Catfights vicious, petty, bickery, backstabbing competition between young women in order to fulfill their personal vanity. This is what beauty pageants are about. Not.
Despite the reputation of the productions called "beauty pageants," the reality reflects anything but self-centered indulgence. The key word in this pageant is "scholarship." It is a vehicle for young people to achieve their scholastic dreams. According to Jennifer Babin, who won the title of Miss Otero County in 1997 and went on to win the Miss New Mexico title, it is a great builder of self esteem. Babin competed in the pageant several times before she ever won.
Unlike other pageants, the Miss New Mexico contest is about more than beauty and talent, said Carol Henry, pageant executive director and second mother to all the girls.There are two keys to winning the Miss New Mexico and Miss America titles, Henry said: talent and intelligence.
"These are not dumb beauty girls that just walk across a stage; they are highly intelligent," she said. The experience the girls glean from competing will last them a lifetime, Henry said.
Besides a strong physical presentation, contestants must be up on current events, have a platform and be knowledgeable about it. They must also be able to express this knowledge directly and publicly in response to sporadic questions. With experience like that under their belts, Henry said, "These girls can do anything now."
The emphasis on intellect is evident in the scoring system, Henry said. Thirty percent of the overall scoring is based on performance during one-on-one interviews with judges, and 30 percent is based on talent.
Though a swimsuit segment is included, it only counts for 10 percent of the overall score and serves to showcase contestants' physical fitness.
The Miss America Organization is the single largest provider of scholarships to women in the world, with assistance totaling more than $45 million in 2005.
After 12 hours of hard work, lighting preparation, practice, logistics and straightening of blouses, the Flickinger Center for Performing Arts Tuesday was still full of energetic laughter, talk and hunger as 22 Miss New Mexico contestants dug in to their barbecue dinner in the lobby. Alamogordo is hosting the Miss New Mexico Scholarship Pageant for its 10th year this weekend. Official events began Thursday evening with the first half of the preliminaries. The second half takes place at 7 p.m. Friday.
On each evening, additional special guest entertainers will also grace the stage. A 13-year-old opera singer from Alamogordo and a 14-year-old dancer are a couple of them, Henry said. Also appearing will be Kellye Cash, 1987 Miss America and country singer Johnny Cash's niece. The reigning Miss New Mexico, Ane Romero, is performing all three nights before she hands off her crown.
"I'm excited for the new girl," Romero said. "It's been a very busy year." Despite traveling across the country and state all year, Romero managed to graduate from college in May with a master's degree in public affairs.
Pageant contestants are valued role models for young girls. The princess program, which began last year, has been very popular, Henry said. Each of the contestants has a little girl, between the ages of 2 and 12, to mentor through the year. They talk with their princesses, write back and forth and go to special events together.
"The program is designed to encourage the little girls to remain in school, do well at academics and better their talent," Henry said. "On Friday afternoon the princesses will have a talent show at the Flickinger with the contestants as cheerleaders."
Celebrity judges for the event include director Chris Copella and Bren Olswanger. Olswanger participated in Donald Trump's "Apprentice" last year and came in as one of the top five winners.
"We (the pageant) are thankful to be home in Alamogordo," Henry said. "The city, restaurants, hotels have gone out of their way to take care of our contestants."
The next step, Henry said, is moral support. "Please fill the Flickinger so these girls aren't playing to an empty building," she said.
Former Daily News staff writer Sharon Anderson contributed to this report.
TKPN
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