It’s that time of year again! The Miss Phelan Pageant is taking place on Thursday, September 28th, at 5:00 pm in the Pinon Mesa Middle School Auditorium. Admission to the event is $5. The young ladies will compete in seven different age groups ranging from Tiny Miss Phelan for 1-2-year-olds to Miss Phelan for 18-21-year-olds. The Miss Phelan Pageant is focused on community involvement, where the 2023-2024 Miss Phelan Court will attend community events in Phelan and participate in volunteer opportunities throughout the year.
According to Miss Phelan Director Roxanne Marinello, who has helped organize the Miss Phelan Pageant since 2014, being crowned Miss Phelan means so much more than just good looks, “It’s not really about looks or beauty, they do community service and actually the majority of the work they do is community-based,” said Roxanne. The court has indeed been very busy this past year. The young ladies have attended various events in the area, including the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for Daniel Meredith Plumbing’s new office and volunteering at the Tri-Community Kiwanis Club’s horse derby fundraiser.
Another key focus for the pageant is building self-esteem and nurturing confidence in the young ladies, which Marinello says is her favorite part of being involved in the pageant. “I like helping the girls learn to come out of their shells. I like seeing the little ones become more confident as they become older,” said Marinello. During the pageant, participants will display their formal wear but also have to answer important interview questions, for example: Who is your role model? or What does community mean to you? The interview answers are a vital part of the scoring process. Roxanne mentioned that even if there is only one candidate in an age group, they will only be crowned Queen if they fulfill all of the requirements needed.
Of course, winning isn’t everything, and the pageant includes some fun categories for the girls to engage in. This year’s pageant will include a Western Attire category where the ladies can dress up in cowboy hats, boots, bonnets, or prairie dresses. The Western theme is a nod to Phelan’s history and culture and is where the contestants can let their creativity shine. There will also be an opportunity drawing for the crowd to participate in during the event, where spectators can win some great prizes donated by local businesses and sponsors.
A final information meeting for anyone still interested in competing at the Miss Phelan Pageant will be held on Wednesday, September 6th, at the Phelan Community Park at 6:00 pm. Visit www.missphelan.com for more information and to register online before the Friday, September 8th deadline. You may also contact Roxanne Marinello at 760-240-9596 or email missphelaninfo@gmail.com
