CLEARFIELD – Dozens of young girls, ages 13 to 20 years old, received royal treatment during the second annual “Queen for a Day” program Thursday afternoon at the Clearfield County Fair.
Courtney Thomas, of Sigel and the 2010 Miss Pennsylvania, was newly crowned June 19. She described the pageant process to the girls in attendance.
She said potential contestants are responsible for raising at least $100 for the Children’s Miracle Network in order to compete in a “local competition.”
She said they must then win one of the local competitions, which are held across the state, in order to participate in the Miss Pennsylvania Scholarship Pageant.
Thomas said they also must raise at least $250 for the Children’s Miracle Network to compete in the state pageant. She said the Miss America organization has a “strong relationship” with the Children’s Miracle Network.
According to her, the state pageant consists of a private interview, on-stage question and swimsuit and evening gown competitions. She said the private interview, which she likened to a press conference, was her favorite phase of the competition.
“It’s your chance to meet the judges and to make that first impression,” Thomas said. She admitted her biggest fear was falling on stage during the pageant, however.
Thomas said she was very blessed to have come out on top and for the opportunity to be a part of the Miss America organization, which she explained is geared toward education. She will compete for the Miss America title Jan. 15, 2011.
She competed in the Miss Pennsylvania pageant each of the past four years. In her early experiences, she said she had no clue about the competition and stood among experienced participants.
Thomas was the first runner-up to Shannon Doyle in last year’s state competition. Shortly thereafter, she finished as the second runner-up at the Miss Philadelphia pageant.
“I was upset that I got second, but it was a very humbling experience. I’ve grown so much as a girl into a woman,” Thomas said.
Thomas later competed in and was crowned Miss Jewel of the West, a regional preliminary for the Miss Pennsylvania pageant. At the time, she didn’t have an advisor.
Thomas described it as a “last chance” competition. Because of her second place showing in Philadelphia, she pushed herself harder for her next state pageant.
“I believe it was through perseverance that I won Miss Pennsylvania. It was a prime example that when you get knocked down, you got to get back up,” she said.
Halee Kephart, 2010 Fair Queen, then offered her “biggest tip” to the program’s participants. She said it was important to “be yourself, relax and have fun.”
Last year, Kephart said she was a participant in the “Queen for a Day” festivities. She said she learned a lot about etiquette, which she was able to apply in this year’s fair queen competition.
Abby Martini of DuBois believed the program was a great opportunity for her and peers to be influenced by a queen. She said it was also cool to have her hair and make-up done so that she could “look like them.”
“It feels awesome to get that chance. It makes you feel like one (a queen),” Martini said. Victoria Garner of La Jose agreed, stating “it makes you feel like a princess, or rather a queen.”
Prior to the activities, Garner already had an interest in pageant competitions. She said the program will guide her in preparation, as she learned what to expect in “the race.”
Garner said, “Most importantly, I just want to go out and have fun – win or lose. No matter what I want to have fun. That’s the only thing that matters.”
