Women of Substance - Miss Mill Creek Pageant

I enjoy the excitement of being entertained.  I love being a part of an excited crowd where the audience is as much a part of the show as the performers.   I have been to many pageants as a judge and warmed to the crowd's response to what they see on stage.  I have witnessed the excitement that my own pageant, Miss Memorial Day enjoys.  Every show or performance is different in many ways as they work to trhill an audience. As Michael Jackson said, "I want my audience to leave saying they have never seen anything like my show in their lives." Showmanship or performance excellence is an elusive creature!

I have been at the tiny glittered feet of Dolly Parton singing, “Here You Come Again” in the 1970s, as the crowd went wild. I have been with 70,000 of my closest friends, between the hedges, in 1976, when we beat Alabama, and the crowd went wild.  I have been witness to the Braves players and the fans when we all watched the big screen, as the Dodgers lost, and it become our ticket to the World Series, and the crowd went wild!  I have even been in the presence of the great one, Elvis Presley, in 1976, when grown men cried and I screamed as if my very life was in danger, and the crowd went wild.  Yes, I have experienced many awesome events that were so electrifying that the audience grew with cheers, intensity, and energy until I could feel it move the building itself.  All of these events had one commonality, famous people. Performers and professional sports heros chosen there to perform for the crowds.  

Now, I want to add one more event to the list.  There were some 500 spellbound audience members glued to their seats, cheering at the top of their lungs, eyes wide open, hearts pounding till they hurt, glow sticks waving, arms failing, screaming out names as if their very lives depended on being heard.  It went on and on as young women gracefully were smoothly floating across the stage like a dancer on the top of their childhood jewelry boxes.  

Thirty-four local girls brought this crowd to a point of explosion. How did they do it?  What was it about them that made the crowd go wild? What turned the properly behaved quiet crowd into a cheering mob with joy that filled the air to the point that a spark could have caused 911 to be called?  Was it LaTany in her beautiful blue gown with her poised smile and graceful walk?  Or was it Ansley with that pop of red in her sportswear outfit?  Could it have been the sophomore girls with those killer smiles?  Or maybe it was all six of the junior contestants' beautiful confidence as they made believers out of everyone.  Wait! Could it have been Kaitlyn poise in her flowing gown?  Maybe it was Jordan’s extreme joy of being in her first pageant? Was it their answers that were given with such conviction and elegance? What led up to the crowd going wild? What made everyone explode with unabashed goodwill for all the contestants? 

 As I sat among the audience, with my queens beside me, I marveled at how each person seated was cheering for their contestant.  It was wonderful to see everyone wanting success for their friend or family member.  Yet, at a certain point, as each girl circled around again, the crowd saw before them young women of exceptional quality. They recognized greatness was before them. They knew that before them were young women that had lived their lives at an incrediblely high personal standard.  

Each of these young ladies had to receive a letter of referral from not one but from two teachers to even enter the Miss Mill Creek Pageant. These young women took a leap of faith in saying, "I believe I posses the atributes that would be a role model to my fellow students" when they came face to face with their teachers.

They are the cream of the crop, as it is said.  They are the top of their class.  Some with perfect 4.0’s in their acedemics. Some with leadership positions in the community. Some with talent that is necessary to win state championships. Some having traveled to other nations to stop poverty and to build schools for the poor of this world.  Some with formed ideas that our leaders should adopt.  Yes, these girls have lived their lives with purpose and ideals.  They are discliplined and driven.

They are America’s best chance for a bright future.  As I heard each girl’s information being read aloud, I knew Mill Creek was a place that was providing opportunities for our daughters to grow and develop into women of substance. 

We, in Dacula, live in a place where our children can grow, give, and become great.  Few opportunities or events are provided as a forum to be acknowledged for such a rewarding life.  I support these girls and their families for stepping out of their comfort zones and competing for the over $2,750 in scholarship funds given that night.  I believe pageants offer our daughters the opportunity learn more about themselves, to challenge themselves, to prepare for job interviews, to develop personal style, and to showcase to others what active citizens are involved in, and finally a night to feel like the very beautiful women that they are.  These young women graced us with their achievements, elegance, sassiness, beauty, and charm, yet more than that they showed us what they valued in their personal lives. 

Most left without a crown that night but, not without my respect and the respect of each member of the audience.  Every pageant director hopes to crown a queen who represents what is right with the youth of today.  Congratulations to our new Miss Mill Creek 2012 and to her court for representing the best of Mill Creek High School. If you were not a part of this event this year, mark your calendar for the next great night of confidence at the 2013 Miss Mill Creek Pageant!