Pageant planning commences
BY DALE ELLIS
Managing Editor 30 Jan 2003
For the first time since 1964, Miss America hopefuls can compete at the entry-level in a
pageant in Searcy, as young women from area are invited to vie for the crown of Miss
Greater Searcy.
The pageant will be a direct link to the Miss Arkansas Scholarship
pageant, the official state preliminary of the Miss America organization.
On hand to help kick off the planning for the pageant was Lauren
Davidson, Miss Arkansas 2002.
Rhonda Counts, business manager for the Miss Arkansas Pageant
explained that, unlike in years past, the Miss Arkansas and Miss America pageants have
evolved from beauty pageants into scholarship pageants, with over $5 million each year
nationally awarded in scholarships.
Counts noted that Arkansas ranks among the top 10 states in
scholarships awarded.
Davidson, an El Dorado native who now lives in Little Rock, was
chosen as Miss Arkansas in June 2002, and will surrender her crown to the next winner this
coming June.
"Just a very short couple of months away," she said.
She competed in the Miss America Pageant in September and although she
did not place, she was awarded a $5,000 scholarship for competing and also received a
preliminary swimsuit award.
"That was one of the most exciting experiences of my life,"
Davidson told The Daily Citizen. "I had always wanted to be Miss America, so
initially I was disappointed but realized I have a big job right here in Arkansas. I'm a
success regardless."
Davidson is a pre-med student who aspires to go into dentistry, said
that she initially began entering pageants for the scholarship money. The year she won the
Miss Arkansas crown was her third foray into the pageant.
She said the moment she was named Miss Arkansas, she knew her
life had changed.
"It was one of the most exciting moments of my life," she
said, "but one of the scariest too, because I knew my life was going to change
completely."
The Greater Miss Searcy Pageant is franchised by the Miss America
Pageant to Greater Searcy Pageants, Inc., which is owned by Ken and Tracie Madden,
Christine walker, and Paul Parker.
Madden, who owns Searcy Broadcasting, Inc., said that he intends for
the pageant to be a community effort, designed to bring positive attention to the area.
"We've waited since 1964 and Joan (Gipson) Cole to get this, and
there is such a huge talent pool here," Madden Said. "This area is a natural
choice for a pageant at this level and we are really excited to have gotten this here in
Searcy."
The Miss Teen Greater Searcy Pageant is open to girls aged 13-17 who
are residents of White County. The Greater Miss Searcy pageant is open to girls 17-24 who
live in White County and have at least one semester of college.
Interested persons may obtain more information by contacting Christine
Walker at 368-0095 or Tracie Madden at 268-4646.
The pageant is scheduled to be held March 22 at the Searcy High School
Auditorium.
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