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Organizers of an upcoming local pageant have put out a call for entrants. The 2012 Miss Oak Leaf Festival and Miss Bridge Day Pageant will be held Saturday, Aug. 25, at 4 p.m. in Oak Hill, according to Kristi Atha-Rader, pageant director.
The pageant has a Preteen Division (ages 11-12), Teen Division (ages 13-16), Miss Division (ages 16-21), Ms. Division (age 21 and older), and Mrs. Division (age 21 and older and married). There will be a children’s pageant as well on Sunday, Aug. 26, Atha-Rader said.
The Bridge Day titles are open to statewide entries, but a change has been made this year that Oak Leaf Festival titles are open only to Fayette and surrounding counties.
Held in conjunction with the annual Oak Leaf Festival, the pageants offer one of the lowest pageant entry fees in the state, the director said.
Winners from pageants in the last few years have gone on to win the titles of Miss West Virginia International, Miss Teen West Virginia International, Mrs. West Virginia International, Mrs. West Virginia America, Miss West Virginia United States, and Today’s American Miss. Other Oak Leaf/Bridge Day pageant winners from past years have gone on to win the titles of Miss Teen WV United States, Miss West Virginia America, Miss West Virginia All American, have been top 5 placing in the Mrs. WV United States pageant, top 5 placing in the Mrs. WV America pageant, top 5 placing in the Miss WV United States pageant, and top 5 and top 15 placing in the WV Fairs and Festivals Association Pageant.
“Our track record for producing top placing contestants in other pageant systems speaks for itself,” said Atha-Rader.
“Our assistant director, Angela Pannell, and I have been involved in pageantry for many years and have each held several titles so we have a good idea of what judges and other pageants are looking for to help prepare others to compete.”
Competition divisions are 16 to 21 years (contestant may not turn 22 before Jan. 1, 2013) for the Miss Oak Leaf Festival and Miss Bridge Day competitions, 13 to 16 years for the teen division, 21 and older for the Ms. Division, and 18 or older and married for the Mrs. division. The new Preteen Division is open to ages 11-12.
Areas of competition for the pageants are:
-- Personal interview — This will be an interview offstage with a panel of experienced judges.
-- Sense of style wear — This is any outfit or dress that shows off your personal style. Many people use a nice cocktail dress for this category.
-- Evening gown — The evening gown should be something that you feel comfortable wearing and that looks great on you.
-- On-stage question — This will be the final phase of competition for the Miss, Ms., and Mrs. division. There is no on-stage question in the teen division.
Miss division queens will be awarded an official crown, a Christine Warren competition sash, a crown sash pin, a plaque, flowers provided by Bessie’s Floral, an educational scholarship, a gift basket, and entry fees/accommodations and one convention ticket to represent the festival in the 2012 WVAFF State Pageant in January at Charleston. Winners also will receive half off entry fees for the WV International Pageant in May.
Winners in the Ms., Teen, and Preteen categories will be awarded an official crown, a Christine Warren sash, a crown sash pin, a plaque, flowers compliments of Bessie’s Floral, and a gift basket. They also will receive half off entry fees for the WV International Pageant in May.
The winners in the Mrs. division will receive an official crown, Christine Warren Sash, plaque, flowers compliments of Bessie’s Floral, crown pin, and gift basket. They will also earn the right to represent her title in the Mrs. West Virginia America pageant and will receive half off entry fees for the WV International Pageant in May.
The pageant will also name runners-up, Miss Photogenic, Miss Congeniality, and Crowd Favorite in each division.
Entry fee for the pageant is $75 and entry deadline is Aug. 13.
Entry forms are available at www.missoakleaffestival.com.
The pageants will be held Saturday, Aug. 25 at 4 p.m. in Oak Hill High School Auditorium, Oak Hill.
For more information, contact Atha-Rader at 304-228-7129, e-mail KAtha17@aol.com, or visit the Web site at www.missoakleaffestival.com.
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The Oak Leaf Festival Children’s Pageant and Fayette County Princess pageant, set for Sunday, Aug. 26 at 2 p.m., is open to girls ages 0 to 10 and boys ages 0-5. Children will compete in an outfit using fall colors or a fall theme. Hair and make-up must be age-appropriate.
Entry fee is $75 and entry deadline is Aug. 21.
Entry forms for both pageants are available at www.missoakleaffestival.com.
