Photo credit: Orlando Magic/Don Seidman (Miss Florida USA Photos)
Out of 51 contestants from around the state, Orlando Magic Dancer Megan Clementi was crowned Miss Florida USA Saturday night in Hollywood, Fla. Clementi, originally from Jupiter, Fla., is a team leader and five-year veteran of the Orlando Magic Dancers and recently graduated from UCF with a degree in Electrical Engineering and a minor in Engineer Leadership.
The Miss Florida USA Pageant 2010 is comprised of three categories to determine the overall winner: interview, swimsuit and evening gown, with each category counting equally. Clementi will now go on to compete in the Miss USA Pageant, and the winner of that will go to vie for the title of Miss Universe. Miss USA 2010 will be the 59th Miss USA pageant and will be held at the Theatre for the Performing Arts in Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas in Spring of April 2010. The 50 states and the District of Columbia will compete for the prestigious title and the pageant will broadcast live on NBC.
“Megan has been an invaluable member and leader of the Magic Dancers on and off the court for the last five seasons,” said Magic Dance Teams Manager and Appearance Coordinator Jeanine Klem-Thomas. “She is one of the most talented, hard-working, genuine, well-spoken, driven and passionate women that I have ever met and had the privilege to coach. There is not a doubt in my mind that she is going to be the best Miss Florida USA this state has ever had, and if anyone has the ability to bring the Miss USA Crown back to the State of Florida, it’s definitely Megan Clementi.”
Dancing since the age of 5, Clementi is also a member of the Orlando Magic Dunking Dancers, performing the most difficult flip dunk on a regular basis at Magic home games. She was the Magic Dancers NBA All-Star Dance Team representative at the Vegas All-Star Game in 2007 and has traveled on two Armed Forces Entertainment Tours to entertain American troops overseas
“Since the moment I became a Magic Dancer five years ago, I was adopted into the Magic family. I truly feel that being a part of the Magic organization has shaped me into the person I am today,” Clementi said. “As a Magic Dancer, I have had countless opportunities to travel around the world and to get involved in the Orlando community. I have learned everything from social networking skills to managing a healthy lifestyle. Jeanine (Magic Dance Teams manager and appearance coordinator) has been instrumental in grooming me to be the leader I am today. Without the Magic organization, I do not think I could have won the title of Miss Florida USA.”
NOTE: The Miss Florida USA Finals were Saturday, July 18 in Hollywood, Fla. but the pageant will re-air in its entirety in the Orlando/Daytona Beach area this coming Sunday, July 26 at 4 p.m. on WRDQ, Channel 27.
Magic Communications Contact: Jason Wallace, 
(407) 916-2623
, [email protected]
