Here She Is - Arizona's Junior Miss

Lanae Carmichael was awarded the title of Arizona's Junior Miss 2007 at the AZ State Finals on Feb. 10th, in Mesa. Along with her title, she received a $2,000 cash scholarship, the official Junior Miss Medallion, & all expense paid trip to Mobile, AL. Lanae is a senior at Mesquite High School. A panel of 5 judges selected her from a field of 39 high school seniors competing in the 50th annual Alabama's Junior Miss scholarship program.

In addition to winning the overall award, Lanae also received $100 fitness award, a $100 self-expression award, & a $100 talent award, for a total of $2,300 in scholarships.

Carmichael will go on to compete in the 50th Annual America's Junior Miss National Finals in Mobile, Alabama, in June 2007, where she will have the opportunity to win a share of more than $100,000 in cash scholarships. The categories in which the contestants were evaluated were interview (25%), talent (25%), fitness (15%), & self-expression (15%). A separate panel evaluated the contestants in the scholastics category (20%).

First Runner-up was Karen Alder of Mesa. She received a $1,000 scholarship for this award. She also received the overall interview award ($500), a Be Your Best Self award ($200), & a scholastic award ($100), for a total of $1,800 in scholarships.

Second Runner-up was Jami Michaud of Mesa. She also received a Be Your Best Self award ($100), a fitness award ($100), & a talent award ($100). In total, Jami received $1,050 in college scholarships.

McKenzie Hansen of Phoenix was 3rd Runner-Up, & she received a $500 scholarship. She also received a $100 scholarship for the interview category, a $100 scholarship for the self-expression category, & a $100 scholarship for the talent category.

Other awards were as follows:

Rebecca Stark (Mesa) - overall fitness ($500)
Morgan Palmer (Mesa) - overall scholastic ($500)
Emily Lewis (Mesa) - overall self-expression ($500), Be Your Best Self ($100), fitness ($100), interview ($100), talent ($100)
Caraline Walker (Gilbert) - Spirit of Junior Miss ($500), self-expression ($100)
Kalli Rogers (Mesa) - overall talent ($500)
Angela Davis (Mesa) - Be Your Best Self ($100)
Jacque Weech (Gilbert) - Be Your Best Self ($100)
Brittany Smith (Gilbert) - Be Your Best Self ($100)
Allie Davis (Gilbert) - fitness ($100)
Vanessa Evans (Flagstaff) - fitness ($100), interview ($100), self-expression ($100)
Siara Parry (Mesa) - interview ($100)
Natalee Jenkins (Gilbert) - interview ($100), self-expression ($100)
Taryn Brady (Mesa) - scholastic ($100)
Willi Nixon (Mesa) - scholastic ($100)
Heather McRae (Mesa) - scholastic ($100)
Grace Rolland (Mesa) - scholastic ($100)
Jennifer Truong (Mesa) - self-expression ($100)
Jenica Soelberg (Mesa) - talent ($100)

Arizona's Junior Miss is an official preliminary of America's Junior Miss (AJM). Founded in 1958, AJM is the oldest & largest scholarship program for high school senior girls. The nonprofit program's goal is to honor young women who excel & encourage them to obtain a college education & assume roles of leadership in their communities & professions. During the past 49 years, AJM has awarded cash scholarships totaling almost $90 million to girls across the nation.

The 50th Annual America's Junior Miss National Finals will take place in Mobile, AL June 28th-30th, 2007. For more information about America's Junior Miss, visit ajm.org.