Looking to impress

By Maranda Snyder, Sentinel reporter, msnyder@lewistownsentinel.com

Photo submitted by JOHN METZGAR Miss Pennsylvania Outstanding Teen America Elena LaQuatra, white dress, stands with current Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Maria DeSantis after winning the evening wear preliminary competition Tuesday in Orlando, Fla. The finals will take place today with 10 competitors taking part in all on-stage phases of the pageant.

ORLANDO, Fla. — At the end of the day today, someone will be crowned Miss America’s Outstanding Teen — and a representative from the Juniata Valley hopes that someone is her.

Elena LaQuatra, winner of Miss Central Pennsylvania Outstanding Teen and Miss Pennsylvania Outstanding Teen, will take part in the third edition of the national competition today.

LaQuatra is the first Central Pennsylvania pageant winner ever to compete in the national event, which is being held at the Linda Chapin Theatre in Orlando. The overall winner will be crowned by Miss America Lauren Nelson.

Preliminary competitions in evening wear, active wear and talent were held earlier this week. LaQuatra won the evening wear preliminary on Tuesday. Additional preliminary winners were selected Wednesday and Thursday.

“I was so thrilled. I didn’t expect it because everyone looked so pretty. They looked like princesses. I had no idea I was going to win. I was very happy,” LaQuatra said.

LaQuatra said she was pleased with her performance in the preliminaries. She said she’s ready to compete and she doesn’t think she could be more prepared.

John Metzgar, executive director for Miss Central Pennsylvania Outstanding Teen, said LaQuatra did a wonderful job in the preliminaries and he’s hoping she makes the top 10 in the national competition.

Metzgar said LaQuatra performed a tap dance to the tune “You Can’t Stop the Beat” from the musical “Hairspray.” He said it was one of the best tap performances that he’s ever seen and he thinks the judge gave her high scores in the preliminary competitions.

LaQuatra has spent this past week in Florida preparing and she said the most exciting thing has been meeting all of the girls.

“They’re all so amazing and accomplished,” she said.

LaQuatra said this competition has taught her how to be flexible. She said she had to get used to getting dressed and being prepared very quickly. She said sometimes the contestants are only given a 15-minute notice before they have to be dressed and ready to go.

Today’s competition will consist of an on-stage show with the top 10 finalists. They will be scored on talent, evening wear, interview, scholastic achievement, active wear and their response to an on-stage question.

LaQuatra said winning this competition will be no easy task for her or any of the other contestants.

“(Winning) is going to be difficult because everyone is so accomplished. We’re all top 10 material. There’s no way to predict who’s going to win,” she said.

“The best thing I can do is get a lot of sleep and just go out there and have fun,” LaQuatra added.

Section: News    Posted: 8/11/2007