MISS TEEN USA DOES SOME SERIOUS GIRL TALK

ATLANTA, GA and NEW YORK, NY – MAY 12, 2008 – The Miss Universe Organization announced today its new partnership with Girl Talk Inc., a nonprofit student-to-student mentoring program that inspires young teen girls to build self-esteem, develop leadership skills and recognize the value of community service.

“We are delighted to make Girl Talk one of the official Miss Teen USA charitable alliances,” said Paula M. Shugart, President of the Miss Universe Organization.  “Communication is so important and Girl Talk is a wonderful outlet for these young ladies to talk to one another about the issues facing teens today.”

With the partnership, Miss Teen USA and state titleholders will visit existing Girl Talk Chapters, as well as help start Chapters in their own community schools. 

Founded in 2002 by Haley Kilpatrick, Girl Talk is a national nonprofit student-to-student mentoring program that offers fun, positive weekly meetings, community service projects and friendship building activities for middle school girls.  High school girls lead and mentor the middle school girls through weekly programs.  The organization has grown from 1 chapter in 2002, to more than 400 chapters and more than 30,000 members in the United States today.  Girl Talk anticipates having chapters in all 50 states by 2010.

“Miss Teen USA and each state titleholder are great role models for our Girl Talk girls and leaders,” said Ms. Kilpatrick.  “It is truly a perfect fit because our organizations share values of community service and leadership.  Their excitement for our program will help us increase the number of chapters, reach more girls and raise important funds for Girl Talk’s growth.”

The Miss Universe Organization, producers of the MISS UNIVERSE®, MISS USA® and MISS TEEN USA® pageants, is a Donald J. Trump and NBC Universal joint venture.  Utilizing its nationwide grass roots infrastructure, the Miss Universe Organization is committed to increasing awareness of nonprofits including Girl Talk, Best Buddies, National Breast Cancer Coalition, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Ovarian Cancer Research Fund and Gilda’s Club.

MEDIA CONTACTS
The Miss Universe Organization
Lark-Marie Antón, (212) 373-4982, lanton@missuniverse.com
Esther Swan, (212) 373-4870, eswan@missuniverse.com Joyce Lee, (212) 373-4983, jlee@missuniverse.com        
           
Girl Talk
Jennifer Grizzle, (770) 409-1152, jennifer@theprstudio.com

Photo Credit: Miss New York USA Pageant

Danielle Roundtree was born May 27, 1987 to Dr. Johnny and Gailyn Roundtree.  It was Danielle’s parents that encouraged her at an early age to enrich her artistic abilities. She began to play the piano at the tender age of 5 as well as numerous other instruments.  She later found her true passion in vocal performance and acting.  She graduated from Dillard Center for the Arts High in 2005 and went on to Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship and later transferred to The American Musical and Dramatic Academy, where she has just graduated from this past February.  She has received numerous rewards which include the NAACP ACT-SO Gold medal award for vocal performance, the gold coast jazz society top scholarship winner vocal performance, as well as the world tour scholarship vocal performance top winner.

It has been Danielle’s pageantry journey that has guided her throughout all facets of her life. Danielle began her MISS USA pursuit 10 years ago after viewing her first MISS USA telecast. She has a host of state wide and local titles.

At only 20, she has done the impossible by conquering the title of MISS NEW YORK USA 2008, all while dealing with the recent loss of her father. Danielle is determined and confident that she will not only conquer the MISS USA 2008 title but be a great example of a titleholder and for our youth today.

For more information on how to become Miss New York USA or Miss New York Teen USA, please contact:

Bass Enterprises Productions LLC
Kim Bass • State Director
22 South Broadway
Salem, New Hampshire 03079
(603) 894-9734
nhcrown@aol.com

Breanne Silvi - MISS NEW HAMPSHIRE USA 2008

Photo Credit: Details by DiFranco

I was born in Boston, Massachusetts on November 29, 1983 almost a month before I was due. That was probably the only time I was ever early for anything in my life! My parents, Brenda and Peter Silvi raised me in Nashua, NH. My mother is a Spanish teacher and my father a jeweler, thus instilling me with love for all things sparkly.
Living on a cul-de-sac, surrounded by other kids my age, I was never bored or forced to entertain myself! I was raised an only child but am so fortunate to have a bunch of cousins who are considered best friends.

My mom and dad never left me behind when it came to vacations, giving me quite the travel bug after our first trip to Aruba at age six. We also made many trips throughout the United States, but I look forward to seeing every state! My sophomore year of high school brought a school-sponsored trip to Spain where we explored the southern part of the country and practiced our espanol.

I always loved being in the limelight from a young age and had an obsession with dressing up and playing with makeup. My mom noticed this and signed me up at the Cinderella modeling agency. It was there where I learned things from etiquette, walking down a runway, to applying blush properly. It was such a wonderful learning experience and ignited the fire in me that much more. I started taking acting/modeling workshops at the Cameo Talent Agency in Boston. I loved having this be a part of my life but also wanted to explore other activities.

I started cheerleading when I was ten after the influence of some of my girlfriends. I continued to do so throughout high school. This kept me very active and in shape and introduced me to a bunch of wonderful girls. This aside, I always kept my passion for performing alive, continuing to audition for various things throughout junior high and high school.

I have always and will always be a New England girl at heart but I yearned to see something more. I decided to apply to all out-of-state colleges, ending up at George Mason University in Fairfax. Virginia. My best friend and I went to school together and had a wonderful time. We were fifteen minutes from D.C. and close to Baltimore where we saw numerous Red Sox/Orioles games! I majored in Communication with a focus in Public Relations and minored in Theatre. I graduated in May 2006 and decided to move home to re-group and spend some time with my family.

My parents both showed me the importance of realizing how other people live. Because of my mother’s involvement with the Hispanic community, she has exposed me to the harsh realities of life. I have seen first hand that everyone is dealt different cards and have seen amazing instances of perseverance. My family now has custody of a little boy named Nathan who is six. We have helped raise him since he was born and have been very involved with his mother and his other siblings for years. Having him in my life and helping to raise him has been the most influential experience of my twenty-four years. He has been a blessing to our family.

I am ecstatic for this year and am honored to represent the Granite State. I hope I can do it justice!

For more information on how to become Miss New Hampshire USA or Miss New Hampshire Teen USA, please contact:

Bass Enterprises Productions LLC
Kim Bass • State Director
22 South Broadway
Salem, New Hampshire 03079
(603) 894-9734
nhcrown@aol.com