Local beauty queen, Jennifer Caudle, gets chance to host

AS AN ambassador for

the Miss America State

Titleholders Association, Jennifer Caudle, a local gal (and Daily News Sexy Single), will be emceeing the preliminary swimsuit competition at the Miss America Pageant tomorrow in Atlantic City.

Caudle is a physician, television health expert, speaker, author, cellist and former beauty queen. Originally from the Midwest, she won Miss Iowa and, in 1999, went on to compete in the Miss America pageant.

Now, Caudle is an assistant professor in the department of family medicine at the Rowan University school of Osteopathic Medicine in South Jersey.

Caudle, like many others, entered the Miss America pageant to pay for school, both undergrad and medical. (The Miss America program happens to be the world's largest scholarship organization for women.)

"I wasn't that girl. I had braces growing up. I had acne. I had a Jheri curl," she laughed.

Catch Caudle on CBS3 every two weeks talking about health news. She also has cameos on CNN and "The Dr. Oz Show."

Fox 29's Mike Jerrick walked the whole stretch of the Ben Franklin Bridge on Thursday - live - and he barely broke a sweat.

Beginning at 8 a.m., Jerrick and camera crews braved the hot morning sun as part of what the station called "Pope Walk," which was designed to see what it felt like for people who will walk from Camden to the Art Museum ahead of the pope's visit in a couple weeks to Philadelphia.

"The walk was inspirational and instructional," said Jerrick.

"It can be done and should be done if you want a once- in-a-lifetime experience. Heaven forbid you wear uncomfortable shoes, though!"

Jerrick made the trek in less than two hours - he was back in the studio by the end of the show.

Media freelancer Laura Goldman alerted me to a big event next weekend paying tribute to perhaps the greatest basketball dunker of all time.

Sixers legend Julius "Doctor J" Erving will be back in the Philly area Sept. 12 through 14 for the Julius Erving Golf Classic.

The three-day weekend will feature a basketball clinic, celebrity golf tournament and VIP ball to benefit the Salvation Army of Greater Philadelphia and Dorys Erving Fit Youth Foundation.

After a "youth basketball experience" and media interviews on Saturday, festivities will continue with the ball at the Rittenhouse Hotel (210 W. Rittenhouse Square) later that night. The event concludes with 18 holes at the Aronimink Golf Club (3600 St. Davids Road, Newtown Square), considered one of the most challenging courses in the United States.

* Jay Z daughter Blue Ivy dined at Stephen Starr's Talula's Garden (210 W. Washington Square) on Friday night. Sources say it was part of a celebration for Bey's 34th birthday and that onlookers noticed them seated on the outdoor dining terrace, chatting with co-owner Aimee Olexy.

* Simon "One Punch" Carr was with rapper Meek Mill and company at Dion Waiters' second annual "Made in Philly Suit and Tie Affair" Friday night at the Crystal Tea Room (100 E. Penn Square). Mill performed Saturday at Jay Z's Made in America festival on the Ben Franklin Parkway.