING GOWNS. First up The Mermaid (Gown) Queens:

Miss Ohio Teen USA Brittany Reid: This was one of favorites in the "Mermaid Queen" category. Her gown was more 'mermaid Lite" since it wasn't all pouffy and Cray-Cray full at the bottom (wait for it because there's more of that below!). I thought the soft pink-coral color was pretty on her and the defined waist and covered shoulder applique lace detail hinted at a much more expensive Elie Saab Haute Couture vibe; this was a good Elie Saab knock-off.

Miss Connecticut Teen USA 2013 Kendall Leary: I thought this was a elegant mermaid silhouette choice for Kendall. The color says "soft and sweet", yet the one-shoulder look and correctly placed sequin applique adds more of an elegant mature aspect to it.

The Side Sequin Peek-a-Boo Mermaid Girls: Both Miss Indiana Teen USA Darrian Arch (left) and Miss Mississippi Teen USA Madison Brock (right) wore similar Mermaid Style gowns with slightly different bottom sections. They both had a nude/sequin side "peek-a-boo" detail. It's obvious these gowns come from the same manufacturer (Sherri Hill I presume?). I actually like BOTH of them. That's why they are here, as two of my faves from this "Mermaid Queen" group. if I had to chose a favorite one of the two, that "Gown Trophy" would go to Miss Indiana Teen USA (the blue one with the tiered bottom).

Miss Exotica Mermaid: Here is Miss Missouri Teen USA Bren Smith-Lezama in this fuchsia pink Mermaid styled gown with one shoulder strap and sequined torso and hem bands. To some people this might be a tad "over-the-top" but I LOVED IT! i thought she looked very "Bollywood Princess". there was no other gown like this amongst the other 50 contestants and to me,--while looking at the photos--it made me stop and take notice, and in a good way.

Miss Arizona Teen USA Olivia Argue: The very pretty Olivia wore a "modified" mermaid styled gown for the Preliminaries last night. Normally I wouldn't go for such a fussy looking gown with all the uneven tiered layers PLUS the applique sequined lace top section, but it works on Olivia and gives some DRAMA and hints at those Spanish Sevillana-style Flamenco dresses. I'll give it a "reserved" Nick Gown Thumbs Up.

Sweet & Simple Mermaids: Miss Maine Teen USA Delaney Seavy and Miss New Hampshire Teen USA Kelsey Campbell were two contestants who went the "Sweet & Simple" route with their Mermaid-style gowns. Miss Maine Teen USA's royal blue dress (left, above) was void of any "bells and whistles" relying only on the shape and impacting color. Miss New Hampshire Teen USA's dusty rose gown had some sequin applique but other than that, both were "Pageant Betty 101" gowns suitable for a very nice prom. Since this is the "Miss Teen USA", maybe that's the point. But I expect just a little bit more.



The Not-Sure-About-These Mermaid Gowns:

Miss Louisiana Teen USA Bailey Hidalgo: This gown to me is a bit dyslexic in terms of its design. While I do like the color and the top section, I feel, it should have just been a column-shaped gown completely made of the nude/lace fabrication that was on the top. The ruched hip/thigh section looks messy and so does the uneven/shredded bottom skirt part. Not a fan.

Miss Georgia Teen USA Julia Martin: Miss Georgia Teen USA is very pretty and she made quite a "Mermaid" impression with this bright pink gown. It's not all bad--the torso/top section beading looks expensive and fits va-va-voom good but I have a problem with the over-all "Pageant Barbie" aspect of the whole package: the perfect bleach-blond hair, the fuchsia bubblegum pink, the mermaid shape...It is A LOT to take in.

Miss Nevada Teen USA 2013 Amanda Jenkins: Speaking of A LOT of Look...Exhibit A: Miss Nevada Teen USA. Amanda is all but 18 years old but here--in this gown--she looks much older I think. I give her points for "going there" and well, she is from Nevada and therefore what would you expect; she does give you "Vegas Show Girl Mermaid Gown" with this. I wonder if it would have been a better gown if it wasn't a Mermaid shape but instead a column of those silver sequins.



***Up next: My Best of "Miss Teen USA 2013" Preliminary Competition Gowns, as well as some "Oh Dear's!"