Miss Dog Mom 2020 Crowned—With Dog, of Course—in Virtual Pageant

On September 29, with greater than 1,000 audience looking at on Facebook, the highest 5 finalists of the 2020 Miss Dog Mom Pageant anxiously waited to listen to who would take house the 2020 crown.

Seven judges—together with present Miss World Massachusetts Alissa Musto, puppy type fashion designer Roberto Negrin, and puppy logo For Dirty Dogs co-founders Utundee and Natishka Saunders—had forged their votes. When runner-up Stephanie Wert and her canine Barney had been introduced, it took a 2nd for Talia Page to let it sink in that she and her canine Harvey gained, and that they had to take their first respectable stroll because the successful duo.

“Once they announced the first runner-up I knew that I was the winner because there were no other places left,” Page stated. “I did not expect to win this. I was certainly surprised. Beauty queen I am not.”

Miss Dog Mom 2020, Talia Page, with successful doggy, Harvey. Photo by way of Chris Spiegel. Makeup and styling by way of Stephanie Vazquez.

A Pageant by way of Any Other Name

“I wanted to do the pageant three years ago, and I kept delaying putting it together because I doubted that anyone would be interested,” stated Desh Valcin, founder of Chase & Papi, the cutting edge dog-centric match corporate that produces the festival.

When Valcin in spite of everything did hang the primary festival, closing yr, in Brooklyn, it was once in an instant transparent other people had been ; the development attracted 300 packages that had been in the end narrowed all the way down to 12 contestants, in conjunction with masses of display attendees and a really perfect function unfold in The New York Times.

“It will now be our annual event,” Valcin conceded.

Talia Page and Harvey in matching PJs for the People’s Choice portion of the festival that the Facebook target market voted on reside whilst the display aired. Courtesy of Talia Page.

Unprecedented Year, Unprecedented Pageant

Because of COVID-19, this yr’s contest needed to pivot from an in-person match to a digital one who was once in the past taped. Out of the 65 entrants who implemented this yr, 12 contestants had been selected. However, 4 dropped out because of COVID-related problems, leaving 8 contestants to compete for the identify.

To be eligible, contestants will have to reside within the U.S. and be a minimum of 21 years previous. Their canines will have to be a minimum of eight months previous to verify they’re vaccinated and bonded with their human, in keeping with Samantha Mistretta, assistant festival director. Dogs will also be any breed, will have to be in excellent well being, and can’t display any competitive characteristics. All the contestants compete for his or her animal charity of selection.

Some other people will have a predisposition about pageants and the standard contestant, however Miss Dog Mom “is a unique opportunity to show that is not the case,” Mistretta stated. “Our pageant is open to women from all walks of life, and we can make it fun so that you can do it with your best friend—your dog.”

Talia Page, proper, with buddy, make-up artist, and stylist Stephanie Vazquez in face mask at a sleepover the evening sooner than filming the festival. Chris Spiegel

Pageant Material

Page grew up with a canine however had now not had one for a while. When she followed Harvey, a 2-year-old Dachshund combine, from foster group Muddy Paws Rescue, the Miss Dog Mom festival was once nowhere on her radar. In reality, she didn’t even find out about it. Since Harvey was once so new to her house, he hadn’t sniffed it out both.

A brand new process and dealing from house brought about Page to consider adopting a canine.

It was once Harvey’s smile that first grabbed Page’s consideration when she noticed his photograph. “I was like, ‘He’s my boy,’” Page stated. “I knew it and felt it in my heart. He found me. I felt this was the dog for me because we connected completely and instantly.” Not to say Harvey was once the very best “huggable” measurement for Page and her rental.

Talia Page and Harvey throughout the runway problem section of the festival. The theme was once “Quarantine Casual.” Stephanie Vazquez

A Big Deal About a Small Dog

As a self-proclaimed lady with “only-child syndrome,” to Page, the whole lot is a huge deal. “I can’t just get a dog; I have to GET a dog,” she stated, including that everybody who encounters her is aware of she has a canine.

That led a pal to ahead her the hyperlink to the Miss Dog Mom festival this previous July. “I’m also the type of person who will enter every contest and am the first person to volunteer,” Page stated. “It was right up my alley and I kind of applied as a joke, not that I thought it was a joke, but I never thought I would be considered. When they emailed me back almost immediately I was shocked. All of a sudden I wanted to be Miss Dog Mom 2020.”

Photo by way of Chris Spiegel. Makeup and styling by way of Stephanie Vazquez.

The festival administrators requested Page why she sought after to be Miss Dog Mom. Her solution: She and Harvey each have wonderful herbal eyebrows. Her reaction was once tongue-in-cheek and humorous, plus she added that she spends all her on my own time making up songs about Harvey and his wiggly butt.

After that she was once invited again for a video interview. Then every week later she won an e-mail saying she was once a finalist for Miss Dog Mom 2020.

“Oh crap, what have I gotten myself into,” she idea on the time. She won a festival guide detailing the development and what was once anticipated of her and Harvey. She wanted a night robe (which she in spite of everything borrowed from a pal), outfits for Harvey, make-up, and extra. And since Harvey could be a bit cussed, Page apprehensive that he may now not wish to stroll the runway. Thankfully, Page was once in a position to coax him with some tasty treats. “It was only a 10-foot runway at home but I figured if I’m a good sport he would be a good sport,” she stated.

Help Is at the Way

As it were given nearer to the day of the festival, Page started to understand that she wanted some lend a hand; it wasn’t going to be as simple as she idea. She enlisted her excellent buddy Stephanie Vazquez, proprietor of Beauty Schooled, to do her make-up. Chris Spiegel, Vazquez’s boyfriend and proprietor of Blur Revision Media Design, helped with pictures and lights. They run their companies out of Heatseeker Studios in Allenhurst, NJ, which is the place they taped Page’s phase of the festival.

There had been 3 classes through which the finalists competed: interview, runway problem (a theme selected by way of the festival coordinators, which was once “Quarantine Casual” this yr), and the night robe festival.

Harvey having a look dapper in his night put on. Photo by way of Chris Spiegel. Makeup and styling by way of Stephanie Vazquez.

Page idea she and Harvey would do nice. “I personally think Harvey is the cutest dog I’ve ever seen but that’s all subjective,” she stated. She considers herself a ham who doesn’t thoughts consideration. Plus she may be very actual. “If that’s not what they were looking for I would not have gotten this far. What you see is what you get. I figured they were at least interested in real contestants, and I don’t have a problem leaving an impression.”

She feels she had a bonus because of her background in public talking, a capability to assume on her feet, and since she’s all the time waiting with one thing to mention.

All For A Good Cause

Due to the digital nature of the festival, the one time Page and the opposite contestants met was once throughout a Zoom assembly get dressed practice session the Friday sooner than the development. Even although Page and the others didn’t in reality get to spend time with every different, Page loved listening to concerning the different charities concerned and why contestants had a connection to them.

Page selected Muddy Paws Rescue as her charity as a result of she followed Harvey from the gang and since of the coordinated community of strengthen and services and products it supplies adopters.

Talia Page hugging buddy and make-up artist/stylist Stephanie Vazquez after studying she gained the Miss Dog Mom festival. Photo by way of Chris Spiegel. Makeup and styling by way of Stephanie Vazquez.

Along with taking part in their festival prizes, together with a three-month provide of Jinx pet food and a photoshoot, Page and Harvey are in for a fun-packed yr of occasions to unfold the phrase on behalf of Muddy Paws Rescue. With her sash, crown, and Harvey in tow, they are going to make more than a few public appearances to get out the phrase for his or her charity.

Page says giving again to lend a hand canines will probably be simple. She feels fortunate that she followed Harvey and taken him into her lifestyles. “Dogs are like angels on earth,” she stated. “I feel that they’re pure love and that they see you not on the surface; they see your heart and that is beautiful to me.”

Photo by way of Chris Spiegel. Makeup and styling by way of Stephanie Vazquez.

“I live alone and I’m single and don’t have any family in New York City, and it’s just so comforting to have this dog in my home who loves me unconditionally,” Page stated. “He’s my partner now. He’s my buddy. We do everything together. There’s just something so magical that dogs bring to their owners.”

And in combination Page and Harvey will unfold the great phrase about Miss Dog Mom and the wonders of rescue canines.

Learn extra concerning the Miss Dog Mom Pageant at Chase & Papi and on Instagram. Follow Harvey on Instagram.

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