By By KEVIN SCOTT CUTLER
Lifestyles & Features Editor
Young women from Beaufort County’s three public high schools will compete later this month for the titles of Miss Beaufort County and Miss Summer Festival.
Eleven contestants will vie for the local crowns during two separate pageants held as fundraisers for the historic Turnage Theater in downtown Washington. Miss Beaufort County will be chosen from the 11 candidates April 29, and the remaining 10 young women will compete again before a separate panel of judges for the Miss Summer Festival title April 30.
Both events will be held at the Turnage, and admission is $5 per person each night; curtain time is 7 p.m.
Contestants, in order of their appearance onstage, are:
Catherine Moore, 18-year-old senior at Washington High School;
Fiona Watson, 19-year-old senior at Southside High School;
Brittany Ward, 17-year-old junior at Northside High School;
Emily Lobos, 17-year-old junior at Washington High School;
Kayla Paul, 17-year-old senior at Northside High School;
Marcrissa Carswell, 17-year-old junior at Southside High School;
Holly Davenport, 18-year-old senior at Washington High School;
Chelsea Baynor, 18-year-old senior at Washington High School;
Janel Robinson, 16-year-old junior at Southside High School;
Lonniesha Williams, 17-year-old junior at Southside High School;
Alexis Peed, 16-year-old junior at Washington High School.
The selections of Miss Beaufort County and Miss Summer Festival will not follow the guidelines of a typical “beauty contest.” Instead, contestants will be evaluated on their intelligence, poise, personality and sense of style. At no time will beauty of face and figure be considered.
Competition officially begins April 19 when the contestants meet with the first panel of judges for private interviews, during which they’ll be asked questions about their school and community involvement, hobbies, interests and achievements.
On April 29, a second panel of judges will evaluate the contestants in onstage interview, casual wear and evening gown. A third panel will award points based on the same onstage categories during the April 30 competition. The private interview scores from April 19 will be included in the selections of Miss Beaufort County and Miss Summer Festival.
The new Miss Beaufort County and Miss Summer Festival will serve as youth ambassadors throughout the area, appearing during local parades and taking part in other community activities.
The winners will receive prize packages that include college scholarships and gifts donated by local merchants. Cash donations for the scholarship fund, merchandise and gift certificates are welcome; for more information, call 252-940-4215 or send e-mails to kscutler@wdnweb.com.
Tickets for the Miss Beaufort County and Miss Summer Festival scholarship pageants will not be sold in advance. The Turnage Theater box office will sell general-admission tickets beginning at 6 p.m. April 29-30.