Miami Beach sisters looking for `Miss Miami Beach USA'

Miami Beach sisters Tammy Green and Lauren Green-Martincak are on the hunt for the next Miss Miami Beach -- or her teen counterpart.

Green and Green-Martincak, pageant judges and co-owners of a modeling agency, are producing the first Miss Miami Beach USA and Miss Miami Beach Teen USA competitions in April.

Deadline to apply for the pageant is March 1.

``We are looking for young ladies that are confident,'' said Green, who runs Miami Beach's Green Agency with her sister. ``And what has excited us so much is that we have the opportunity to create an event that empowers the young women of our community.''

Contestants don't necessarily have to live in Miami Beach, however -- but they do have to be Florida residents for at least six months and be U.S. citizens.

Miss Miami Beach contestants must be between 18 and 27 years old; Miss Miami Beach Teen hopefuls must be between 14 and 19.

There will actually be two winners selected for each contest: a judge's choice, and a winner chosen American Idol-style by the public, voting online or via text message.

The pageant will be streamed online, Green said.

All four winners will go on to compete in the Miss Florida USA and Miss Florida Teen USA pageants. (Miss Florida USA competes in the Miss USA pageant.)

Additional prizes include clothing, jewelry and photo shoots, Green said.

Contestants will be judged in three categories: interview, swimsuit and evening gown.

Green said the interview portion is the most important.

``This is an opportunity to express their interests, goals, and most importantly, their community activism,'' she said.

Green-Martincak says that contestants must be well-spoken, smart and determined.

``We are all about empowering women,'' she said.

``Each girl needs a platform, a charity or a cause they believe in, and I think it opens awareness to everyone.''

The pageant also features a Little Sister program, which gives girls ages 5 to 13 the chance to shadow contestants during events and photo shoots.

The deadline and fees to apply for the Little Sister program is the same as for the pageant contestants.

The contestants will also participate on Lincoln Road a few days before the main event.

The sisters are looking forward to produce their first pageant. While serving as pageant judges in the past, they've never competed themselves.

``But we do like to wear tiaras on our birthdays,'' Green said.

Article posted on "Neighbors" / The Miami Herald / Feb. 4th, 2010