Las Vegas 2007 is the year for Karissa Staples, Miss Maine 2006, and she is giving her best! Karissa competed in Swimsuit and Evening Gown on Thursday night with the Sigma Group. Karissa is the first to compete in her group of 18 and she greets the audience with confidence and grace (along with that beautiful smile of hers, which always ranks #1 in our book). She looked spectacular. We met with Karissa at the reception following the night's competition and she was greeted with a huge support team of family and friends. She let everyone know that she is having a lot of fun, even though it's constant rehearsing and very little sleep.
Friday night she hit the stage first with her performance of "Take Me or Leave Me" and did another amazing job! She seemed relaxed and comfortable, even though on an enormous stage in front of hundreds of people, she left the stage with a rousing applause from the audience.
Tonight, Saturday, Karissa will be answering her "On Stage Question". The crowds keep getting bigger and bigger as the week draws closer to the big night on Monday. Las Vegas is gearing up all around us for the much anticipated crowning of the new Miss America 2007...It's only days away now. Oh, and yes, even the room keys at the Aladdin have the photo of Jennifer Berry, Miss America 2006 imprinted on them. The casino floors have placards announcing the Monday night pageant and it seems that everyone has it on their mind...Just a we do!
