Winthrop gals win trip, see the stars

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

WINTHROP -- Lois Majewski got the thrill of her life last weekend when she and her 17-year-old granddaughter Jillian attended the MTV Video Music Awards in Miami.

After winning the national MasterCuts Sweepstakes all-expense-paid trip, the pair were toe-to-toe with 20,000 spectators at American Airlines Arena Aug. 29.

The Winthrop women battled leathery geezers, anorexic hipsters and Scarface-like (remember the movie?) druglords to see the likes of Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Lopez, Lenny Kravitz, Stevie Wonder, Usher and OutKast and other A-listers.

The stars came out in their yachts, speedboats, airboats and limos and walked on red carpet to the show, below the seats of the Winthrop winners.

Lois who works at a nursing home, was still excited when she and her granddaughter came to The Journal Friday to tell their story.

"It was breathtaking. There were television cameras everywhere," Lois said. "You just never think somebody from a small town would win this. Everybody told me I'd hate it, but it was fun to see all the changing stagework. It was a once-in-a-lifetime treasure to do this with my granddaughter."

This year, the awards were more about musical surprises and politics than sexy scandals. Still, it seemed style beat substance much of the time.

A common theme throughout the show was to vote this fall.

Some spectators booed when Vanessa Kerry tried to turn her time in the limelight into a political commercial her father. Alexandra Kerry and the Bush twins were neutral in their voting messages.

While OutKast won four awards including the Video of the Year, Usher was grandma's favorite. Jillian enjoyed Terror Squad the most.

The Winthrop gals enjoyed seeing the U.S. Olympic gold medal winning beach volleyball players and gymnasts and strolled South Beach before flying from the two-night, three-day trip.