An insight to pageant life
Flashing lights
Saddleback students Jessica Taylor and Kelsey Millay participated in the Miss Newport Beach pageant on Feb. 22.
The event took place at the Balboa Bay Club among extended media coverage and celebrity judges like Sunset Tan’s Jeff Bozz and Devin Haman and recording artist Jo De la Rosa.
“All of the swimsuits and some of the dresses were donated,” said Taylor, 22, musical theatre. “It was like a fashion show for the retailers.”
Taylor was awarded second runner-up even though she almost didn’t compete.
“I saw a random advertising in the OC Weekly,” Taylor said. “It was a couple of days before the deadline so I decided to check it out.”
For Taylor, pageants aren’t uncharted territory.
“For me there’s no sense of nervousness because I’m a theatre major so I would be on stage anyway,” Taylor said. “The scariest part is listening to everybody’s questions and wondering what question I’m going to get.”
On the other hand this was Millay’s first pageant ever, but promises it won’t be her last.
“I’ve been wanting to participate in pageants my whole life but had never done it,” said Millay, 21, performing arts. “It offered me a good opportunity to meet new people who I know I will be friends with for a long time.”
According to Taylor, pageants have many positive aspects.
“They give women a sense of confidence and self-worth,” Taylor said. “It also gave us the chance to feel like celebrities because of the media coverage. We were on the spotlight.”Both of the girls over all felt the pageant to be a positive experience in their lives.