White House Correspondents Insider

Behind the scenes of one of the most powerful clubs in America.

Media Stars Support Non-Profit Journalism On #GivingNewsDay

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Fox News Bret Baier and Wolf Blitzer in Washington, DC

November 28th is #GivingNewsDay, a day to give back to the hundreds of nonprofit newsrooms across the country. Donations up to $1000 will be doubled by NewsMatch, a national campaign to support nonprofit, local, and investigative news organizations. News Match 2017 was launched by Democracy Fund, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and the MacArthur Foundation to give people an easy way to find quality newsrooms in their region.

Thousands have already gone on social media to promote and discuss nonprofit news, as well as encouraging others to join in this year’s efforts.

Visit NewsMatch.org to find a nonprofit newsroom and invest in quality journalism. NewsMatch will double your impact.

Miss North Dakota Cara Mund Crowned Miss America 2018

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Photo courtesy Cara Mund via Twitter.

Celebrations and congratulations flowed Sunday night in Atlantic City as Miss North Dakota, Cara Mund was crowned 2018’s Miss America.  Last night was the first time in pageant history that Miss North Dakota has ever won the coveted tiara.

A Brown University graduate heading to law school following her reign, Mund said she hopes to one day become the first woman elected governor of North Dakota.  She showed political savvy and determination when asked about President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris climate accords earlier this year.

Referencing the decision to withdraw from the climate accords, the newly-crowned Miss America said: “It’s a bad decision.  There is evidence that climate change is existing, and we need to be at that table.”

She told reporters at Boardwalk Hall following the ceremony that it was her desire to provide a factual and honest answer to the question posed, instead of glossing over her answer.

“My onstage question answer was just my personal opinion,” she told The Associated Press in an interview. “I think everyone has a right to think what they want. But it’s important to have a spot at the negotiating table. This isn’t necessarily: ‘Does climate change exist or not?’ but rather the fact that we’re going to keep our Earth clean for future generations, and I just think it’s really important that we have a seat there. To pull out, I think, is just really unfortunate.”

Behind Mund, the other top five 2018 Miss American contestants were first runner-up Miss Missouri Jennifer Davis, second runner-up Miss New Jersey Kaitlyn Schoeffel, third runner-up Miss District of Columbia Briana Kinsey, and fourth runner-up Miss Texas Margana Wood.

The panel of judges for the 2018 pageant included country singer Thomas Rhett, actress and author Molly Sims, Grammy-nominated singer Jordin Sparks, People Magazine’s editor in chief Jess Cagle, CEO of AfterBuzz TV Maria Menounos, Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri and Olympic gold medalist, Tara Lipinski.

The Miss America Organization, alongside The Miss America Foundation and its 52 licensed organizations, is the nation’s largest provider of scholarship assistance to young women, awarding millions annually for young female scholars across the country and around the world.  The Foundation provides academic and community-based scholarships for undergraduate and graduate studies, as well as endowed scholarships for young women entering medical school, working in special areas for military service awareness and the performing arts.

Miss America Contestants in DC: First Stop – L’Hommage Bistro Francais

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The state title holders of this year’s Miss America pageant took DC by storm this week as each of the girls went to visit their respective members of Congress to push for college affordability on the Hill. The contestants are entering a weeklong orientation that included a speech by Senator John McCain and a tour of the White House. They were also hosted by owner Hankin Ilhan (in the white shirt) at the new L’Hommage Bistro Francais in Mt. Vernon Triangle.

This year’s Miss America pageant will be held on September 11 in Atlantic City and will be hosted by Chris Harrison, star of ABC’s “The Bachelor”, who is returning for his eighth year as host.

You can find out more about the contestants’ visit and their advocacy for college affordability here.

Global summit in Nairobi celebrates entrepreneurship

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The sixth annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit took place July 25-26, 2015 in Nairobi, Kenya. Organized by the U.S. Government, the event seeks to bring together entrepreneurs at all stages of business development, business leaders, mentors, and high-level government officials.

U.S. President Barack Obama, who launched the Summit in 2010, co-hosted the event with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta. Addressing the increasing terrorism threat in Kenya, Obama said “entrepreneurship offers a positive alternative to the ideologies of violence and division that all too often can fill the void when young people don’t see a future for themselves.”

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Airbnb executives participated in the gathering and used the opportunity to meet with some of their local hosts. Courtney O’Donnell, Head of Global External Affairs, was excited about the “fantastic group from all over the world” and thought one of the best features of the conference was an “awesome pitch contest for women and youth to pitch their startup ideas for different social impact projects around the world.”

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Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri was invited to attend GES as a panelist for the Social Entrepreneurship fireside chat at the Youth and Women’s Day Summit. “I was able to share my story and journey as a young entrepreneur founding ‘Circles Of Unity’ seven years ago as a college freshman and creating my brand around something I was passionate about.”

Davuluri explained more about her GES experience, “I’ve been completely revitalized and inspired meeting with the young woman entrepreneurs. From solving sanitary and clean water issues to textile and fish farming start-ups, these youth entrepreneurs are sparking social change and empowering young women. I’m most excited to create partnerships with these amazing companies and organizations to work together and multiply our messages on women’s issues globally. I’ve been able to see first hand the talent, spirit, and heart of the youth entrepreneurs here — Kenya is a vibrant market and I’m excited to partner with them.”

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Through GES, the U.S. Government seeks to demonstrate its commitment to fostering entrepreneurship around the world. Since 2010, when the U.S. hosted the first Summit in Washington, D.C., GES has expanded to a global event hosted by the governments of Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, and Morocco.

Miss America bakes at Dog Tag Bakery, Georgetown Cupcake co-founders share tips on success

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Georgetown Cupcake owners Katherine Kallinis Berman and Sophie Kallinis LaMontagne and Miss America Kira Kazantsev stand with the second class of Dog Tag Bakery.

Georgetown Cupcake owners Katherine Kallinis Berman and Sophie Kallinis LaMontagne and Miss America Kira Kazantsev stand with the second class of Dog Tag Bakery.

Kira Kazantsev, Miss America 2015, and Georgetown Cupcake owners Katherine Kallinis Berman and Sophie Kallinis LaMontagne visited Dog Tag Bakery to speak to military veterans, in the second class of Dog Tag Bakery, about their experiences in personal branding and running a small business.

As Kira Kazantsev nears the end of her work on behalf of the Miss America Organization with the crowning of the 2016 Miss America on September 13, Kazantsev emphasized the importance of establishing a personal brand and utilizing personal skill sets to be a leader.  “Here I am at the end of my reign and I feel really, really proud of everything I’ve been able to do because I’ve stuck with who I am as a person, and who I am as a personal brand. When I carry forward as Kira, I’m going to be the woman who’s strong on women’s issues and is passionate about the military and will care more about giving back than about whatever I do in my personal career. So that’s what I’m selling,” Kazantsev said to her audience, initiating laughter. “But it’s true!”

Miss America Kira Kazantsev speaks to the second class of Dog Tag Bakery.

Miss America Kira Kazantsev speaks to the second class of Dog Tag Bakery.

Business professionals, sisters and co-founders of Georgetown Cupcake, Katherine Kallinis Berman and Sophie Kallinis LaMontagne, also spoke to the Dog Tag fellows about the challenges in creating, managing and growing a small business. “I think that is a constant issue for all business owners. How do you scale your business but maintain what makes it special? And for us the answer has been to stay in the weeds. No matter how big you grow, you need to be in the details, everyday,” Sophie Kallinis LaMontagne said.

These leadership experts spoke in the Dog Tag Bakery classroom on the second floor of Dog Tag Bakery, located in Georgetown, Washington DC. The Dog Tag Inc. program helps veterans transition back to civilian life through a business education program. By taking a series of business classes in the classroom space at Dog Tag Bakery, military veterans and spouses have the opportunity to receive their Certificate in Business Administration from Georgetown University to further capitalize on their acquired skill sets.

To donate to Dog Tag Inc, go to http://www.dogtaginc.org/make-a-donation/. Also make sure to visit Dog Tag Bakery to support our nation’s veterans.

Follow Miss America Kira Kazantsev and Georgetown Cupcake on Twitter @Miss America and @GTownCupcake.

Getting Real with Gretchen Carlson

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9780525427452_large_Getting_RealAs the host of The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson on the Fox News Channel, Gretchen is in our homes five days a week and is at the heart of American life. Over her twenty-five years as an award-winning journalist and commentator, she has earned a reputation for speaking her mind, whether the topic is public policy or our personal choices.

In her new book, Getting Real, Gretchen speaks out about what it means to be a high-powered career woman in America today.

“When people watch me on TV they see part of my life. I wanted to let them know the real me behind the scenes. The child who was a concert violinist from the age of six. The young woman who took on the challenge to compete in the Miss America pageant. The television journalist for twenty-five years. The mother of two who, just like most women, struggles to balance work and family. The battles I’ve fought. How I’ve come back from failure and disappointment. Thanks to my upbringing, I always believed in myself and worked as hard as I could to get where I wanted to be. Nothing was ever handed to me. My hope is that when people read my story, it will inspire them to reach for their goals and not give up. The real story is this: if I can do it, you can too.”

The book, which will be officially launched June 16, can be pre-ordered at GretchenCarlson.com.

Miss America Honors 9/11 During Preliminaries

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Sam Haskell, CEO of the Miss America Organization, with Miss Minnesota and Miss Oklahoma at the 2013 Miss America competition. Via YouTube.

The second night of the Miss America preliminary competition saw two new winners along with a somber tribute to September 11th.

Last night’s program opened with the Spotlight Performers Show Choir’s rendition of “God Bless America.” Speaking to the AP, Miss America Organization CEO Sam Haskell recalled what happened on the date in 2001:

“No one knew what to do. Should we cancel? There was no book to follow…They’d be damned if they let a vicious enemy keep them from celebrating those values. Those girls stood up. And they are still standing.”

Miss Oklahoma Kelly Griswold and Miss Minnesota Rebecca Yeh both won scholarships during last night’s preliminary. Griswold took home a $1,000 schoalrship for the swimsuit competition while Yeh received $2,000 during the talent competition for her performance. Since the regionals, Yeh has been stunning crowds with her playing:

“It’s been a huge way for me to give back to other people,” Yeh said. “I love sharing with other people whenever I can.”

Including Tuesday’s winners Miss Mississippi Chelsea Rick and Miss New Hampshire Samantha Russo there are now four scholarship winners thanks to the Miss America Organization. Thursday will be the final preliminary before the weekend’s festivities including the famous “Show Us Your Shoes” parade followed by the big event on Sunday night at 9pm on ABC.

Interview with Mallory Hagen, Miss America 2013

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Mallory Hagen spoke this morning on Fox News with Gretchen Carlson, but she began her interview reign with WHC Insider’s Tammy Haddad last Saturday. Hagen was named Miss America in Las Vegas and we spoke with the Brooklyn, New York resident who tap-danced and talked about toughening gun laws during the 92nd annual Miss America Pageant on the ABC Network.

She began her college education in her birthplace Auburn but moved to New York four years ago to find herself and restarted college. Mallory previously competed in the Miss America Outstanding Teen program three times and the Miss New York competition twice before calling herself “a bit of a bridesmaid until now.” Her stunning white dress that wowed the studio audience cost $400, less than her prom dress. Mallory’s mother, a dance instructor, told the WHC Insider she knew when she was pregnant with her that one day her daughter would be Miss America.

Miss America: 91 Years of Advocating for Education and Funding the Dreams of America's Young Women

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As seen on The Huffington Post by Sam Haskell


Tomorrow night live on ABC, we will mark the 91st anniversary of an American icon as we continue our beloved tradition of crowning the next Miss America. At the Planet Hollywood Resort in spectacular Las Vegas, one woman will be chosen from 53 national finalists who are the most beautiful, talented and intelligent young women this country has to offer. At the risk of sounding like a diplomat, all of our contestants are winners. Here’s why:

Our young women have dreams of going to college. Last year, the Miss America Organization made available more than $45 million in scholarships to help turn those dreams into reality. I’ve watched lives change because of the scholarships from our pageant program.

Here are just two examples of the impact that Miss America can have in fulfilling American dreams — 50 years apart from one another.

Crowned 50 years ago, Maria Beale Fletcher was told by her father that it wasn’t his dream that she go to college. It needed to be hers to dream and to fund. Maria promptly entered the local pageant and won $250. She went on to win Miss North Carolina and the Miss America pageant in 1962. With her Miss America scholarships, Maria earned her B.A. in French and philosophy at Vanderbilt University. She went on to become a successful business woman and an advocate for education.

As we say goodbye to the 2011 Miss America Teresa Scanlan, we proudly watch her pursue an undergraduate degree in government at Patrick Henry College, followed by law school. Not only has Patrick Henry College offered her a full scholarship, she plans to use the more than $62,000 in scholarships from the Miss America Organization to attend Harvard Law School. We wish her the very best as she pursues her dream to be a lawyer, U.S. president and Supreme Court justice.

The Miss America brand is known and loved for helping to fulfill the dreams of our nation’s young women. We are now entering a new era for our organization as we expand our mission to encourage more girls and young women to pursue their dreams of a higher education and to attain the goals that will take them into their future.

Following her crowning on Saturday night, the 2012 Miss America will spend her year touring the country to encourage all young women to pursue a college education, and will focus on driving interest in the arts, as well as science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. The Miss America Organization will work with national and community partners to create an unconventional approach to driving young women’s interest in STEM.

Our efforts coincide with the national momentum to teach STEM curricula outside traditional school settings, targeting female students who are currently underrepresented in STEM professions. Our hope is to help shift girls’ attitudes about STEM and boost the percentage of women employed in STEM-related industries. It’s not just the right thing to do, it is also the smart thing to do for America’s future and our economy.

Across the country, millions of little girls have the dream of becoming Miss America. Some of the young dreamers have won the crown and gone on to become media stars and moguls, missionaries and mothers, news anchors and newsmakers, singers and scientists, lawyers, doctors, teachers and preachers… and none of them started with a crown. They started with a dream.

The Miss America Organization is so much more than a beauty pageant. It’s a dream machine.

So please join us tomorrow night on ABC. When the lights go up and the music begins, you will be a part of something bigger than crowning a new Miss America… you will be inspiring the next generation of little girls who will dare to dream.

Sam Haskell is the former chief of Worldwide Television at the William Morris Agency and the current Chairman of the Board of the Miss America Organization. He was named in 2007 by TV Week as one of the 25 Most Innovative and Influential People in Television over the last quarter century.