Complaint Review: American Beauties Plus Pageant - Duluth Georgia

I regret writing the comment above and am no longer associated with Angela Howell or the Pageant.

 Early in 2012 I had a horrible experience with the state Director in a plus pageant in Washington.  I rightly finished the pageant in 3rd place and was proud of my results.  I did end up resigning my title with that pageant and joining the ABP system after differences with  the director made it impossible for me to be proud of my title.

 Had I not been introduced to the ABP organization and specifically Angela Howell...I would have forever been scarred by my pageant experience.  Joining the Miss American Beauties Plus pageant and attending their national pageant was like night and day from what I had previously experienced.  I still have not won the #1 spot...but because of the honesty, love, and support I received and drama free time...I will forever support ABP and compete again.  

This pageant will be celebrating its 5th Anniversary in 2010. We've had three pageants since the one that this so called person had a problem. She may have thought she had a problem, but was just a sore loser. She wanted the top title and did not deserve it. She was first runner up and won two other titles that year. She is just being ugly and mean about the whole thing. Three pageants later, it's been wonderful. We've had 12 excellent new queens and ambassadors and their not complaining. A few of the delegates have seen this rip off report, but still competed, and said that it was the "most rewarding" experience they have had. It's sad that one person can do so much damage because she didn't "win". The website is: www.americanbeautiespluspageant.com. You can go there and see the results of the pageants after the one this so called person complained about. She has since disappeared and is doing a "model" program in NY City, I've heard good and bad things about it, but it's not my "style" and I don't really want to get involved. She is doing what she wants and thats all that counts. Wishing this could be taken off since the reports since have been excellent, and truthful and all the delegates have shown that. If anyone has questions, please feel free to contact me at: [email protected] and hear the true story. Several have and have not regretted competing in the pageant. It's sad people are jealous and spiteful and all they want to do is hurt someone. This three years old...let it go...so many "good" things have come from it!! Thank you, Angela

I'm tired of people bad mouthing me and the pageant. The person(s) who wrote this, and you know who you are are just jealous because the pageant is making a good name for itself. The person(s) who wrote this "lost", well, came first runner up in the pageant two years ago. She thought she should have won. She tried to start problems and this is the final straw. Both the States of New York and Texas and the Better Business Bureau found that WE DID NOTHING WRONG. We submitted all paperwork and showed that this person(s) was just mad. The pageant is growing well, and my reputation is impeccable, and if this continues other means will be taken. The Person(s) have been sent a cease and desist letter notifying them of the untruths stated. Unfortunately they refused the mail and sent it back, but it is still on record that they are defaming the wrong people.

Not sure who the couple of people told you that extra fees were required by the pageant. That is incorrect. Once the original fees are paid. THAT'S IT! There is a People's Choice Award, and delegates who wish to participate can, it's NOT MANDATORY, and the one who brings in the most money is the People's Choice. ALL money went to DIVABETIC! Many directors use their home as a business, and Angela is one of them. This is her business and she works from home. nothing wrong with that. As for checks being made out to her, nothing wrong with that either. I've done six pageants and four of them I made the checks out to the Director. not sure why you feel she is a rip off. You didn't talk to the delegates from last year, because those who didn't win are returning in 2008 and all delegates (except Chanel, because she didn't win) is the only one. Mrs Howell treats all her delegates, current queens and past queens with true royalty and looks out for them. She is not a scam artist. When we arrived we had a seminar, helping those who were new to the pageant world to ask questions, and two ladies talked about interviewing skills and competition clothes, etc. It was an awesome two hours and we all got to meet the photographer and the 2006 queens. We also got to get to know each other. We received a canvas bag full of gifts from sponsors, including earrings and other jewlery Mrs Howell got. She is very reputable in the pageant industry, organizations (she has raised a lot of money for charities) and also in the State of Georgia. She has won the Volunteer Award for Georgia for six straight years. Mrs Howell is a honest, reputable director, competitor and pageant coach. She ran an excellent pageant. Every delegate whether they won a national title or not left with wonderful memories and are in the ABP Family. Additional fees, NOT. If we brought family or friends and they wanted to eat with us at the meals, they paid a modest fee and they enjoyed being with the delegates, family and friends and also the queens and workers. Like I said whoever you talked too were not delegates of American Beauties Plus! and you were given wrongful information. It costs a lot of money to run a pageant, and not one delegate or queen was upset with anything. Because I was first runner up, part of my winnings were to come back in 2008 and compete at "no charge". Hmmmm and you say she is a rip off artist. Really think you owe American Beauties Plus Pageant, staff and Mrs Howell an apology. If you were so uncertain, why didn't you contact Mrs Howell and talk to her about it instead of believing whoever it was and than post derogatory remarks that weren't true. When you become a delegate you receive a welcome letter and a delegate booklet outlining everything about the pageant. You receive a contract to sign, which is no big deal, because it states you will represent your state, will not drink alcoholic beverages with your crown and banner on and you will attend the pageant to compete for the National Title. You receive check off lists to make sure you bring everything, judges' sheets, mc sheets to fill out, arrival/departure sheets to fill out and a form with all pertinent information needed in case of an emergency. No other money is necessary! Everything on the website is good, seems you may have gotten ripped off by someone else or maybe know Chanel to get wrong information. The other complaint from Chanel is not correct, many ladies in the pageant industry know her and she has done this with another plus size pageant because she did not win. We do not know what her scores were nor do we want to know, we know that the one with the highest scores win. Interview is 50% of your score and you have to be on target in interview, that's why Mrs Howell has a seminar to have former queens brush up on interview skills and what to look for. she looks out for her queens. Sorry you feel the way you do, but again, you should have contacted Mrs Howell if you doubted her instead of accusing her of a scam artist and rip off. Again, you didn't talk to any of the 2007 queens or delegates unless you talked with the other complainer. Again, you owe an apology.

Unfortunately, received info about these two complaints. The one from Chanel has been dismissed, she signed a contract, and the office has all pertinent information to her signing agreements, telephone conversations, judges sheets with scores and comments. She has no validity. As for the second one. Angela is not a SCAM artist...never has and never will be. Janis, you need to watch who you call a scam artist. I know you have not proof. The director works out of her home as many other pageant directors. Angela has an excellent reputation in the Pageantry World and many Organziations. She has raised thousands of dollars for charities. The fees the delegates pay goes to state crown and banners, national crowns and banners, all meals, hotel space, advertising, judges, tee shirts, etc. Pageants do not make money. American Beauties Plus has raised money for Divabetic. Before you make comments that aren't true, you should contact the director or those involved and they will tell you. Angela has been in pageantry for many years as a competitor, director, mentor, and coach. The delegates do sign a contract to represent the pageant as other pageant directors have delegates sign. No pageant has refunds unless the pageant is cancelled. This pageant has been in business quite sometime and is licensed in the State of Georgia. Please be careful people before saying derogatory remarks which aren't true. Angela does not rip anyone off...in fact she got ripped out by a delegate this year who wrote a bad check, and still has not made it good. Thank you.

I would like to defend Angela Howell and the American Beauties Plus Pageant System. I've known Angela for many years through the pageant world. Many women consider Angela to be a wonderful and caring friend. She's a community leader and activist, raising thousands of dollars for Lupus and Diabetes research. I have not entered the American Beauties Plus pageant, but intend to do so this year. I trust Angela to have a fair and well produced pageant. She's entered and won many plus pageants and knows what it takes to run a good system. Pageants are very expensive to produce, especially when they are held at hotels and meals are involved. Most delegates have no clue what it takes and the money that is involved in producing a pageant. I would be extremely surprised if Angela was making a profit right now. Take into account she must buy crowns, banners, delegate meals, staff meals, rent a stage, pay judges (or buy them gifts), rent the hotel banquet rooms for the events, pay emcees (or buy them gifts), advertising, etc. I would be willing to bet that Angela is having to use money from her personal checking account or savings to help fund what has been a dream of hers- running her own pageant. Every pageant has an entry fee you must pay, advertising you must sell, tickets you must buy or sell, and hotel and family meals are rarely included. I also know of a lot of pageant directors that use their home addresses for the pageant because most work out of their homes. As for last year's pageant being rigged- I seriously doubt that. I've seen nearly all of last years delegates compete in other pageants and I can honestly say I was not surprised by who won because they are some of the best plus size pageant queens around. Several are very seasoned and win nearly any pageant they enter. When someone accuses a pageant of being rigged, you have to wonder why. Most pageant interviews are 50% of a score so if you don't interview well that's it- your chances are slim to known that you'll win. Some contestants just shouldn't be in pageants if they can't take the heat of losing. Maybe they need to look at themselves and learn what they can do to improve instead of accusing every pageant system they enter as being rigged. I'm looking forward to working with Angela and her very experienced Staff. I have no reservations about entering and encourage others to get involved as well.