Jilted: Macy's picks Miss Universe over Miss America for parade

Oregonian via AP ^ | 10/26/01

[SAMWolf]

NEW YORK (AP) -- So much for patriotism: The organizers of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade have invited Miss Universe to participate instead of Miss America, who has traditionally had the honor.

Miss America Katie Harman had been planning to ride in the Nov. 22 parade, but parade organizers told Miss America this week they'd already invited Miss Universe Denise Quinones.

Miss America Pageant winners have been in the parade since the 1960s, although some have missed it because of scheduling conflicts. Three of the last five before Harman participated.

"It's very disappointing, and we haven't really been given any reasons for the change," Harman, 21, told the New York Post in a story published Friday.

According to the Post, Donald Trump -- co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization -- pulled strings to get her into the parade.

Not so, said Macy's spokeswoman Ronnie Taffet. No one with the Macy's parade ever talked to Trump about it, she said.

The Miss America Organization, which in years past would call Macy's in advance to ask that the new Miss America be included in the parade, never made contact with Macy's until this week, Taffet said.

In the meantime, Macy's officials -- who had opened a store in Puerto Rico last year -- learned that Quinones was from Puerto Rico and liked the idea of including her, Taffet said.

"Our intention was not to disappoint or upset Miss America. The intention, as always, is to put on the most exciting parade the world's ever seen. We apologize for what seems to be slighting her," Taffet said.

She said there have been some talks about including both Miss America and Miss Universe in the parade.

[SAMWolf]

In the meantime, Macy's officials -- who had opened a store in Puerto Rico last year -- learned that Quinones was from Puerto Rico and liked the idea of including her, Taffet said.

BINGO!!!

[stainlessbanner]

wet t-shirt contest decides it!

[Diddle E. Squat]

Boycott the commies!

Though if Miss America goes on an eating binge out of disappointment, that might not be a bad thing.

In perhaps a related story, AheadNews.com has been unable to confirm that Miss America has a casting call for the upcoming "Karen Carpenter Story".

[RoseofTexas]

OK..what's the email address? Ready to do my patriotic duty and freep the bastards!!

[rmlew]

Perhaps I have my history wronmg, but isn't Puerto Rico a dependent commonwealth of the US?
Macy's decision was stupid. We need a Ms. America now more than ever.

[SAMWolf]

How about a nude, full contact, jello wrestling tourney?

[umbra]

Trump dating Miss Universe?

[cinFLA]

Have you tried your search engine?

[ThePoetsRaven]

I never go to Macy's. Bloomingdale's has far better sales.

[SAMWolf]

Try NY Tourist

or Macy's

[Diddle E. Squat]

Didn't Macy get booed for butchering the nat'l anthem at the Hall of Fame game?

[Moleman]

All your sluts are belong to us...

[wheezer]

wet t-shirt contest decides it!

Right after they finish with the jello wrestling match!!

[Hildy]

Then Madelaine Albright was the one for you.

[MozartLover]

Oh for heaven's sake, surely someone could figure out a way to construct a float big enough for these two to share.

Better yet........dump 'em both, and get Mel Gibson instead. Now there's a parade I'd set my alarm for.:)

[kapn kuek]

Time to boycott Macy's. How very unpatriotic and idiotic. Macy’s is so POLITICALLY INCORRECT!! I would go as far as to say UNAMERICAN.

[MozartLover]

ROTFLOL!!!!!

[chemicalman]

Well, heck...Let's have all the contestants ride the float, then...

Wet "T" shirts in November? You bet the lights will be on high beam!