2008 Woodie Awards
Nine hopefuls to compete in Miss FMU Pageant
Shantrice Radford
Issue date: 3/17/08 Section: News
Nine hopefuls will compete for the chance to represent Francis Marion when the annual Miss FMU Pageant is held 7 p.m. Friday, March 28 in Chapman Auditorium. Admission is free.
The pageant lineup has undergone some tweaks this year, which officials hope will help fulfill their objective of promoting class, intelligence and well-rounded young women.
"The purpose of the pageant is to give the opportunity to a female FMU student to step forward and be recognized for their academic as well as campus involvement," Cheri Richardson, assistant dean of students, said.
The event normally attracts a crowd of about 300 spectators.
Contestants will be judged on formal and casual wear, as well as the ability to answer questions asked by a panel of six judges.
"(The girls) don't see the questions beforehand," Richardson said. "Judges come up with questions before the show, the contestant pulls a judge's name and that judge will ask her question during the show."
In the past, the pageant was similar to traditional beauty pageants and the Office of Student Affairs has focused on making sure participants "embody the spirit of FMU," Darryl Bridges, vice president of student affairs, said.
"It wasn't just about beauty but civic engagement, academic success, public service and insight," Bridges said. "It's not important where their stance is, but if they have (one). College students should know about issues."
The focus of the pageant isn't all that has changed, Richardson said.
"In years pas, it was titled 'City Lights, Carolina Nights,' but (this year) we wanted to give the girls an opportunity to show their creativity and show a side that other people wouldn't normally see in class," she said.
Instead of the traditional swimsuit section, the girls have a casual-wear segment, which will showcase each contestant in a little black dresses.
"It's not a high pressure competition," Bridges said. "It's fun. You get to see students who love being a Patriot and want to share that with other people. It's classy and shows that to be in a pageant you don't have to be a size zero beauty queen who's done pageants before."
The pageant lineup has undergone some tweaks this year, which officials hope will help fulfill their objective of promoting class, intelligence and well-rounded young women.
"The purpose of the pageant is to give the opportunity to a female FMU student to step forward and be recognized for their academic as well as campus involvement," Cheri Richardson, assistant dean of students, said.
The event normally attracts a crowd of about 300 spectators.
Contestants will be judged on formal and casual wear, as well as the ability to answer questions asked by a panel of six judges.
"(The girls) don't see the questions beforehand," Richardson said. "Judges come up with questions before the show, the contestant pulls a judge's name and that judge will ask her question during the show."
In the past, the pageant was similar to traditional beauty pageants and the Office of Student Affairs has focused on making sure participants "embody the spirit of FMU," Darryl Bridges, vice president of student affairs, said.
"It wasn't just about beauty but civic engagement, academic success, public service and insight," Bridges said. "It's not important where their stance is, but if they have (one). College students should know about issues."
The focus of the pageant isn't all that has changed, Richardson said.
"In years pas, it was titled 'City Lights, Carolina Nights,' but (this year) we wanted to give the girls an opportunity to show their creativity and show a side that other people wouldn't normally see in class," she said.
Instead of the traditional swimsuit section, the girls have a casual-wear segment, which will showcase each contestant in a little black dresses.
"It's not a high pressure competition," Bridges said. "It's fun. You get to see students who love being a Patriot and want to share that with other people. It's classy and shows that to be in a pageant you don't have to be a size zero beauty queen who's done pageants before."
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