Jim Lindsay | Judge's Chair

​Jim Lindsay has spent the last 38 years in management positions in faith-based nonprofit organizations. Originally from Philadelphia, he has lived in the Washington, DC area for the last 44 years. He is a graduate of La Salle University in Philadelphia and earned his master's degree in theology from The Catholic University of America in DC. Jim has judged multiple local and state MAO competitions throughout the U.S. He has served as a MAO volunteer for thirty-one years and has been an active member of the Miss District of Columbia Scholarship Organization since 1998, serving as their judges’ chair for more than a dozen years. Jim spends a great deal of time each 
year recruiting Miss DC contestants, primarily from the eight universities in DC. He also is considered an unofficial historian for the Miss DC Organization, having researched and tracked down photos/stories of every Miss DC dating back to 1921 when Margaret Gorman of DC became the first Miss America. Jim has resided in Silver Spring, MD since 1997 and plans to retire next year!

Judges for the Miss District of Columbia Competition

Faren Collins

Faren Collins is known for her role as the Siren in "Tron Light Cycle Run" (Disney World film productions in Magic Kingdom) and as Crystal in "First Wives Club" on  Netflix and BET. She has been featured in numerous national and regional commercials for renowned brands for Nissan, Wayfair, and White Castle. Her pageantry credits include holding the title of Miss Southern New York in the Miss America system 2010, placing in the Top 10 and earning Miss Photogenic in the Miss New York USA pageant 2011, and being crowned as Miss Water USA in the Miss Earth system in 2011. She became a professional dancer for the NBA's Boston Celtics from 2011 to 2014. Beyond her performance talents, Faren is a watercolorist and the founder of Farever Art, 
recognized in publications such as: British Vogue, The New Yorker, The Strategist, and Elite Daily. She recently graduated from Penn State University's Smeal College of Business with an MBA and a certificate in Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship. ​

Julie Cangialosi

Julie Cangialosi is a bestselling author and the founder of the non-profit Operation Little Angel 101: Hope after Loss, created in honor of her two angels, Charlie and Lena. She holds several pageant titles and currently reigns as Mrs. Maryland America. Using her platform, she supports couples during their most challenging times, following the loss of a child. Her 501(c)3 organization has touched lives in 47 states and 12 countries. Julie has been featured on nationally syndicated talk shows and contributes regularly to the Today Show Parenting Team. When not advocating for her causes, Julie enjoys traveling the world with her family, exploring local museums, and rooting for the Washington Capitals!

Allen Gutierrez

Allen Gutierrez is the founder of The MCA Group based out of Maryland with emphasis on Federal and private sector procurement, federal compliance, project management oversight, and multicultural marketing. He is a recognized national leader that has helped countless entrepreneurs on how to start, grow and expand their business. On his spare time Mr. Gutierrez
is the analyst for the official Spanish Radio Broadcasting crew for the Baltimore Ravens. Born in San Jose, Costa Rica, Mr. Gutierrez immigrated to California in 1974, where he achieved his dream of becoming the first member of his family to graduate 

Nile Gardiner

Nile Gardiner is Director of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom at The Heritage Foundation. Before joining Heritage, Dr. Gardiner served as a foreign policy aide to Lady Thatcher in her private office in London, assisting her with her final book, Statecraft: Strategies for a Changing World and advising her on a number of international issues.
Dr. Gardiner is a prominent expert on US-British relations, US foreign policy, and the transatlantic alliance, and received his M.A., M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees in History from Yale University, and B.A. and M.A. in Modern History from Oxford University. He has 
testified several times before the United States Congress on foreign policy issues, and served as a foreign policy advisor to three US presidential candidates. Gardiner has provided analysis of global events for US and international television networks including Fox News Channel, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, Fox Business Network, BBC, GB News and Sky News. He is a regular contributor to The London Telegraph and his writing has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Times of London, The London Sunday Times, The Daily Mail, USA Today, The New York Times Room for Debate, The Washington Times, National Review and The Boston Globe.

​Shayna Rudd-Winters

Shayna Rudd-Winters was Miss DC 2007 and Shayna competed in Miss America 2008. She served as a Special Education English Teacher for the Teach for America Corporation. Shayna then went on to grow The LadyDiva Corporation (Now known as The Legendary Girl Foundation), a program for girls that empowered them through mentorship, conferences, and social emotional education. Shayna went on to author two books for girls and women: Lady Lesson and Sound RED Volume 1. Shayna currently serves as the Artistic Director of the Legends Academy- a counseling and performing arts school for girls and 
women. She is a sought-after speaker, counselor, consultant and performer. As a performer, Shayna has written productions for JJsmith, The Mastery Charter Organization, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated and Villanova University to name a few. Shayna completed her Masters in Mental Health Counseling from The University of Pennsylvania in May of 2018 and is now a full-time therapist at The Legends House Counseling Center.

Pari Livermore

For the past 40 years, Pari Livermore has enjoyed pairing her matchmaking prowess with fundraising for many worthy non-profits. She does not receive a penny for any of the work she does. Instead, she asks her clients to donate to her favorite non-profit organizations. Silicon Valley matchmaker Pari Livermore has also founded, organized and produced such matchmaking/fundraising events as the Mentor’s Lunch, the Red and White Ball, Fall Fair and the Points of Light Celebration. Pari Livermore also hosted the award-winning, weekly cable television show, Everybody’s Angels. The show focused on extraordinary people who volunteer and go beyond the norms of society in helping others.

Yolanda Stennett

Yolanda Stennett was first female in-stadium co-host for the Washington Nationals and has been featured by J.Crew, Eddie Bauer, Macy’s, GAP, MTV, CBS, WE: Women’s Entertainment and TLC. 

Yolanda has over 30 years of experience in the pageant industry as a coach, contestant, state and national director.  Most recently, Yolanda was crowned Mrs. International 2021 and she has held 4 other national titles including Ms. Latina Universal 2007, Mrs. Earth 2008, Ms. Belleza Latina 2009, and Ms. Galaxy 
2011.  Additionally, Yolanda served as Mrs. Maryland America 2018 and placed in the top 12 at the 2018 Mrs. America pageant. She is an alumnus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Maryland and is a firm believer in the importance of STEM education for young women.  Yolanda is a telecommunications project manager and also serves as the Head Cheerleading coach at Coppin State University in Baltimore, Maryland.