Amanda Pennekamp Interview
Miss South Carolina USA 2004 (1st runner up @ Miss USA 2004)
Miss Earth USA 2006
Why did you decide to compete in the Miss South Carolina USA pageant?
One of my best friends, Cyrus Frakes, owner of the Gowns and Crowns pageant preparation studio and my pageant coach, had always said he thought that the USA system would be a good fit for me-- it embodied everything I stood for and who I was. I had watched this pageant in previous years and dreamed of appearing on that stage one day. I reached a point in my life where I was ready to finally give this awesome system a try and I am grateful to say he was right-- I loved it and I won my first preliminary as Miss Lake Murray USA and that title took me to Miss South Carolina USA and ultimately Miss USA.
What was going through your head before and after they announced you as the 1st runner up at Miss USA?
Before they announced me as the first runner-up at Miss USA all I could think about was how surreal the moment was-- and was it really happening?! I didn't discount my capability to be the next Miss USA but I remember telling Shandi that the crown was going to look beautiful on her head just before they announced me as first runner-up; I just had a feeling she was going to capture it. I was honored to be in that position, and right after they announced me as first runner-up I felt so grateful that I had come so far and had placed as first runner-up!
Why did you decide to crossover and compete in the Miss Earth pageant system?
I had always wanted to compete at an international pageant and when Cyrus and I researched international pageant systems, the Miss Earth pageant was perfect! I am an advocate for caring for the environment and protecting Mother Earth and the Miss Earth system allowed me to further that advocacy and fulfill my dream of competing internationally-- not to mention the pageant itself is truly a glamourous production : )
What would be your most memorable moment at Miss Earth?
There are so many memorable moments from Miss Earth but if I had to pick just one it would be that for the month we were in the Philippines competing, 82 countries got along... pretty incredible! My mom always jokes and says that if given the opportunity beauty queens could run the world and we would all get along : ) It was interesting to see that these women from all over the world had the same concerns and similar day-to-day lives that I did.
Tell us about your experience on "King of the Crown".
What a once in a lifetime experience! I am beyond honored that Cyrus included me on the King Of The Crown journey with him and our team! I am thankful that we had the opportunity to showcase what we do not only the United States, but to 13 other countries, and shed some light on the pageant preparation industry and what we have a passion for. The crew we worked with was amazing and I am thankful that that experience gave me the opportunity to compete in my first Mrs. pageant as well.
What have you been up to after your reigns as Miss South Carolina USA and Miss Earth USA ended?
I moved to New York City after competing in Miss USA and I lived there for almost three years. I modeled and acted with the FFT agency and Wilhelmina Creative and appeared in national commercials, a Bollywood film, and national ad campaigns. I moved back to South Carolina following my Miss Earth United States reign for a hosting job for the Vegas Entertainment Network that was based out of Charlotte, NC. I met the love of my life, Brian Bluestein, at New York City's fashion week when I was still living in New York and we got married in October of 2008 and we just welcomed our first child in March of 2012, a son named Tanner McClellan Bluestein! I am blessed to say that along with being a stay-at-home mom I am also an instructor for stage presence, walking, and interview for the Gowns and Crowns pageant preparation studio alongside Cyrus Frakes! I am also a model and actress with the Millie Lewis agency in Columbia, SC. I am one lucky girl :)
One of my best friends, Cyrus Frakes, owner of the Gowns and Crowns pageant preparation studio and my pageant coach, had always said he thought that the USA system would be a good fit for me-- it embodied everything I stood for and who I was. I had watched this pageant in previous years and dreamed of appearing on that stage one day. I reached a point in my life where I was ready to finally give this awesome system a try and I am grateful to say he was right-- I loved it and I won my first preliminary as Miss Lake Murray USA and that title took me to Miss South Carolina USA and ultimately Miss USA.
What was going through your head before and after they announced you as the 1st runner up at Miss USA?
Before they announced me as the first runner-up at Miss USA all I could think about was how surreal the moment was-- and was it really happening?! I didn't discount my capability to be the next Miss USA but I remember telling Shandi that the crown was going to look beautiful on her head just before they announced me as first runner-up; I just had a feeling she was going to capture it. I was honored to be in that position, and right after they announced me as first runner-up I felt so grateful that I had come so far and had placed as first runner-up!
Why did you decide to crossover and compete in the Miss Earth pageant system?
I had always wanted to compete at an international pageant and when Cyrus and I researched international pageant systems, the Miss Earth pageant was perfect! I am an advocate for caring for the environment and protecting Mother Earth and the Miss Earth system allowed me to further that advocacy and fulfill my dream of competing internationally-- not to mention the pageant itself is truly a glamourous production : )
What would be your most memorable moment at Miss Earth?
There are so many memorable moments from Miss Earth but if I had to pick just one it would be that for the month we were in the Philippines competing, 82 countries got along... pretty incredible! My mom always jokes and says that if given the opportunity beauty queens could run the world and we would all get along : ) It was interesting to see that these women from all over the world had the same concerns and similar day-to-day lives that I did.
Tell us about your experience on "King of the Crown".
What a once in a lifetime experience! I am beyond honored that Cyrus included me on the King Of The Crown journey with him and our team! I am thankful that we had the opportunity to showcase what we do not only the United States, but to 13 other countries, and shed some light on the pageant preparation industry and what we have a passion for. The crew we worked with was amazing and I am thankful that that experience gave me the opportunity to compete in my first Mrs. pageant as well.
What have you been up to after your reigns as Miss South Carolina USA and Miss Earth USA ended?
I moved to New York City after competing in Miss USA and I lived there for almost three years. I modeled and acted with the FFT agency and Wilhelmina Creative and appeared in national commercials, a Bollywood film, and national ad campaigns. I moved back to South Carolina following my Miss Earth United States reign for a hosting job for the Vegas Entertainment Network that was based out of Charlotte, NC. I met the love of my life, Brian Bluestein, at New York City's fashion week when I was still living in New York and we got married in October of 2008 and we just welcomed our first child in March of 2012, a son named Tanner McClellan Bluestein! I am blessed to say that along with being a stay-at-home mom I am also an instructor for stage presence, walking, and interview for the Gowns and Crowns pageant preparation studio alongside Cyrus Frakes! I am also a model and actress with the Millie Lewis agency in Columbia, SC. I am one lucky girl :)