Minnesota's Nora Ali Named 2007 America's Junior Miss

On Saturday, June 30 Nora Ali of Minnesota became the 50th America's Junior Miss at the Mobile Civic Center Theater in Mobile, AL. Ali won Category Awards during the preliminary round of the competition in Scholastics, Self-Expression, Talent, and Interview. Ali's total winnings from National Finals totals $54,000. Nora plans to attend Harvard in the fall to prepare for a career in Business Management or Finance. She will depart for a media tour in New York City in a couple of weeks, and will also make appearances at various places throughout the country promoting the Be Your Best Self program. She is the daughter of Zaki and Mahfuza Ali and attended South St. Paul High School in Mendonta Heights.

Pennsylvania's Karin Tsai was the First Runner-up in the competition winning a total of $30,000 in scholarship money which includes preliminary Category Awards in Scholastics, Self-Expression, Talent, and Interview.

Second Runner-up was Nevada's Chantel Hopper winning a total of $21,000 in scholarship money which includes preliminary Category Awards in Talent, Fitness, Scholastics, and Interview.

Other finalists were Alabama's Mary Catherine McAnnally, Connecticut’s Junior Miss Lexi Novak, Louisiana’s Junior Miss Heather Badeaux, Vermont’s Junior Miss Alexandra Larrow, and Virginia’s Junior Miss Rachel Gillette. Each received a $5,000 cash scholarship.
The Spirit of Junior Miss $1,500 scholarship was awarded by the AJM Council to Mary Catherine McAnnally of Alabama.

 Category Award Winners Named After 2nd Preliminary Competition

With one night of the AJM National Finals Program remaining, competition heated up with the top five contestants in the interview, scholastic, fitness, self-expression, and talent categories receiving $1,000 scholarships.

Interview Category Awards
Heather Badeaux - Louisiana
Nora Ali - Minnesota
Chantel Hopper - Nevada
Hannah Disterdick - Tennessee
Karin Tsai - Pennsylvania

Scholastic Category Awards
Heather Badeaux - Louisiana
Elizabeth Wendel - New Jersey
Nora Ali - Minnesota
Karin Tsai - Pennsylvania
Chantel Hopper - Nevada

Fitness Category Awards
Chantel Hopper - Nevada
Lexi Novak - Connecticut
Brooke Beard - South Carolina
Jane Chaffee - North Carolina
Mallory Peebles - Oregon

Self-Expression Category Awards
Nora Ali - Minnesota
Karin Tsai - Pennsylvania
Mary Catherine McAnnally - Alabama
Jammie Layman - Kansas
Kaila Mattson - Wisconsin

Talent Category Awards
Chantel Hopper - Nevada
Mary Catherine McAnnally - Alabama
Nora Ali - Minnesota
Karin Tsai - Pennsylvania
Becky Geggatt - Massachusetts

The 50th Annual National Finals will take place Saturday, June 30, at the Mobile Civic Center Theater at 7:00 pm. The top eight finalists will be announced at the beginning of the competition and will compete in fitness, talent and self-expression. The program will be broadcast live at 7 p.m. CST online at www.nbc15online.com. The pre-show highlighting the 2007 contestants’ two-week stay in Mobile, AL can be viewed beginning at 6 p.m. CST.

 Satellite Award Winners Named at First Preliminary

The Class of 2007 kicked off the 50th Annual National Finals Program Thursday, June 28 at the Mobile Civic Center Theater. The crowd watched as contestants completed the first half of the preliminary competition in the fitness, talent, and self-expression categories.

Sponsors presented the Annual Satellite Awards to winners after the preliminary show. Sponsors of the individual Satellite Awards are Calagaz Photo (Scrapbook Award), Colonial Mall Bel Air (Community Service Award) , Wintzell's Oyster House (My Town Award), Press Register (Daily Journal Award), and the AJM Council (Be Your Best Self Essay Award.) Saad Development sponsors a scholarship for the Has Beens, a group of previous year's contestants returning for the current National Finals program as AJM Ambassadors and Big Sisters for the current class of Junior Misses.

Satellite Award Winners:
Calagaz Scrapbook Award Lexie Fairbanks Washington
Colonial Mall Bel Air Community Service Award Heather Badaeux Louisiana
Wintzell's My Town Award Keelan O'Connell Texas
Press Register Daily Journal Award Mary Catherine McAnnally Alabama
AJM Council BYBS Award Paige Ledger Iowa
Mary Catherine McAnnally Alabama
Karin Tsai Pennsylvania
Saad Development Has-Been Scholarship Katelyn Rei 2006 Rhode Island's Junior Miss

The second half of preliminary competition is Friday, June 29 at 7 p.m. at the Mobile Civic Center Theater. The 2007 AJM will be selected on the final night of competition on Saturday, June 30 at 7 p.m. followed by the 50th Anniversary Bash at The Battle House Hotel. For ticket information, please contact Lynn Davis at 251-214-8159.

 2nd Annual AJM Community Night

America's Junior Miss welcomed children of all ages from the community to meet the Class of 2007 on Tuesday, June 27. As part of the Community Night Program, Hosts Georgio Fagan , AJM Choreographer and Producer, and Taylor Phillips, 2006 AJM, explained the Mission of the America's Junior Miss Scholarship Organization and introduced the Class of 2007.
Some highlights of the event included a sneak preview of the opening production number, the fitness routine, and performances by the Has Beens. The Has Beens are Junior Misses who participated in the previous year's National Finals and return to act as ambassadors for the AJM Organization and Big Sisters for the current class of Junior Misses.

Preliminaries for the 50th Annual AJM National Finals begin Thursday, June 28 at 7 p.m. at the Mobile Civic Center Theater and continue through Saturday, June 30. NBC 15 WPMI will web broadcast a pre-show highlighting the two weeks Junior Misses visited the Port City followed by a live broadcast of the Final Night program. Please click here for more information on AJM provided by NBC 15.

 North vs. South Softball Game at Hank Aaron Stadium

Junior Misses showed the true meaning of teamwork Tuesday, June 26 as they split into North and South teams at Hank Aaron Stadium and played an intense game of softball in the Mobile humidity. Junior Misses united with family for the first time since coming to Mobile for the 50th Annual National Finals to enjoy great food and baseball as the Mobile BayBears took the field following the softball game.

Earlier in the afternoon, Junior Misses enjoyed a luncheon with The Lion's Club at the Mobile Civic Center before heading back to rehearsals for the upcoming Preliminary and Finals Programs.

 Junior Misses get First Taste of Famous Southern Cuisine

On Monday, June 25, Wintzell's Oyster House, AJM's oldest sponsor, introduced Junior Misses to a southern delicacy: oysters. Junior Misses lined up for the annual oyster eating contest in downtown Mobile and showed a willingness to experience new things. Faces around the famous oyster bar varied from excited to wary as shuckers struggled to keep the oysters coming as each Junior Miss swallowed her fear and oysters.

Later in the evening, the Class of 2007 received royal treatment as they enjoyed a special slumber party designed to erase the past week's stress and satisfy sugar cravings. Dauphin Way Baptist Church sponsored the event for the Junior Misses, local Girl Scouts, and the Dauphin Way Tweens n' Teens youth group.

 Busy Weekend for Junior Misses

Junior Misses kicked off the weekend by attending the Encore Rehabilitation Prom Friday, June 22, complete with blind dates. As the sun set, the Junior Misses arrived at the Prom in style, each chauffeured in an antique car provided by the Antique Car Club. The Mobile Museum of Art was the setting; Naman's Catering provided the food; and Dr. Feelgood was on hand to "spin" the music.

On Saturday, June 23, The Class of 2007 and Taylor Phillips, the current AJM, made a special appearance at Colonial Mall Bel Air for a public autograph session.
The Dauphin Island Chamber of Commerce hosted a special Beach Party on Sunday, June 24 for contestants and Host Families at Isle Dauphine. The Beach Party included a sand sculpture contest and shrimp boil. The Blackman family and their Junior Misses from California and Missouri walked away with the top prize for their sand sculpture.

 Junior League of Mobile sponsors "Day of Caring"

Junior Misses participated in the Junior League of Mobile's "Day of Caring, which included community work with Habitat for Humanity, the Dearborn YMCA, and United Cerebral Palsy Camp Smile.

Junior Misses showed they are not afraid of hard work and sweat while building a house with Habitat for Humanity, joining day campers at the Dearborn YMCA for a field trip to The Gulf Coast Exploreum, and doing various fun activities with campers at Camp Smile. After a hard day of volunteering and rehearsals, Junior Misses enjoyed an event-free evening with Host Families.

 Junior Misses enjoy BBQ and Line Dancing

After the first day of rehearsals, Junior Misses were treated to great barbecue and line dancing at Southern Country USA. Junior Misses showed off their dancing abilities and enjoyed an evening full of music and laughter with their Host Families while relaxing and getting to know each other.

Earlier in the day, the Lyons Club sponsored a luncheon for the 50 contestants at the Mobile Country Club.

 2007 Contestants Learn to Limbo at Luau

Hosted by Gordon Oaks Retirement Community, the AJM Class of 2007 learned the importance of staying fit as they participated in their very first southern limbo contest. Although, the weather was less than tropical sunshine, the rain did not keep the Junior Misses from dancing and enjoying this special evening.

For more information on where you can meet the Class of 2007 please view our public events.
AJM National Contestants visit Bellingrath Gardens
The AJM Class of 2007 visited Mobile’s famous Bellingrath Gardens on Tuesday morning for a special breakfast with the AJM Board of Directors and the 2007 host fathers. As part of their visit to Bellingrath Gardens, the AJM Class of 2007 enjoyed a tour of the beautifully, landscaped gardens and posed for the Class of 2007 photograph.

Tomorrow, the contestants will begin a rigorous rehearsal schedule with long-time AJM Choreographer Georgio Fagan.

 AJM National Finals Arrival Ceremony

The AJM Class of 2007 arrived in Mobile, Alabama at the Mobile Regional Airport on Monday, June 18. Despite weather delays around the country, contestants arrived to a cheering crowd. The event was hosted by Darwin Singleton of WPMI, NBC 15 News and 2006 AJM, Taylor Phillips. The contestants received a warm welcome from City Council President, Reggie Copeland and were presented with an official City of Mobile paperweight. The Arrivals Ceremony also featured cheering by the Phillips Preparatory Cheerleaders, Davidson High School Chorus and Naval Cadets, the Murphy High School Jazz Band and numerous Girl Scout troops from the area.