Miss America contestant (courtesy ammoland,com)

You may remember Theresa Vail as Miss Kansas 2013, the first Miss America contestant to display tattoos during the swimsuit competition. The comely Army vet didn’t take the title, but she made a whole lot of friends with her outspoken views on sexual harassment and unabashed love of hunting. Leave it to the Italians to realize to capitalize on the Sunflower Staters shotgun stylings. Franchi is sponsoring  Vail’s new Outdoor Channel reality show Limitless with Theresa Vail (due in 2015) and adding her to the brand’s prostaff team. “I’m beyond excited,” said Vail in a press release (after the jump). And so she should be. She’ll be winging all over the world on Franchi’s dime to shoot exotic and dangerous game with a $1k Franchi Intensity 12-gauge. Glamor. Guns. Good! . . .

PRESS RELEASE via Ammoland.com:

Franchi, a division of Benelli USA, has announced its sponsorship and endorsement deal with the former Ms. Kansas and Ms. America contestant and outdoor celebrity Theresa Vail. As part of the arrangement, Franchi will be the presenting sponsor of Vail’s new Outdoor Channel reality show “Limitless with Theresa Vail” and bring her onto the brand’s prostaff team. It’s a move calculated to show the brand’s support of young and aspiring shooters, and give the Italian shotgun maker access to a broader and more diverse set of potential buyers.

“We’re thrilled to work with Theresa—and believe that not only is she a personality, but a person who comes along once in a great while in our industry.” said Tom Kaleta, VP of marketing for Benelli USA. “She’s the right person with the right message and incredible passion for the sport—Theresa’s background and appeal lets us reach entirely new audiences while still connecting with Franchi loyalists.”

Sponsoring Vail and the new show was a natural for Franchi, said Kaleta, adding that the Limitless format and episode content was also made to order for the brand. “Theresa’s message is about breaking down stereotypes and bringing new people into the hunting lifestyle. Franchi offers beautifully designed Italian shotguns perfect for people who demand more from themselves and their equipment. That is what “Limitless” is all about.”

“Limitless with Theresa Vail” will feature Vail taking on new, extreme challenges, from terrain and weather to dangerous game. The arrangement also gives Franchi access to Vail’s insights for product development.

“She’s out there living it, in the field—turkey, upland, deer—that’s very exciting for us because Theresa is the real deal,” said Kaleta.

Vail’s celebrity as a hunter and outdoorswoman is only slightly eclipsed by her celebrity on other fronts. Former Miss Kansas, Miss America contestant, Army National Guard Sergeant, college student, avid gun and bowhunter—Vail’s “never quit” persona is at the core of the “Limitless” storyline, according to Kaleta and Outdoor Channel producers.

“I’m beyond excited,” said Vail. “Franchi is a great brand, and this show is really going to let me put their products to the test, not to mention testing myself.” Vail went on to say filming “Limitless” would be an exciting challenge in itself, since the show is focused on wild places and experiences.

“Limitless with Theresa Vail” will debut in July 2015, and Vail will be shooting the Franchi Intensity 12-gauge during show segments. In honor of the partnership, Franchi is launching a contest to win an identical Intensity shotgun—viewers can enter the contest on Franchi’s Facebook page.

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31 COMMENTS

  3. Sounds like my kind of woman: college educated, unapologetic gun enthusiast, and good looking to boot.

  4. Not a big fan of tattoos either but I love ms. Vail. And she looks good in bikini 🙂

    • She has more words in that tat than Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. But that girl in a bikini — holey moley!

  5. I had forgotten she exists. Nothing against her, I think it’s great the success she’s earned for herself. I just don’t follow the beauty contests or outdoors shows.

    As for tats, one, at most, and in a place concealed by business casual attire, is ok. Let’s you know she has a bit of the freak in her. More than one, or in very prominent places, and you’re starting to mar what was already artwork and naturally a thing of beauty.

    • She has the Serenity Prayer on her side and the Army Dental Corps insignia on her shoulder. I don’t know why she would want to tattoo the Serenity Prayer in a place where she can’t see it. As far as the Dental Corps tat is concerned, well, it’s better than “MOM” in a heart.

      Pretty girl though.

    • I don’t care for the tats either. But you never can tell who might have one–one of the prissiest (if not snobbiest)female attorneys I ever worked with had one around her ankle–hard to see through the near-opaque hose she wore. But then she wore a top and jacket once that, although not particularly revealing, managed to expose the other tat she had that spread roughly the breadth of her back above the shoulder blades. Turns out she also packed, a Beretta .32 Tomcat–told me, “I’m really quite good with it.” And I believe her.

  6. A little ink here and there doesn’t bother me. In today’s day and age so freakin what. She’s beautiful, isn’t a ditz, and shoots. What’s not to like?

    Kudos for the sponsorship. As the addage applies:
    You go girl!

  7. I hear a lot of ” … not a fan of the tatoo” comments. Some tatoos are beautiful, some are not ones you’d want to see every day, and some are cool enough to pull it off. Relax your attitudes. For instance, I prefer longer hair styles on a woman, but I’ve seen a whole lot of short-haired women I’d say ‘yes’ to anyway!

  8. Franchi knows a good thing, err lady when they see one. A great investment in her brand and their own.

    Not a fan of tats on ladies. I have seen too many then get lasers to get them off. That’s both my experience and my age talking.

  9. I wonder if Ms Vail gives one sweet rats a** what a bunch of up tight OFWGs think of her tatoos. Get a life.

    • HAHAHAHA! A guy posting from his granny’s basement is telling his elders to get a life.

      Only in America.

  13. Congrats to Ms Vail, and to Benelli for their sponsorship.
    Another great role model for the newest generation of hunters.

  17. ink or not………. attractive, shoots firearms and bow… I’d enjoy keeping her cozy nice and warm. after a day outdoors!

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