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| Subject: Why Crystal should (and can) be the next Miss America | |
Author: Ernie Koneck | [ Next Thread |
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] Date Posted: 21:02:09 09/13/13 Fri Here's my take on the events in Atlantic City, going back to the arrival ceremony through the 3 nights of prelims. 1) Crystal has presented a hip, fashion-forward, consistent image through her wardrobe from the moment she arrived in AC through the 3 nights of competition. If MAO wants a Miss America to propel them forward into the future, and not a throwback to the past, she's their girl. 2) But it's more than clothes. Crystal has embraced "Women In STEM" as her platform, which happens to be a major MAO initiative and something she has strong personal experience with. As she has pointed out, her inspiration is her mother, the only woman computer programmer in her department for 20 years. And this was after she left her native Taiwan to pursue greater opportunities in the US. 3) Crystal has a BS in Human Biology from Stanford, which she earned concurrently (in less than 4 years) with a MA in Communications. She is one of 3 principals in Nanoly, a biotech startup that won $70,000 in a competition sponsored by Duke University. Nanoly is applying for patents on its technology, which uses nanotechnology (microscopically shrinking molecules) to make vaccines infinitesimally small, so they can be shipped long distances without refrigeration, as all normal vaccines require. The result - vaccines can be sent to poor 3rd World countries and poor rural areas of the US at very low cost, allowing people who have never been vaccinated for contagious diseases to be vaccinated for the first time. In other words, Nanoly's technology has the potential to save millions of lives - at this point you may start to realize that Crystal isn't your average pageant titleholder. 4) Crystal's goal with her platform, should she become Miss America, is to use connections she has made, working at Silicon Valley companies such as Yahoo! and Dropbox, as well as with 2 Northern CA congressmen, to launch major initiatives to encourage STEM education among young women, and to potentially bring major new high tech sponsors to the MAO to sponsor ongoing STEM programs, which will significantly contribute to the MAO's scholarship fund, and build the MAO's visibility and prestige as a scholarship program. 5) The above points outline why Crystal should be Miss America 2014. On more pageant-related issues, she has been consistently strong in every area of competition. While she hasn't won a preliminary award, it's worth noting that no one on the prelim judging panel has any experience or knowledge of dance (her talent) and the talent winners were a singer, a violinist and a baton twirler - with an injury. The 2 areas of talent expertise on the panel were vocal and instrumental. And let's face it, there is never a judge on a Miss America panel who is a technical expert in twirling, but every amateur feels comfortable judging a twirler - whether that's right or wrong, it's the truth. And the fact that this twirler suffered an injury in rehearsal and performed that night may earned her a few pity points. In the interview after her win, she talked about her injury, which sounded more serious than it could have possibly been for her to perform at all, so it likely was somewhat less serious than reported. That's not "sour grapes," it's just common sense. As for swimsuit, well if you look at Miss GA - the ss winner in Crystal's group, and you look at Crystal, their body type's are very similar. Now I'm not in AC to evaluate one' presentation vs. the other's, but worse case scenario, they were really close. 6) As an outsider (not in AC) looking in (via the Internet) it appears to me that Crystal is a) one of the few contestants who is forward-thinking, not concerned with the past of the program, but the future, and b) one of the most consistent contestants across all areas of competition. I will admit that I have spoken to her briefly about her interview, and her major concern was that she was cut off before she finished her close. But when she told what she did get to say in her close, my reaction was that being cut off wouldn't hurt her at all. She said what she needed to say. And for the record, being cut off wasn't her fault; one of the judges started asking a question after the 30-second time limit was signaled, so she ate about 10 seconds into Crystal's close time. 7) I think the final night panel will like her more than the prelim panel. The prelim panel seems to be more "old school," especially when you consider their prelim winner choices. From what I've read and heard, none of the prelim winners were runaway, obvious choices. Yet every time, this panel went with the "old school" choice over the more contemporary choice. Also, based on what Crystal told me, they seemed like a very inexperienced panel in interview. 8) I'm assuming the final night panel will watch all the top 15 interviews - and it is inconceivable to me that Crystal won't make the top 15. I think this panel will like her more because a) one of them is on "Shark Tank" and will appreciate her experience with Nanoly and will understand her desire to create other tech startups. b) The two gay guys on the panel will appreciate her trendy, non-pageanty style, which really sets her apart from the crowd. c) Deidre Downs is smart, a doctor, and not a typical Southern Pageant patty. So I think she will see Crystal as a soulmate. (Heck, she was Veena's bridesmaid. And she has a great, dry sense of humor.) d) Joshua Bell is a violinist and apparently a ladies' man, so I think he will go for any hottie with a classical talent - which pretty much narrows it down to Crystal and Miss MN. e) And as for the pro basketball player - well Crystal looks pretty tall in 5-inch heels and in pointe shoes, so he might consider her dating material. And that, in a nutshell, is how she can win. It may sound a little lowbrow (like dating the b-ball player), but sometimes, that's how celebrity panels work ... I think. [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |
| [> Subject: thank you Ernie!! I think our girl may have this one!!!! | |
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Author: she's brilliant & yet so humble, LOVE our Miss CA! [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 21:36:27 09/13/13 Fri [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
[> Subject:  Thank you for your well thought out assessment, but I do want to point out one thing. You and others are assuming that the Prelim Judges did not like Crystal probably because she did not win a prelim. You and I both know that Crystal could have racked up the most points in her group or amongst all the contestants. This can be done in many ways. Winning a Prelim doesnt tell the whole story. I was there for the Prelims and thought NH deserved her Talent win and while I thought Crystal deserved Swimsuit, I get GA win. But I thought Crystal was the most consistent contestant not only in her group but amongst all the contestants.
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Author: .. [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 05:40:37 09/14/13 Sat [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> Subject: Thanks, Ernie!!!!! I always love your thoughts/opinions/observations!!! | |
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Author: Love our Miss CA, regardless of the outcome! [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 06:03:32 09/14/13 Sat [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> Subject: Wish you were on the finals panel. Or, that they have been fully briefed on these things and see them the way you do. | |
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Author: Norlene [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 09:07:46 09/14/13 Sat [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> Subject: Love this! I would add that with an inexperienced judging panel, they would more likely save points for those later in the lineup. | |
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Author: crossing fingers [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 15:00:52 09/14/13 Sat [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> Subject: As it turned out, 6 of the top 15 cam from the first half of their groups and 9 came from the 2nd half. And the Alpha group that Crystal was in had 7 of the top 15, while Sigma and Mu each had 4. | |
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Author: Ernie [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 07:24:43 09/16/13 Mon [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |