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Three young Calvert ladies to compete in Md. Junior Miss competition
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
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From left, Patuxent High School's Junior Miss Michelle Denny, Calvert County's Junior Miss Ariana Ramos and Southern Maryland's Junior Miss Briana Butler.
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Three Calvert County rising seniors may be making room for a tiara on their head this weekend when they compete in the Maryland's Junior Miss Scholarship Program, to be held Saturday at 7 p.m. at Carroll County Community College in Westminster.
Southern Maryland Junior Miss Scholarship Program Chairperson Shannon Weimert explained that the program was brought back to Southern Maryland last year for the first time in 14 years. She said it was held April 25 by the Greater Waldorf Jaycees.
"The Greater Waldorf Jaycees is so much about helping out the community in anyway possible … [including] the young people in the community. It's not just about adults and the junior miss contest is just another way to do that," said Weimert, adding "a number of our committee members were in the pageant ourselves when we were younger and we loved it."
She explained that the program was advertised in high schools to any female rising senior with at least a 3.3 grade point average and U.S. citizenship. Weimert said that candidates will be judged based on scholastics; an interview; a talent portion; physical fitness; and self expression.
Calvert County's Junior Miss, Ariana Ramos of Huntingtown, said that she is most looking forward to doing a modern and lyrical dance for the talent contest but is least excited for the physical fitness routine.
"It's jazzercise and it makes me jiggle," Ramos, 17, said with a laugh, continuing that the physical fitness routine "needs to be serious enough that you can pull if off but I can't do it without laughing so that's a problem."
The Huntingtown High School student said that being in this type of event was not the type of endeavor she used to imagine herself being a part of.
"The word pageant scares me because I'm more tomboy than girly girl, but this has taught me that titles aren't everything and you should really look at things before you judge them," Ramos said.
Michelle Denny, who is representing Patuxent High School in the competition, said being a part of this competition does satisfy a long-term goal.
"I've always kind of wanted to be in a pageant-esque program and the fact that it's a scholarship opportunity is a good thing," said Denny, 17, who said she learned of the program through a school guidance counselor.
The Lusby resident said that she will be playing violin for her talent and is a little "antsy" about the interview portion.
"I'm really excited … I want to do well but if I don't it'll just be a fun ride regardless of how it turns out," Denny said.
Southern Maryland's Junior Miss, Briana Butler of Chesapeake Beach, said that she has had to do a bit of research for the self expression portion of the contest in which contestants are asked a question about current events.
"I'm trying to keep up. I watch the news, I watch CNN to try to prepare for it because they can throw you a curveball," said Butler, 16, who explained that there is one question that she hopes not to receive.
"I would hope they wouldn't ask about the war in Iraq because it's so controversial … it's not really hot or cold; there are so many mediums in that question," said Butler, a Huntingtown High School rising senior who will be doing a jazz dance for the talent portion.
She said that while this is her first pageant experience, she has a great support system of her friends and family.
"They're all really rooting for me and I'm grateful and excited for that," she said.
According to a press release, the winner of the state program will go to Mobile, Ala., in June 2010 to represent Maryland at the American Junior Miss national finals. All State Junior Misses will compete for a share of at least $150,000 in cash scholarships.
