Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
On Feb. 9, 2013, the HUB TV Network held an invite-only “My Little Pony Friendship is Magic Coronation Concert” hosted by our gorgeous, newly-crowned 2013 Miss America, Mallory Hagan. We got a special treat she was joined by Olympic Gold- and Silver Medalist Carmelita Jeter (London 2012). This pageantry of celebrities, ponies, Olympiads, a magical princess, and a musical extravaganza took place at the Brentwood Theatre in West Los Angeles, Calif. The red carpet was also packed with some of Tinseltown’s finest, including Oscar-winner Halle Berry (Monster’s Ball) and her daughter, Nahla Ariela, as well as Jason Priestley (“Beverly Hills 90210,” Haven) and son, Chloe Noelle (“True Blood”) and Aubrey Anderson-Emmons (Lily from “Modern Family”)and Layla Crawford (Olivia from “The First Family”).
The Hub’s President and CEO Margaret Loesch flanked by Olympic Gold Medalist Carmelita Jeter and Miss America 2013 Mallory Hagan. (Photo credit is: Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
I spoke briefly with Crawford, the charming 8-year-old from CW/KCAL-9’s “First Family.” When asked about her experience on the show thus far, she had this to say.
“It’s really fun. You work with so many people, and they become family,” Crawford said. She also simultaneously reoccurs on “NCIS-LA” portraying Sam, LL Cool J’s daughter, and in “The New Normal” as the Young Rocky, where NeNe Leakes is the older actor in the role.
The Coronation Concert jumpstarts the celebration of the highly-anticipated episode, My Little Pony Friendship is Magic, which premieres Saturday, Feb. 16, (10:30 a.m. ET), where Twilight Sparkle becomes a princess! Produced by Hasbro Studios, the HUB TV is featuring exclusive events celebrating Twilight Sparkle’s coronations, including a nine-episode My Little Pony Princess Coronation Marathon on Saturday, Feb. 16, from (6-10:30 a.m. ET), tracing the pony’s steps leading up to becoming a princess.
“Twilight Sparkle is a good story because she represents the magic of friendship,”says Tara Strong, the voice of Twilight Sparkle.
In My Little Pony Friendship is Magic, Twilight Sparkle and her five pony friends are on a quest to learn about the power of friendship! The young ponies get into a little bit of trouble, and must find out the meaning of trust and friendship. During the special coronation episode of Magical Mystery Cure, Twilight Sparkle mistakenly casts a spell that changes the Cutie Marks, as well as the future of her friends. This resourceful pony has no choice but to create her own magic in order to reverse the spell – an accomplishment that will help the great leader ultimately emerge as a princess!
I thoroughly enjoyed myself at “My Little Pony Friendship is Magic Coronation Concert” for several reasons. First off, this event included an interactive, sing-along screening hosted by our 2013 Miss America Mallory Hagan. Originally from Brooklyn, NY, Hagan was crowned in Las Vegas on Jan. 12,2013, and I asked what advice she could offer to other girls aspiring to become future Miss Americas:
“Be yourself! Be the best version of yourself that you can be: because who you are, is always enough,” advises 2013 Miss America Mallory Hagan.
Upon entering the theater, everyone was given goodie bags, which had tiaras, wands, bubbles, confetti, and noise makers. The audience was “bubbly” with excitement before the movie began.
Next, the “World’s Fastest Woman,” Carmelita Jeter took the stage. She delivered a motivational message about not giving up, while comparing her Olympic struggles to Twilight Sparkle’squest to become a princess.
“When I first tried out for the 2008 Summer Olympics, I didn’t make the team, despite being one
of the fastest women in the world. But, I kept practicing, I changed my routine. And, I finally made it in 2012 for the London games. And, like Twilight Sparkle, if you stay persistent you can also earn your wings and become a princess,” said 2012 Olympiad Carmelita Jeter. She won Gold in the 4×100 relay, Silver in the 100m and Bronze in the 200m races at the 2012 London Olympics.
A wonderful surprise for this three-act concert was the magical entertainment provided by USC’s SoCal VoCals, an award-winning mixed a cappella ensemble. Along with SoCal VoCals performing between the three acts, there was also the pageantry princesses and prince, who performed a number of the “My Little Pony” songs from the series. During the course of the sing-a-long movie, instructions were given when to use certain items. By the end of Act 1, everyone was on their feet, singing and dancing, using their wands, bubbles and noise makers provided in the goodie bags by HUB TV! Most of all, Twilight Sparkle had new friends in the theatre chanting for her success!
After the Coronation Concert, I spoke briefly with Tara Strong, the voice of Twilight Sparkle regarding her thoughts on what the princess pony represents to children.
“Twilight Sparkle is the leader of the group. Twilight Sparkle is a good story because she represents the magic of friendship! Like all good leaders, Twilight Sparkle is responsible, keeps her head together during times of crisis, and really tries to help her friends when they’re in trouble , said Tara Strong, the voice of Twilight Sparkle. She added, “And, she knows how to keep her head together during a crisis. That’s what good leaders do!”
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