Pageant News Bureau

Katie McCarty, who was Miss Teen Illinois American Queen 2005 and second runner-up at the national pageant, was killed in an automobile accident on Feb. 16, 2008, at the age of 19. She is remembered by the organization as an outstanding representative of the pageant industry.

The marriage between former Miss USA Shanna Moakler and rock drummer Travis Barker was officially dissolved in early February 2008. The couple, who once had a reality show together, filed for divorce in 2006. They have two children.

Katie Rees, who was stripped of her Miss Nevada USA 2007 title because of sexy party photos, is back in trouble again. Ms. Rees, a Las Vegas performer, was arrested Feb. 6, 2008, after allegedly assaulting a local police officer during a 3 a.m. traffic stop. Ms. Rees' attorney denied that she was to blame and accused police of using excessive force. The pictures of Ms. Rees, which were circulated in late 2006 and cost her a berth at Miss USA, showed her involved in scenes of partial nudity and simulated sex.

Rebeka Dremelj, who was Miss Slovenia World 2001, has won the Slovenian heat for the international annual Eurovision Song Contest with her song "Vrag naj vzame." She will represent Slovenia in the international Eurovision final in Belgrade, Serbia, in May 2008. There she will compete against almost 50 other international competitors.

O n t h e N e w s s t a n d

Tanisha Brito, who was Miss Connecticut (America) 2002 and Miss Connecticut USA 2005, has been selected as one of the country’s top 30 African-American leaders under 30 by Ebony Magazine. An annual feature, the "30 Young Leaders Under 30" list appears in the February issue 2008 issue of the magazine.

James Keith Gibson III was born Jan. 31, 2008. He is the firstborn of dentist/beauty queen/model Chiann Fan Gibson and her husband, famed pageant emcee Jim Gibson. PNB congratulates this beautiful family.

Virginia Lynn Andrews McGee, who as Jenny Lynn Andrews reigned as Miss Georgia USA 1970, died of cancer on Jan. 23, 2008, at age 59. Her home was in Marietta, Ga., and she and her family were active in charitable activity. "She was one of the first beauty queens I ever met," said PNB founding editor Gerdeen Dyer. "She was stunning to behold and a truly gracious person."

Former Miss New York (America) and "Amazing Race" contestant Kandice Pelletier is appearing in video testimonials for the Tweeze Ultra hair-removal device. Her legs, among the most famous in the pageant world, are prominently displayed.

Melissa Seyer, a former Mrs. Texas United States, died on January 3, 2008, of brain cancer. A former top 5 finalist at Mrs. United States, she was a model and athlete, a winner at competitive tennis.

Asli Bayram, Miss Germany Universe 2005, is now a stage actress. She is currently touring Europe playing the title role in "The Diary of Anne Frank." Ms. Bayram, of Turkish descent, looks remarkably like the real Anne Frank when dressed and styled for the part.

Pageant impresario Chet Welch, previously the subject of a major profile on PNB, will be a star of "Survivor: Micronesia" in early 2008. Jenna Morasca, after appearing as a PNB cover girl, went on to become the winner of "Survivor: Amazon" and appeared on the cover of Playboy.

Tiffany Fallon, a former Miss Georgia USA, PNB cover girl and Playboy Playmate of the Year, stars in the new celebrity version of Donald Trump's "Apprentice" on NBC beginning in January 2008.

PNB offstage archive