Reposted from SeaCoast.com
There's a lot at stake: money, gifts and prestige. Competition is stiff. Competitors serious. Pageants — beauty or scholarship — are big biz.
Here's Pageant 101 for the uninitiated. These competitions are run by companies each running its own system. Two examples are Miss America and Miss Universe. Each system generally holds pageants for various age brackets; some starting at toddler and running through senior. Like any business there are smaller ones, including one-off independents, in addition to regional, state and national companies.
Larger systems run numerous pageants that qualify winners for the next level competition, generally town/local event, to state, to national. A few go international.
When surfing the Web for New Hampshire pageants, numerous pages pop up. Some you've never heard of unless you're involved. The variety and value varies broadly.
Prizes vary widely as well. The sash and crown are all some get (the best being a full circle rather than tiara headpiece, as a few mention). Some include gift certificates, meals and travel, and cash or scholarship money; the latter two bring up a key difference in systems. There are competitions unabashedly beauty pageants, others titled scholarship systems.
Two large organizations from differing systems are Miss USA, beauty, and Miss America, scholarship. For beauty, looks can get you in. With the scholarship systems you have to prove intent/enrollment in a school and usually participate in community service; cash won is paid directly to the school.
Lark Anton at the Miss Universe Organization headquarters in NYC says that her system holds three key competitions: Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA.
"Here, unlike the Miss America system, we do not shy away from the fact we are a beauty pageant. We embrace beauty," she says. "We like to say ... Miss America is the girl next door. Miss USA is the girl you wish lived next door."
Miss USA is a complete and modern woman, she continues. "We had Tara Connor who went to rehab. No one is perfect. We don't expect our girls to be perfect. We embrace that each young lady is unique with different aspirations," says Anton. "We help them focus on and follow their dreams."
Vicki Avery is Miss Stratham Fair Scholarship program director for the second year running. The pageant is one of 23 local qualifiers for the Miss New Hampshire MAO.
Seventy to 80 women compete in the fee-free event "with an emphasis on scholarship," Avery says.
The competition consists of four components. The first is talent; a two minute performance of choice. "Last year's winner did slam poetry," she says. There is an evening wear component and "lifestyle and fitness" — that would be swimsuits.
Don't bathing suits indicate an element of beauty to this pageant? "Yes. ... But we get all different body types," she says. "A Miss New Hampshire qualifier is different than some of the Miss Universe. ... And the philosophy that the organization puts forth sets it apart ... community first. Of the four components you see three on stage. But the most compelling one happens during the day, an interview alone in the room with judges. ... They're asked about politics, international and national affair," she says. "Once crowned her year of service is not riding in parades — though she may do that — but promoting her platform in the community."
"After working with these young women for two years, my whole opinion of the program is that it's something I want to support," says Avery. "It's a really positive program."
Brenda Keith-Derry, is state president of the New Hampshire chapter of Miss America. Locally it sponsors Miss Stratham Fair, Miss Strafford County; Miss University; Miss Rockingham County, and Miss Kingston/Seacoast. This year there will be 25 N.H. titles, up from 16 in 2005. Fifty-eight girls currently compete across 22 pageants, many in more than one event.
And biz is booming. To date 55 girls have signed on, "and we're at only half our programs so far," says Keith.
N.H.'s Miss America system ranks in the top 10 nationally for money distributed to participants "that's not per capita, it's dollar for dollar," she says. No one participating left the Miss N.H. finals with less than $2,000. The winner walked away with $15,000 in scholarship money. The state total was $160,000 — plus perks.
Ashley Schoonmaker, Portsmouth, has competed in four systems, 10 competitions. She is currently in America's National Teenager Scholarships Organization system (ANTSO) and is its current Miss New Hampshire ANTSO National Miss. Schoonmaker's first pageant was at age 3. "It was one where I wore a party dress and mom held my hand and walked me across the stage." After years hiatus she won New Hampshire Pre-teen Petite. Schoonmaker says she's acquired skills competing such as poise and public speaking. Another benefit is gaining a platform to address and educate on Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, her chosen cause.
As for the pageant culture, "I really haven't found ... a lot of cut-throat, win-at-all cost girls. It's been some of the best experiences in my life."
A rule of most systems is you can compete within one if you are a current title holder in another. Some titles don't interfere; example, Miss Seabrook.
It's an independent; residents only. "Some girls come back year after year," says Nancy Crossland, who chairs with Phila Sturgis. "It's not a competition-based thing, but a fun thing to do. All the contestants get prizes even if they don't win. The Queen walks with $250 cash, $500 savings bond, the crown, dinners, merchandise and gift certificates."
Stephanie Lussier has run the Hampton Beach Beauty Pageant for 12 years. She's competed in 40 or so pageants over 20 years and held a number of titles including Miss Hampton. She was also runner up in Miss N.H. Miss USA. "I don't like to think about it. I was too mad," says Lussier. "It's no different than guys who want to win a Super Bowl; a girl wants to probably win her state title." Lussier started competing at 11.
"I graduated from N.H. College my last semester owing only $950. I went to college debt free ... a lot of the money from pageants."
As for the stories about pageant rivalries, she says, "No one is going to admit to it, but I'll tell you I get along with the girls I contended with NOW, but not always when competing. It's not that we didn't like each other, we were on our guard," she says. Some would even try to "psych you out," by mildly implying flaws.
"Some of these women are my best friends today. Bottom line, it's our own little sorority," says Lussier. "I do this because every year I give some young lady the same opportunity I had."
Pearl Hartt-Wilbur, 87, of Hampton, entered her first and last pageant three years ago. "I would not have done it if it had not been a friend. She was bound and determined I was going to be in that pageant. So I thought what the heck," says Hartt-Wilbur. She took home the Ms. New Hampshire Senior America's Ms. Congeniality award.
But once was enough; "too many rules!" she says. "For instance, they ... measure the evening gown to the ankles; they have to be just so long. Honestly!" says Hartt-Wilbur. "I'm glad I did it — but I didn't like the rules. Those rules made it scary. I remember lining up behind back stage to get ready to go out. ... You would have to go JUST so fast, and be in just a certain place. You had to walk pretty fast too. You had all these things on your mind. I tell you! And that's why it was scary, I suppose. Anyway, I'm delighted I had the experience. But once is enough."
