DC is a city full of politicians and diplomats, but just as there is only one current president, there is only one current Miss America, and on Sunday evening Katie Stam, the reigning Miss America was at a fundraiser for the Miss DC scholarship fund. Katie is an amazing young woman from Seymour, Indiana and whether she’s singing or simply speaking to folks, it is clear why she won Miss America. Miss America was joined by not one, not two, not three, not four, but five past Miss DC's, inlcuding Kate Marie Grinold, Shayna Rudd (who is also Miss Black USA), Kate Michael, Therese Lizardo, and Sonya Gavankar! Tonight’s party, which Counterpoint coordinated and sponsored, was to help raise money for the scholarship portion of the Miss DC pageant. Overall the Miss America organization provides more than $45 million in annual scholarship assistance to the roughly 12,000 young women who compete in the pageant each year. As Kate Marie Grinold, Miss DC 2008 pointed out tonight, she came in in the top 10 in Miss America and she has a $250,000 George Washington University education and a total of $770 in school loans left, most because of the assistance she received not only from GW, but also from the pageant.
Counterpoint worked with the Miss DC organization to secure a venue and the host for the evening was Ambassador Kamilov of Uzbekistan, a model diplomat. His staff ensured that everything was just perfect for the roughly 150 guests that were entertained not only by the Embassy itself which is stunning, but by the remarkable voices of Katie Stam and Jen Corey (Miss DC 2009). Uzbek cuisine is a special treat, and their vodka is some of the best anywhere in the world.
Uzbekistan and Miss America make a winning team, but both can be looked at individually. Katie Stam would add glamour and poise to any function and the Embassy of Uzbekistan, which has a history all its own, is the perfect venue on Massachusetts Avenue for an event.
