October 25, 2000

Pageant hopefuls showcase both beauty and brains

Seven contestants vie to wear Miss Greater Northern crown

By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
       This is not your mother's beauty pageant.
      The Miss Greater Northern Michigan pageant last Saturday was more than a beauty show and swimsuit contest. The pageant, held at St. Francis High School, allowed seven young women to showcase their brains, talent and public service, with a dollop of glamour thrown in for good measure.
      "We've got a real array of girls this year, they're all really different," said Terry Harding of Traverse City, executive director of the pageant. "They are all so talented in their own way and this program is really based on community service and volunteerism."
      Two local women were among the seven contestants: Mandy Foulon, a senior at Traverse City Central High School and Sarah Baty, a 2000 graduate of Traverse City West High School. While neither walked away with top honors - the crown went to Noddea Moore of Luzerne - both are glad they participated. Each said she gained a lot from the experience and Foulon may enter again next year. "It was a good experience, I learned a lot," said Foulon, who belted out a country tune for her talent in keeping with her aspirations to be a country star. "I was expecting everyone to look alike but there were all different looks and all different interests."
      Baty was on her second try for the title of Miss Greater Northern Michigan, entering again this year to earn money for college. Four thousand dollars in scholarship money was up for grabs Saturday evening, including a $2,500 scholarship to the winner.
      A veteran of countless performances and competitions during her illustrious high school singing career, Baty was not daunted by being on stage. Even the swimsuit portion did not faze her, though she said finding a modest one appropriate for the pageant was a challenge.
      With a bevy of gowns already in her wardrobe from past performances and an award-winning opera performance for the talent portion, Baty had a lot of fun competing. In fact, the biggest challenge turned out to be logistics. She faced a six-hour drive one way to make it to the four rehearsals, where contestants learned some group dance numbers and practiced their walking, public speaking and talent.
      "My sister was a pageant girl and I entered one a long time ago," said Baty, a freshman now studying music performance at Cleveland Institute of Music.
      "My friends at school think its funny but they're all real supportive. Actually, Miss Alaska goes to my school and we all camped out in front of the television and watched the Miss America Pageant a few weeks ago."
      Besides Baty and Foulon's singing, the talents ranged from sign language interpretation to tap dancing to a piano recital. Each contestant also had a public service platform that they work on as a volunteer. Their platforms, too, spanned a variety of interests including music education, youth volunteerism, instilling self-esteem in kids and physical fitness.
      The Miss Greater Northern Michigan is part of the Miss American program. The winner of this and approximately 30 other pageants around the state compete in the Miss Michigan pageant every June. That winner, of course, merits a trip to Atlantic City and a chance at the big crown - and big prizes, including $45,000 in scholarship money.
      "The Miss American organization is part of the largest scholarship organization in the world," Harding noted.
      Scholarships aside, pageant competitors leave the stage with some lasting changes, whether they won the crown or not.
      "From competing, I've learned people skills because you have to be able to meet people and talk to them quickly," Baty said. "It's really confidence, all about learning to present yourself confidently and get involved in the community."