Georgia Represented in International Pageant

Student Travels to Virginia Beach, Va. for Pageant

Senior at Kennesaw State to represent the South at International Miss competition. 30 women are expected to compete in International Junior Miss pageant for Miss category.

Charity Started by Student

Student travels to Virginia Beach, Va. For Pageant

By Levi Warner

Charity started by KSU student

MARIETTA, Ga. — A senior at Kennesaw State University is set to compete as a Georgia representative in the International Junior Miss pageant  July 23-26 in Virginia.

            Rebecca Fusco, 23, will officially be representing the title of Miss Southern States in the competition and is competing against approximately 30 women in the highest division offered, the Miss division. Fusco, who was crowned Miss Georgia in 2012 and Miss Southern States in 2011 arrived in Virginia Monday and is extremely excited about the pageant.

Courtesy of Rebecca Fusco

“One of my favorite parts doing a pageant is rehearsals because you get to learn your entire production and I love dancing. Learning the opening number is something exciting for me,” said Fusco. “Obviously, I am most looking forward to bringing home the title to Georgia.”

Fusco is currently in her final year at Kennesaw State and intends to graduate in December with a degree in communication with a focus in media studies. She mostly grew up in nearby Marietta, Ga., and attended Kennesaw Mountain High School. 

Originally moving with her daughter from Youngstown, Ohio; it was Fusco’s mother, Debbie Allen, who decided to get her involved in pageants. Originally, Fusco had participated in a few pageants at age 2, yet those pageants were not successful. Then around age 15, Allen decided to re-enter her daughter into the pageant world.

“I think we got a letter in the mail for the Georgia State fair and I thought that it might be something that she would really love.” said Allen, “We just went down there and she did very well. She has been all about pageants ever since.”

The current level of participation shown by Fusco did not occur until five years ago when the International Junior Miss system was founded. The new system, full of beginners, gave Fusco the opportunity to hone her skills in a positive environment.

In the International Junior Miss system, contestants are judged in four main categories. First is introduction, a 30 second introduction about yourself. There is interview, which lasts around five minutes. There is fun fashion, in which an outfit of the contestant’s choice is worn. The last category is evening gown. There are also optional categories such as academic achievement, volunteer achievement, prettiest hair, prettiest dress, casual wear, and talents.

In preparing for the pageant, Fusco takes full advantage of Kennesaw State weight training facilities and watches her diet closely in the months approaching competition. This year, she has two coaches. They prepare her evening gown walk, her fun fashion walk, and write her introduction. They also help her prepare for interview questions.

            “There’s a character building aspect to it.” Fusco said, “A lot of people think we just get on stage and wear a pretty dress and that’s it. But in the end, it can really help build your character, build your confidence and it can help prepare you for the career you want to go into.”

Fusco recommends that any girls interested in pageantry check out all the systems and look for the amount of time involved for each system and avoid trying a system that doesn’t fit your time constraints or goals.

“Pagentry is not just what you see on television.” Fusco said, “If you are interested then attend a local event. Check them out before you take any judgment. We are hard working girls that get out in the community and volunteer.”

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Charity To Help Animal Shelters

MARIETTA, Ga. — Volunteer work by a Kennesaw State University student exceeds expectation as she seeks to help animals without a home.

Rebecca Fusco, 23, last year created a charity, People with a Purpose, that seeks to assist Cobb County animal shelters though fundraisers and volunteer work at the shelters. The idea supposedly came from a fundraiser in a grocery store for a Marietta, Ga., animal shelter that featured a tree with unadopted pets pictures and asked for donations.

“It just struck my heart to see all those animals in need and I thought that maybe I could help a few of them by getting some of my friends together,” said Fusco.

Seeing the need for money to run the costly operation, Fusco began collecting money at her job, a server at Texas Roadhouse, and while attending pageants. The operation has not grown larger than basic collections but Fusco would like to produce a wristband to sell. All the profits would go toward operating costs for local shelters, which often are funded privately and depend on donations to keep animals alive.

Anyone interested in helping may contact Fusco through the organization’s Facebook page found through a simple search or it can be found here after logging in.

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Another gun turns up at Hartsfield-Jackson

A man was found with a gun in security at ATL airport on Tuesday

Gun found in Atlanta airport; man taken into custody

Guns are common in Atlanta airport

Gun found in Atlanta airport; man taken into custody

By Cailin O'Brien 

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 

Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport authorities found a gun in a passenger’s bag on Tuesday morning during a security check.

Spokesman Reese McCranie said the suspect was taken into custody by the Clayton County Sheriff’s Department after a loaded .45 pistol was found in the passenger’s carry-on bag.

The Sheriff’s Department could not be reached at this time for information on the suspect’s name or the charges he may face. It is also unclear exactly what time the gun was found.

McCranie said these arrests are not unusual.

“Basically, this happens a couple of times a week,” he said. “It just means that the system is working.”

Courtesy of CNN

Guns in Atlanta airport are common

People found with guns in airports are usually arrested and face criminal charges and a civil penalty, TSA spokesman Jon Allen has told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in previous cases.


Hartsfield-Jackson holds the title for most guns found at an airport nationally, largely because it is the world’s busiest airport. Security found 96 guns at checkpoints in 2012 — a new record for the airport, an AJC analysis found.