Miss Cache Valley hopefuls prepare
Since February, 10 contestants have been rehearsing for the upcoming Miss Cache Valley Scholarship Program. On Saturday at the Ellen Eccles Theatre only one will advance to the Miss Utah Pageant, the last step before the Miss America Pageant.
Many people seem to think of pageants as a beauty contests, said Debbie Peterson, co-director of the program. However, only 10 percent of scoring during the program is devoted to physical fitness, in which the contestant sports a one-piece bathing suit. This portion of the contest is done in private, Peterson said.
She said in the swimsuit competition, judges are looking for poise and confidence in the contestants.
Jim Reese, who is directing the program for the eighth consecutive year, said there are no favorites among the girls.
“We don’t care who wins,” Reese said. “We care that who wins represents our valley in a way everyone can be happy. They are all talented. They all shine.”
Peterson said the program entails a full day of activities for the girls.
At 9 a.m. there is a brunch for all the contestants and their families at the Coppermill Restaurant.
At 1 p.m. the interview portion of the contest begins. Of the total score, 40 percent is dedicated to the interview. The interview is followed by the physical fitness portion of the program.
At 7:30 p.m. the public portion of the program begins in which the contestants, who have been rehearsing in workshops on Saturdays, perform a dance number together. The dance number will be followed by the talent competition which accounts for 30 percent of the contestants’ score. Following the talent portion, the evening wear exhibition will take place, in which counts for 10 percent of total points of their score.
Finally, each candidate will be interviewed on stage about her platform and current events. This concluding interview is worth 10 percent of the total score.
“Most of the talents are vocal or dance,” Peterson said. “We usually don’t have so many dancers.”
Peterson said volunteering as co-director for the program is a year-round job. After the contest is over, the program’s eight-person committee will still help reigning Miss Cache Valley, Sharalyn Hartwell, continue to prepare for the Miss Utah Pageant in June.
Peterson said the duties of Miss Cache Valley include creating awareness for her platform, which each contestant is required to have. Platforms this year range from increasing awareness of flag etiquette to rape awareness and prevention on college campuses. Miss Cache Valley also has a duty to perform community service, ride in parades, help choose winning cars at the Cache Valley Cruise-in during the summer and hosts the Fourth of July celebration at Romney Stadium.
Peterson said upon completion of her reign and fulfilling the aforementioned duties, Miss Cache Valley receives a $1,000 tuition waiver from Utah State University.
Of this year’s contestants, nine are USU students. One is a senior at Sky View High School.
Miss Cache Valley also receives a pearl necklace, an official Miss America crown, a crown pin from Stephanie’s Diamonds and a year’s membership at Academy Fitness. The first runner-up receives $400, the second runner-up receives $300 and the third and fourth runners-up receive $200 each. There are also individual awards of $100 each for the talent, interview, evening wear and physical fitness contests.
At the closing of Saturday’s workshop at Elite Hall in Hyrum, Reese spoke to the girls about paying attention to details during their performances.
“Little things make big differences,” he said.
He also expressed his appreciation to them.
“If it wasn’t for you, we wouldn’t be here,” Reese said.
Co-director and principal of North Cache Middle School Maria Nielsen, laughing, said, “I’d be at home scrubbing toilets.”
Peterson, who is in her 12th year helping with the program, said the girls are the reason the committee members volunteer every year.
“If we didn’t enjoy the girls, we wouldn’t do it,” she said.