Thirteen contestants will compete for the titles of Miss Northwest Passage 2009 and Miss Northwest Passage Outstanding Teen 2009 during the 11th annual state-wide pageant this Saturday.
Eight ladies ages 17 to 24 will compete for the title of Miss Northwest Passage, and five ladies ages 13 to 16 will compete for the title of Miss Northwest Passage Outstanding Teen.
“You will see a wide variety of talents and girls showing poise and their personality on stage,” said co-director for the pageant Carolyn Ames.
The contestants have individual platforms and will compete for the titles based on their interview, on-stage question, talent, evening wear and swimsuit and physical fitness competitions.
Talents include vocal performances, a flute solo, clogging, as well as dances in jazz, tap, salsa and traditional Irish dancing.
Additional entertainment will be provided throughout the evening. The pageant is set to begin at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Woodward Arts Theater.
A total of $36,000 in college scholarships will be awarded in addition to the prize packages.
“Every contestant walks away with something because of the support of generous donors in the community,” Ames said.
The event is a preliminary competition leading to the 2010 Miss Oklahoma and Miss Oklahoma Outstanding Teen pageant.
“The newly-crowned Miss Northwest Passage will then be in the community representing the pageant and the area. Last year, she performed as part of the Fourth of July celebration in Woodward, and worked, along with others from the pageant, in a tourism booth,” Ames said.
Five Miss Oklahoma certified judges will decide the next Miss Northwest Passage and Miss Northwest Passage Outstanding Teen as well as a first runner-up for both.
Winners will also be selected from the Miss Northwest Passage contestants for second runner-up, talent and physical fitness.
Ames said the pageant has been held in Woodward since it began 11 years ago.
“Elizabeth Kinney of Mooreland was the first Miss Northwest Passage, and a few years later she went on the become Miss Oklahoma,” said Ames.
Contestants for Miss Northwest Passage, and their hometown are: Alyssa Troy, Woodward; Yvonne Tallent, Tulsa; Taylor Woodley, McAlester; Juana Lizardo, Buffalo; Sarah Jensen, Lawton; Betty Thompson, Chandler; Kaeli Carothers, Hollis; Hannah Froh, Chandler.
Contestants for the Miss Northwest Passage Outstanding Teen are: Danielle Lewis, Lawton; Madison Bird, Alva; Savannah Phillips, Altus; Hayley Parker, Oklahoma City; Molly Kitchens, Tulsa.
“This is a community event and we encourage everyone to come be entertained and support the girls,” said Ames.
