Norwich Bulletin - www.norwichbulletin.com - Norwich, Conn.:
The Miss America Pageant gets a new start beginning today. And we have a stake in it.
Fifty-two young women begin preliminary competition in Las Vegas, Nev., including Miss Connecticut -- Norwich's Dianna Baitinger. The telecast is Saturday night.
The pageant, an American tradition since 1921, has fallen on rather hard times. Network TV ratings have dropped dramatically and its longtime home, Atlantic City, N.J., withdrew its invitation. This after the pageant -- which hugged tradition through the feminist uprising of the1960s and '70s and beyond -- has tried very hard to be relevant, going so far as to make a game show part of the proceedings.
This year, despite the megawatt glitz of Las Vegas -- Mohegan Sun was once mentioned as a possible site -- Miss America is getting back to basics. Gone are the 'quiz show' and 'casual wear' elements of the judging. The Miss Congeniality award, which hasn't been a part of Miss America since 1974, is back. The swimsuit, evening wear and talent portions remain. The broadcast is now on CMT, a country music channel that has a growing viewership and likely a very strong base in America's heartland.
Despite the transition, Miss America this year still has more than $45 million available to local, state and national contestants in cash and scholarships.
The other constant is the contestants -- young women of quality and substance. Miss Connecticut is no exception.
Baitinger, a Norwich Free Academy graduate and Norwich native, is a talented and trained singer and has the dedication and love of her family. "
TKPN
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