The Miss Rogue Valley pageant is not about the crown. It's about the scholarship money.
At least that's what Shannon Gerten, stage manager and member of the Miss Rogue Valley Scholarship Pageant program board of directors, has been trying to convey since preparations started last October.
The 45th annual Miss Rogue Valley Scholarship Pageant begins at 7 tonight at the Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater, giving 10 local young women a chance to compete for more than $1,000 in scholarship money.
Gerten said she has had a hard time trying to show business owners that the program is more than just a beauty contest.
"We've run into a brick wall in the community," said Gerten. "What people don't see is that yes, the girls are beautiful, but they are intelligent also. The swimsuit competition is not what it's about."
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"It's a commitment to yourself to be healthy and fit," Gerten said.
But this has proved to be a hard stereotype to shake. Recently, the Miss America Pageant has been marketed as a beauty contest, rather than the scholarship program the show prided itself on years earlier.
"America as a whole sees the pageant as it is portrayed on TV," said Gerten.
Adding to the new look of the Miss America pageant, a reality TV special "Pageant School: Becoming Miss America" aired prior to the finale. The show allowed viewers to follow contestants and hear beauty tips by former winners.
Considering that the 2007 Miss Rogue Valley will go on to compete for the Miss Oregon title, where the winner receives a spot in the Miss America pageant, it has been hard to demonstrate the local program is nothing like its predecessor on TV.
Scholarships are given to the winner, first and second runners-up, the two people who performed best in the talent and interview portions, and to the contestant who showed the most improvement throughout the program.
Each applicant must be female and a local high school senior or college student. All compete in interview, evening gown, swimsuit and talent areas.
"The interview primarily dominates the judging," said Gerten. In fact, it is the most highly valued category at the local competition.
"The ladies need to be well-spoken and well-versed on current events. They need to be knowledgeable and able to promote their opinions," said Gerten.
Heather Black is a Southern Oregon University student and intern at the Mail Tribune.
This year's candidates are:
- Amanda Thomas, 20, graduate of South Medford High School, currently attending Rogue Community College.
- Anika Keller, 17, currently attending North Medford High School, plans to attend California State University, Fullerton.
- Brianna Houck, 17, currently attending North Medford plans to attend Yale University.
- Brittany Laucis, 21, graduate of Decatur High School in Federal Way, Wash., currently attending RCC.
- Cassandra Tolman, 22, graduate of Phoenix High School, currently attending Southern Oregon University.
- Danielle Feldman, 18, currently attending North Medford, college plans are undecided.
- Esmeralda Quirarte, 18, currently attending South Medford, plans to attend Dominican University.
- Jessica Ville, 21, graduate of Grants Pass High School, currently attending SOU.
- Melissa Thompson, 20, graduate of South Medford, currently attending RCC.
- Sarah Adams, 18, currently attending South Medford, plans to attend Brigham Young University.
Heather Black is a Southern Oregon University student and intern at the Mail Tribune.
