File photo
Pictured is the 2011’s reigning Sternwheel Regatta Queen Kiona Norvell, right, following last year’s pageants being crowned by 2010 Sternwheel Regatta Queen Devin Cottrill, left. Norvell will soon pass that title on to another contestant and name her the 2012 Sternwheel Regatta Queen.
POINT PLEASANT — Several young women will be competing for four titles in the series of beauty pageants coming up during the Point Pleasant Sternwheel Regatta.
Pageant Director Jessica Willet stated there were at least 20 young women competing over all four pageants. The four pageants include the Regatta Queen Pageant, the Regatta Teen Pageant, the Regatta River Princess Pageant and the Regatta Maritime Pageant. The Regatta Queen Pageant and the Regatta Teen Pageant will take place at 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 28, in the Trinity United Methodist Church New Gymnasium. At 5 p.m. on Friday, June 29, the Regatta River Princess Pageant and the Regatta Maritime Pageant will take place at the same location.
The age groups for the four pageants include the following: Queen Pageant, 16-21; Teen Pageant, 13-15; River Princess Pageant, 10-12; and Maritime Pageant, 7-9.
Willet stated this was only the second year of having the Teen and the Maritime pageants, and the number of participants for those two has grown since last year.
“We’re really excited about that,” Willet said about the growing numbers.
The Queen and Teen competitions will consist of an business like interview, and during the pageant will consist of streetwear and evening gown portions and a public interview. The River Princess and Maritime pageants will consist of casual wear and party wear portions and a public interview. Queen and Teen contestants will be asked a question based off of their bio sheet, and how the topic applies to life. The River Princess contestants will be asked a question from the emcee, and the Maritime contestants will discuss what they want to be when they grow up.
Contestants winning in their respective pageants will receive a cash prize along with a tiara and a sash. In addition to the crowned winners, there will also be a Miss Photogenic named in every pageant, as well as a Miss Congeniality in the Queen and Teen pageants. All of the winners will also receive a plaque and the runner-ups in the older pageants will receive plaques and the younger runner-ups will receive trophies.
Just like any other competition, there are guidelines for the participants. The candidates for the Queen pageant require the young women to be between the ages of 16 and 21. Contestants also must have never been married, divorced, or had a marriage annulled, must have never borne a child, been pregnant, or become pregnant during reign. They must also be a current resident of Mason County. If they are currently a college student, they must have graduated from a Mason County High School, and the queen must take part in all the events of the pageant and the festival. The only requirement listed for the remaining three pageants is the contestant must be a current resident of Mason County.
Willet wished to acknowledge last year’s queens, and stated she is looking forward to this year’s pageants.
“We’re just excited to see who comes in and represents us this year,” Willet said.
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