My name is Donna and I would like to report a complaint in regard to the Miss Teen Raleigh, NC Preliminary Pageant and its’ affiliate, Cities of America (Nationals).
Here are the facts:
1)Our home received postal mail from Nicole Rochelle (which I later learned through a complaint against this pageant on the Internet that there is no such person…and that many of their workers use the same name as they hold presentation in cities all across America claiming to be Nicole Rochelle). The letter is addressed to the head of the household telling him that his step-daughters names were selected to participate in a preliminary Raleigh pageant…and to bring any other young ladies who may be interested. When I asked a worker how they got a hold of our household, she admitted that they solicit by getting names that are connected with dance, theater, and performing arts studios. I decided to “investigate” from the inside and allowed my sixteen year old daughter to participate.
2) Presentation was held at the Double Tree Hotel on Cedar Creek Road in Fayetteville, NC. The speaker was a blond “Nicole Rochelle,” who claimed to be Miss Colorado at some point and time in the past and have been doing pageants all of her life. She stated the the pageant entry was free….however, each contestant MUST raise $495 in form of sponsorships to participate, and an additional $125 to compete in the Miss Photogenic portion. Names of these judges were never released….not even at the preliminary pageant itself. Their Emcee stated that “our judges are professional photographers in the industry”…just a little vague after paying $125 for these non-judges to judge my child’s photo.
“Free” by way of definition implies that something is given to you at no cost or expectation from the receiver. However, their “free” means you have to work to make the money to give to them under the guise of “sponsors.” My daughter received $175 total from three sponsors (one of which is an Attorney at Law, and the remaining $545 was “sponsored” by me….Mom.
3) They told us that the training would fully prepare them to do well at the pageant. The “training” was approximately three hours long (6 – 9PM) at the Holiday Inn on Owen Drive in Fayetteville, NC. The first two hours (I am not exaggerating) was used pushing an affiliates photography package for an “x” amount of dollars…and being reminded that this is not mandatory, but is available and worthy of being considered if you are serious about building a portfoloio. After that was stated no less than three times, the stout little speaker (I cannot recall her name…but let’s just say that she did not look at all like a past pageant being vastly over weight and no more than five feet tall) pushed for the sell of the photo packages. They ranged from $75 to up in the hundreds. The push for the sell was weighing on all the parents in my section down. They were orally getting upset with it…I remained quiet as to hear their response to this “training” session. They were not happy about the waste of time, but had already gotten their child’s emotions in an uproar and looking forward to something that they thought was going to be free. NO one at the presentation mentioned that they would be actually selling and taking money for photo packages at this session, just that there would be a photographer to take a FREE photo for those interested in participating in the Photogenic portion and did not already have a professional photo. VERY misleading…and on purpose.
In all fairness, the stout, brown haired speaker did have them read along with her for about fifteen minutes (NOT exaggerating) from a packet she handed out (I have one for proof if you would like to see it) on how to sit attentively, speak well, and shake hands firmly with the “judges.” Another 15 – 20 minutes was spent on how to do a one half turn. No walking. Just the one half turn over and over and over again for 15 – 20 minutes. Then the last forty-five minutes to an hour was spent in line for those who opted to be in the photogenic portion of the pageant and/or purchase a photo package from the photographer (I do not recall her name). We were told that if you did not have a professional photo, then they would take one for free to show to the “judges” (whom NONE OF THE PARTICIPANTS OR PARENTS ever met) in order to determine who would win “Miss Photogenic.” I had my daughter’s professional photo with us already. Ironically, she took 1st Runner Up for Miss Photogenic. No need for congratulations…it was no honor for her. My youngest daughter has already been trained in Modeling by one of their affiliates, John Casablancas in Cary, NC, and ongoing training and shows with REJOICE! Performing Arts Studio in Fayetteville, NC. The “competition” was hardly strong…not bragging…but you’ll understand where I’m coming from in #5 below.
4) Next step was to have the contestants meet with “judges” one on one for five minutes at a location that is two hours away from our home. The interviews were held at the Holiday Inn North located at 2805 Highwoods Boulevard in Raleigh, NC. My daughter said they simply asked general questions such as, “why is it important to you to be in the pageant?” and “what other activities do you enjoy doing?” as they were checking out their personality. My youngest daughter said she answered each according to truth and with bubbling personality, but it wasn’t worth a two hour drive. She felt that it could have been done in the form of another phone interview as it was from the beginning (sorry, I left that out….they were given a “phone interview” after the presentation to “determine who would go to preliminaries.” This I cannot prove, but with a little digging, I am sure I could…and that is that NO ONE willing to pay the $495 was turned down).
5) Our next step was to take my daughter to The Dunn Center for Performing Arts at Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount, NC for rehearsal (NOT dress rehearsal…no, they never got to practice changing clothes for their 2 showcases: Casual Wear, and Formal Evening Wear…not even a talent show case) and Pageant itself. The rehearsal consist of having to BUY $20 tickets while they put the female associates of the contestants to work in the back where they took care of their own child(ren). Yes, I actually PAID to take care of my child and miss most of the show (no complaints there…my eldest child came for support and sat in the audience bored to tears for an additional $20 herself). Their workers simply lined them up and pushed them out on stage…not literally “pushed,” but prompted when it was their turn to go.
At the “rehearsal,” it was reiterated where to buy additional $20 tickets no less than three to four times, someone who calls herself “Jennifer” comes out and shows them how to stand on an X…walk to another X, turn….walk to another X, turn…then return to their initial X. Each category did this exactly ONCE…then shown the dressing room in the back. THAT was their dress rehearsal.
To re-cap, their $495 training consisted of 1) reading along and told how to sit, speak, and shake hands 2) do a one half turn, 3) interview with “every day joes” for five minutes, 4) and 5 minutes on stage to wait your turn to walk from X to X. 2 hours were spent pushing a photo package, another 30 minutes reiterating the importance of a portfolio for a Model, and collectively 20 minutes reminding the parents to “get your $20 tickets prior to the show because it may be sold out at the show.” Fat chance…
The father next to me during my spurts of being able to sit to at least see my own child come on stage to “perform” twice was literally listening to a show on his ipad or some such gadget from the boredom. He did take the ear plugs out of his ears when his little girl came on stage to support her. According to my eldest, she wish she had something to do while waiting her sister’s two turns on stage. Why?
6) These girls were ill prepared to do ANYthing on stage. It was a joke! Approximately fifteen (and I am being kind with that number and am NOT exaggerating at all) of the girls walked well from previous training or naturally carried themselves well. The remaining 135 contestants literally stumbled from X to X (the majority of them forgetting the one half turn..I am NOT kidding…) and somehow managed to get back to the original X. They were not even trained by the workers on how to stand while on stage waiting their turn. It was truly a pathetic FOUR HOUR LONG stretch of an event. Yes, four hours…
7) In their defense, the Emcee did ask ONE question per category (of which there were 4: pre-school aged girls, elementary, Jr. High, and High School to first year in College [16 - 19 yr. old]). Each category had approximately 20 contestants. Yes, my eldest sat thru 20 contestants answering the same question over and over again for the last 2 hours of the program. I witnessed twenty of them as I finished helping my daughter back stage get into her formal evening wear.
My daughter “won” 1st Runner Up for Miss Photogenic. Not sure how that lack of procedure went to determine it. That bit of information was not privy to the participants who paid or raised $125 for this portion of the pageant. The emcee simply announced that, “our professional photographers judged these photos looking for bone structure and uniqueness.” Huh? Yes, that’s what he said. No names of the photographers and they, of course, were not present.
So who WAS present as judges?
I didn’t get the names because it was just too mundane to do so. Their career positions, however, tallied from principal of a school to retired something or other. NO industry professionals …. not even their associates….in the mix at all.
9) While this pageant has recently tagged itself as, “Pageant with a Purpose,” they fail to mention that the purpose is to raise over $78,500 in less than two months…and this is only ONE city! Take that and multiply it by the cities they target for presentations and preliminaries and…well…let’s just say they are making a nice chunk of ill gotten gain.
10) The emcee mentioned over and over again (and “Jen” and “Nicole” mentioned multiple times) that this pageant is all about building confidence. How? No idea. All I know is that at the end of it all, multiple little girls and teens were crying their eyes out and no one but their parent there to comfort them. So, where was the Pageant Support Team then…
11) After this fiasco, I decided to put things in motion to get a refund since we received no training that was suggested in the “package.” They simply created an audience to sell photo packages to and prepare them to go to the Cities of America to spend more money for a worthless pageant leading no where. I emailed the Nicole Rochelle (Spelling?..she’ll be the blonde with a crown on her head for the Facebook Profile Picture) on Facebook, and two of the members that were posted on their site at http://www.nationalsteenpageant@wordpress.com. I also got wind of the very owner of Cities of America and emailed him from one of his other business website email addresses. I do not have that on hand, but will email it to you when I get back to my yahoo account where I cut, paste, and saved it. His name is there as well.
While on the wordpress blog page, I also noted that Brianna’s picture wasn’t even posted on the site. Someone who calls herself Jennifer contacted me via email trying fervently to smooth out the situation and right a wrong..but fumbled in some of what she was “covering up.” I’ll be glad to submit the emails she sent to me upon request. I had already told her I had planned on getting my refund from the base at Nationals, Inc. located at 1951 Shenango Valley Freeway, Suite 2, South Hermitage, PA 16148. You can contact them via phone at 1-800-565-9015. I spoke with someone named Amy Miller in regard to demanding a refund.
12) We have since received mail from Cities of America with a return address of 525K E Market Street, Leesburg, VA 20176….though someone named Sally Blough tells me their home office is in Orlando Florida…
The email sends congratulations to Brianna for doing so well at the Raleigh preliminary competition. Goes on to remind her that she is now “eligible” to proceed to the National Competition due to her 1st Runner Up position for Miss Raleigh Photogenic. The entrance/sponsorship fee of $545 has been has been waived because of her win, and a deposit of $300 is due that goes toward the $745 package price. The package price includes hotel costs for 5 days, and placement in the program. Wait a minute, I thought her place was already secured in the program from being 1st Runner Up?????? Isn’t that what the $545 waived sponsorship fee was for???
13)I called Raleigh Pageants at 1800-565-9015 to strongly request a refund as well as to find out how the rest of the procedure to Nationals go. This was on November 8, 2010 in the afternoon. Amy Miller claimed that she could not give a refund because it is stated in the packet that all monies are non-refundable and non-transferable. True enough. I explained to her that the packet also ensured the contestants to receive training for the pageant that they never received. I asked her, “surely, you do not equate showing 157 girls how to do a one half turn, talk for five minutes to an every day joe, and be on stage for 5 minutes total for the rehearsal ‘training,’ do you?” She did not respond. She did, however, go on to tell me that if Brianna so chose to accept the invitation to nationals, all questions would go to Cities of America in Florida (though the return address reads Virginia). That she had no jurisdiction over them. She gave me the number. In short, she passed the buck to her affiliate and washed her hands of the matter.
14) I called Cities of America at 1 800 559 – 3492 to get some questions answered as though preparing to follow thru and take Brianna to Nationals. I spoke with someone named Sally Blough. I told her that we have family in Florida and would opt to stay with them should Brianna accept the invitation. Sally responded to say that we had to stay at the Rose Center Hotel in Orlando, Florida. I told her that Brianna would only participate in the Casual and Evening Wear competitions if she were to go (feel free to request a copy of their ridiculous charges per additional competition…it is out right robbery!), thus, would not need to stay at the hotel. Sally reiterated that the $745 was a “package deal” regardless to whether she stays there or not.” My next question was obvious: “So what is the $745 going to if it’s not going to the hotel stay as your paperwork states?” Silence on the phone. I then let it be known to her that I intend to do my part to expose the Cities of America Pageants and their preliminaries for the true SCAM that it is. She told me that I could not say anything against something that I had not experienced. If I had a problem with Raleigh Pageants, to take it up with them (she passed the buck back to them just as nicely as they passed it to her initially….wonderful affiliate relationship, don’t you think) Yes, sarcasm…sorry.
I told her that I had already taken it up with the Raleigh Pageant Preliminary office…and will also disclose her (Sally’s) answer to me on the phone in regard to the finances since I DID experience the phone call with her and to leave it to whomever I chose to leave the complaint with of it’s validity. She said to do what I felt I had to do and to have a nice day. I did….and I am.
15) Oh, she also shared that not only does the contestant have to pay $745 for “the package deal,” but so does her “chaperone.” Yes, that would be the parent of the under aged child. And that’s not all…they HAVE to share a room with strangers…yes, HAVE to share a room with another contestant and HER chaperone. Mandatory…unless you pay an ADDITIONAL $400 to have a private room for you and your daughter. Yes, you read that correctly. BUT, you can NOT stay at your relatives home that live close by for free…
It is an crying shame with adults seek to take advantage of children and teens to make a living. Actually exploiting their longing to increase their confidence levels within themselves to turn a buck. It disgusts me and I would love for it to be investigated, exposed, and closed down. Allow the parents of these children to put these thousands of dollars toward a college fund for their children instead…
Well, these ARE the facts that I personally lived through. You are welcome to call me to ask as many questions as you would like. My cell number is 910 322 3859. If I cannot get to the phone, please leave a voice mail. I will call you back after 9PM weekday or any time on the weekend if that is doable on your end. The greeting will say, “Thank you for calling REJOICE Performing Arts Studio & Talent Agency, etc.”
I am VERY grateful to the Pageant Awareness U.S.A. Association for trying to put a stop to these scams so that the ones that are “for real” can truly be a blessing to our next generation of Models and Behavioral Leaders.
Sincerely Frustrated,
Donna
Wow! I agree with everything said here. I experienced the same thing at the Teen Raleigh Pageant this year. It truly is a crying shame when adults are taking advantage of children and teens. It’s hard enough to stay afloat financially these days without having to worry about scams like these popping up more and willing to steal our money. I’m going to contact them and demand my money back as well. Thank you for all of the contact information. I’ll be starting a blog exposing them as well.
I want to see this and every other scam pageant closed down!
Areatha
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I have won “MISS JR. SAN ANTONIO OVERALL PHOTOGENTIC” age 15
just last month. My mother and i were undecided on whether to go to “cities of america nationals.” It is alot of money which we don’t have. they also pleaded we would be contacted by modeling agents and have exposure. which has not happen ,and i was just looking at other pageants and how their girls have been on the following “teen vogue, cosmo girl, ,etc.” which made me really think! But i think i will not go to nationals, your story really made me change my mind. Thank you. sincerely , alexis
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I have just been called by a national court tv show that is willing to help me expose Raleigh Pageant for a Purpose and Cities of America for the true scam that it is. If you have any other evidence or comments of your dealings with this company to help shut them down, please email me at rejoicestudio@aol.com.
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I have 2 daughters ages 13 and 16 in the cities of America National Competition for 2011. It is a lot of money. However, not once were we told any part of it was free. My daughters did receive training during their training session. They were told to practice at home as well everyday for at least 1 to 2 hours. During their training session there was an optional photo session if you wanted to pay for it. I have been very happy for the most part with the pageant. The only thing I was not happy with was when we called the offices for Cities of America Inc. and asked about the complete package and what it included I was originally told it included the 5 nights and 6 days at the rosen center hotel, all the tickets to all of the pageant related events and the airfare to only find out a day or two later that my girls airfare was not being covered by the complete package. That I was going to have to pay for the airfare for them as well as mine since they were non-qualifying contestants. Other than that I have found them to be very honest and up front with us.
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To the one who has two daughters ages 13 and 16: What city was your pageant? Ours was in Raleigh, NC. I’m glad you and your daughters had a good experience at the preliminaries, but please do know that it is a 100% scam. Did you have the blond Nicole Rochelle as your initial speaker, or another person…they use alias’ a lot to cover more ground. Also to keep from getting caught. However, unlike you, they did disclose when I asked point blank on the phone (and it is in the tiny print on the form for those “invited” to go to Orlando about the scholarship package being only for the participant and that all other parties have to pay their own way. In order to save money, share a room with strangers…if you get your own room, it’s more expensive, etc. They also do not openly share that if you have a relative that lives near by, you can stay there, but still have to pay the hotel fee…not to the hotel though…but to them. Hmmmm…
Sorry to burst your bubble, but you have been duped and just experienced a good time to a pageant that leads no where and the cash rewards not given. Nicole Rochelle has even closed down her facebook page due to myself and another lady named Jody asking questions openly on her wall. She won’t address them..but in cowardice just no longer uses that site even though it’s still active.
I wish you and your daughters the very best!
Hello,
I am thankful this information is here. My daughter 14 went through the Ms Worcester Jr Teen this past October 30th. I was extremely dissapointed with the high costs, as we are a low income family, but thought we would be able to raise the money. We only had a few days to raise the money from the time she received her acceptance letter, until the time of the interview. We ended up paying most of it out of pocket. Never mind all the pageant costs, what about the shoes, dresses, hair, gas, food, etc. The whole thing cost us a fortune, again we really couldn’t afford, but my daughter hasn’t done anything in a long time, so I supported her interest. Anyway we paid the full package for the photo’s with the CD, and still haven’t received it. I wish my brain was intact during those initial days, now that I look back everything was so sketchy. The contact information for the photographer is on a brochure that has a 800 number that they never answer, no email, no website, and just signed photography services. It is PS Photography Services phone number 1-800-551-8549 The photographer was great, the contact information is not. I know of one other girl in the pageant that received her photo’s last month. We just want our photo’s and to move on. My daughter placed in the 10th of her division, but we will not be going to Florida in December. First I can’t afford it, and second I agree that the training, and company seem like a scam. My dad who is 77 years old sat through the long pageant and right away said this is a scam. So that is my voice on this. Oh if anyone at all can give me more information on the photographer I would appreciate it, We just want our pictures that we already paid for.
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WOW! im so glad i saw this. My daughter participated in this particular pageant in Atlanta Georgia. We have raised the money to be able to go to national in Florida. Im so glad i saw this before we sent the money in. We have been through all the same routine that Donna talked about. The rehersal was mainly about the photo shoot they wanted us to pay for. Thank you Donna for exposing this company and saving us the time and money. Im so glad there are people out there that care enough to let others know about scams like this. This was a huge let down for my 12 year old. She was so excited to be able to participate in this pageant just to find out its a fraud. I have not been able to get in touch with anyone at the pageant. The 2 numbers i have, one has been disconnected and the other goes straight to voicemail. No one calls back or ever answers that line. Thank you Donna.
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I just received another phone call. This one from a Kathy Smith in Georgia. It is the 4th phone call in regard to this complaint against Cities of America Pageant. It has been suggested to each one of them to posted to boost the awareness of the scam company on the google search. None have. I just asked myself if they were plants from Cities of America to call me to see what I knew about them and my intentions to carry out a suit against them. I don’t have an answer. However, if the phone calls I received seeking more information about this company were legitimate, please do take my advise and post the truth of what you have lived through with this company to help others not be ripped off and their young daughters emotions exploited to turn a buck …. well thousands and thousands of bucks. You can help me shut them down by letting what you know about them go public. If you read this, you may respond here as well as at rejoicestudio@aol.com. Thanks!
You’re very welcome, Kathy. There are some legitimate pageants out there. If this is your daughter’s passion, I hope that she does not let this rotten apple diminish her dream. As a suggestion … Mom to Mom… it’s a good idea for us parents to thoroughly investigate any company of this sort before involving our children and they invest their emotions into the possibility. That goes for anyone reading this as well. So glad this article saved at least four people from being scammed of their hard earned money. I hope it multiplies and they tell others. Thank you, Kathy, for sharing.
I am so glad I read this! I compeated in the Miss Northern Indiana Teen competition last August… total SCAM!!!!!!!! My best friend won in the division above me and she is going to nationals this December. I sent her a link to this page and hopefully she will realize how bad it is! thanks!!
-Elizabeth
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