Looking for local talent: Pageant seeks homegrown contestant to represent area

By Nick Malawskey, Sentinel reporter, nmalawskey@lewistownsentinel.com

LEWISTOWN — Polish up those tap shoes ladies — the Miss Pennsylvania Pageant is looking for some local talent.

Unlike the past several years, where the Miss Central Pennsylvania Pageant has been open to any and all callers who reside in the state, this year organizers are hoping to crown a local woman to represent the region at the Miss Pennsylvania Pageant next year.

As in every year, the local pageant, scheduled for Nov. 17 at Lewistown Area High School, will crown two winners, Miss Central Pennsylvania and Miss Greater Juniata Valley.

This year, however, if six or more women from Mifflin, Juniata, Snyder, Centre or Huntingdon counties enter the competition, they will be the only contestants eligible to win the Miss Greater Juniata Valley crown.

Those local contestants also will be eligible for the Miss Central Pennsylvania crown, which means two local women could be crowned at the competition.

The “miss” competitions are held concurrently to the outstanding teen competitions, which may be expanded this year from awarding one title, Miss Central Pennsylvania Outstanding Teen, to including a second title, Miss Greater Juniata Valley Outstanding Teen.

If there are sufficient numbers in the teen competition, the Juniata Valley Outstanding Teen title also will be awarded locally.

Last year’s Miss Central Pennsylvania Outstanding Teen, Elena LaQuatra, went on to win the title of Miss Pennsylvania Outstanding Teen and was named second runner up on the national level in Florida.

In total, LaQuatra was awarded more than $15,000 in scholarships.

The entry deadline for both the miss and the teen competitions is Oct. 15. More information is available online at http://www.misscentralpa.org/ or by calling Miss Central Pennsylvania Scholarship Organization Executive Director John Metzger at 248-5576.

Section: News    Posted: 9/13/2007