No one said it was going to be easy. But Miss Colorado USA, Blair Griffith, is traveling a long road to the Miss USA Pageant in Las Vegas on June 19.
First Blair and her mom were evicted from their home in October. She says she is “technically homeless,” although a friend has taken them in. She went on to win the Miss Colorado USA pageant in November.
9News’ TaRhonda Thomas picked up the story of the “homeless beauty queen,” which “Today” then picked up. The story went viral.
Now Griffith is facing even more hurdles. She’s about to lose her job at Saks, which is closing this weekend.
And last week, she herniated a disc in her back while moving a suitcase. She went down like a rock and landed in the hospital for two nights. The docs are going to try some epidural shots so she can at least walk at the pageant.
“This is the most pain I have ever experienced,” she says. “But I am dedicated to competing in Miss USA.”
I asked her whether she was getting some grief about the “homeless” claim. She’s not exactly shacking up at the Delores Project.
“Yes, I have heard that,” she says. “I am blessed in my situation that I have friends who let me into their home. If not for them, I would be in a car or a shelter. I don’t know how else to classify myself except to say I am homeless. I know there are people who are 10 times worse off than me. But that doesn’t make it any less hurtful that my home isn’t mine any more.”
Sly about town
Sly Stallone and his family made a splash wherever they went in Denver over the weekend. The actor was in town to watch his teenage daughter play in the Crossroads Volleyball Tournament.
He stayed at the Four Seasons, where staffers were making a promotional video Sunday morning about the bar/restaurant Edge. Stallone took time to chat with the already excited models. The family even stopped in Sam’s No. 3 diner near the hotel.
Pig-out
The Cochon 555 oinks into the Ritz-Carlton Denver on April 3 in a salute to the pig. Five of Colorado’s best chefs take part: Alex Seidel of Fruition, Kelly Liken of Restaurant Kelly Liken, Frank Bonanno of Luca D’Italia and other eateries, Lachlan Mackinnon of Frasca Food and Wine, and Jennifer Jasinski of Rioja. Each chef prepares a dish from one 175-pound pig. Twenty judges will pick the “Prince or Princess of Porc” after guests wander through the multiple tastings paired with wine. This pig-out squeaks at 10 cities — the winners all go the the finale, the Grand Cochon at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen in June. Tix at .
City spirit
The place to be on St. Patrick’s Day is Cigars on Sixth, where Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald will be Lord of the Dance with a bunch of Irish dancers and bagpipers starting at 4 p.m. “I might sing,” he says. “I’d rather sing than eat, but people would rather hear me eat.” . . . Sez who: “Manly, yes, but I like it too.” Irish Spring soap commercial
Bill Husted’s column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Friday. You can reach him at 303-954-1486 or at bhusted@denverpost.com. Take a peek at Husted’s next column at blogs .
