by McKayla Holson, Student Reporter
The Miss Northwestern 2019 journey is beginning.
On September 16, women attended an informational night for the annual Miss Northwestern pageant. At the meeting, women received information about the event, including a checklist of important dates for the competition.
The competition has gone through a few changes this year, adapting to the changes in the Miss America Organization. “Miss America 2.0” is what the organization is calling the new, revamped structure of the competition.
One of the biggest changes the competition has gone through is the removal of the swimsuit portion.
“I think a lot of people were hindered from wanting to do [the competition] just because of the swimsuit competition,” said Olivia Yandel, who serves as teen director for the organization. “There have been a few girls that have voiced that they are interested in doing it this year because they don’t have to worry about the swimsuit portion.”
Paige Fischer, executive director of the competition, said the category replacing the swimsuit portion is called “social impact.”
Yandel said the competition is becoming more of a women’s empowerment movement. Both Fischer and Yandel said that the organization has changed the way it looks for a good candidate for the job of Miss Northwestern.
“It’s not just how you look and whether or not you have a talent,” Yandel said. “[It is] more about, ‘Are you suited for this position, or suited for this job.’”
The competition will have several different parts. Candidates will have to have a private interview. They will also have to demonstrate talent, dress in evening wear, talk about social impact, and complete an on-stage interview.
“The scholarship opportunities are incredible,” Fischer said. “It would give [the candidates] the opportunity to get out of their ‘comfort zones’ and meet new people. It also gives them the opportunity to go through and interview, whereas a lot of students never really have that opportunity while they’re in college.”
Yandel said that the competition is also a good “resume-builder.”
“It just looks good that you were chosen to represent the whole university at the state level,” Yandel said.
WHY ARE WOMEN PARTICIPATING IN THE COMPETITON?
The Northwestern News spoke to some young women on campus to find out why they are looking forward to the competition.
“I think it would be good to use the communication skills I’ve already learned,” said Kenlee Netherton, a senior psychology major. “I was a salesman for a radio station, so I’ve had a lot of interaction with people. I’ve also been on two mission trips, where I’ve had to interact with people and be intentional with them. … So it’d be good to use those [skills].”
Netherton added that the program’s scholarship is a “nice touch,” and she said it would help her pay for her education. She said that being “pushed” to get involved in the Alva community – where she isn’t so well-known – would be a good thing.
“I’m mostly doing this for the scholarship, and because I have a problem with shyness,” said Samantha Mendoza, a freshman nursing major.
Mendoza said she does things like the competition to get out of her “comfort zone.”
“It gives me this rush because I get so scared,” Mendoza said. “I mostly hope this helps me with my people skills.”
“I’ve already done two other pageants,” said Italy Custard, a freshman business major. “I won Miss Fort Supply, and I was a titlist in National American Miss, so it gave me a whole bunch of confidence. Like [Mendoza] said, it gives you a lot of ‘people skills,’ and it helps me in business, so that’s why I’m doing this.”
“I’m doing it for the experience,” said Carlen Lazcano, a freshman biology major. “… I’d like to get out there.”
Lazcano said she would like to gain interview skills through this experience.
“I’m going to go for pre-med, and I have to do a bunch of interviews, so I feel like this will help me get out there to get my name heard,” Lazcano said.
FISCHER: ‘GIVE IT A SHOT’
Fischer said the experience will be exciting, and she hopes that young women on campus will take part in it.
“I would encourage anyone that has any interest to submit their information and give it a shot,” Fischer said. “It’ll be fun. … It’ll be an awesome experience while they’re here at Northwestern.”
The Miss Northwestern competition will be November 3 at 4 p.m. in Herod Hall.
If you are interested in learning more about the competition, contact Fischer at plfischer@nwosu.edu. You can also contact Yandel at oayandel@nwosu.edu.
Letters of intent are due September 25.