NJ National Teenager

WOW!!  What can I say that would accurately describe this year’s Nationals in San Antonio TX.  E-P-I-C would be a good start! From the minute I landed I knew this was going to be an incredible 7 days! The Omni La Mansion Del Rio Hotel was all a five star hotel should be. Did I mention that it’s listed in the Best Seller Book “Top 1,000 places you want to visit before you die." Our host hotel lived up to its acclaim, it was gorgeous and is located on the world famous Riverwalk, which is about as Texas as it gets!  Riverboat tours, the famous Arneson Theater where Sandra Bullock filmed "Miss Congeniality", TexMex food that was out of this world, the pool with its Spanish flair was refreshing and inviting.  The staff was friendly, warm, and beyond accommodating. To top it all off...it’s connected to a Mall in case you are in need of some retail therapy.  All of this right outside my bedroom door! 

The NJ National Teenager State Queens Morgan McLees-Preteen, Vanessa Vause-Jr, Marissa Gerhart -Sr, Angela Castaldo-Miss, along with their sister Sweetheart Queens-Julia Keating-Preteen, Ma'Sonia McPherson-Jr & Jenny Gao Garden State Jr. arrived filled with nervous excitement and anticipation. 

National Teenager CEO, Jenny Telwar, promised this would be a week to remember and boy did she deliver! To back up her statement she rented the ALAMO for a private party to kick-off the week!  Yes, you’re reading that right, that famous place Davy Crockett once defended! Contestants and families were welcomed by a Mariachi Band, and traditional Texas Folk Dancers in authentic costumes. The ALAMO was all decked out in festive lights; tables were set under the moonlit Texas sky. Dancing, music, wonderful food, and newly formed friendships made this one of the most memorable ANTSO events ever! 

                New Jerseys "Magnificent Seven" at the ALAMO kick-off Party.

State queens, their families and even the national staff joined in the fun the next night at the Decade Themed Bingo event. Games, door prizes, good food, creative costumes, and the crowning of Mr. ANTSO, which is an event in itself, capped off another fun-filled evening.  Everyone was having so much fun it was hard to believe we were at a national competition! The stress many were anticipating was nowhere to be found!

The Riverwalk provided the perfect backdrop for national photographer Brad Helton to capture each contestant in an amazing setting that showcased her individual style and beauty along with the scenic beauty of Texas.

Sprinkled in among all the fun, photo shoots and rehearsals were contestant personal interviews, preliminary competitions in Decorated Jeans and Gown, along with the Optional Talent, Speech, Supermodel, Acting and state costume competitions.

The final show was all times of amazing from the fierce production numbers, to the light-up cocktail dress worn by the national queens, to the final awards and crowning. Thanks to the creative genius of the National Choreographer/Producer Mike Hartman’s and 80 of the nation’s most outstanding young women.  

NJ’s 2012 state represents, all seven of them, not only raised the bar on amazing accomplishments, they did it with style, class and grace. Five top five placements, three national talent awards, numerous scrapbook, speech, photogenic and supermodel awards. This year will definitely go down in the NJ pageant history books as one to remember.  Being named “Director of the Year” was the icing on my San Antonio cake!