On Saturday, March 19th, I attended and participated in the Miss and Miss Teen DC International 2011 Pageant. This pageant has special meaning to me since I was the 2009 teen titleholder for the DC International System! I am fortunate to still have a close relationship with my former director, Rita Sinha, and have been able to help her and her contestants with various workshops leading up to the pageant. This year Rita asked me to help with emceeing the on stage questions for the Teen Division.
My sister queen, Ashley Smith, was also there and helped with the Miss on stage questions.
This year Rita added a “Tween Category.” She also had a Princess category. The princesses are sooo adorable and the Tweens are impressive and a great pool of future talent for the Teen Division, as they are required to make at least one community service appearance per month during their reign.
Ginny Meerman, a former Mrs. International contestant, did a fabulous job serving as the emcee for the production! Mrs. Maryland International 2011, who was also in attendance, served as a judge.
There were also many former International titleholders including Ashley Fleming, Miss Teen DC International 2008- we took advantage of a super cute photo-op of the Miss Teen DC International titleholders from 2008, 2009, 2010, and the newly crowned 2011 queen in a “family tree” pose! This picture is truly something I will cherish and definitely illustrates the lifetime family bond and sisterhood of being an International titleholder.
The new Miss DC International is Allison Hill, a Doctor of Pharmacy, who was not only gorgeous but also had a fabulous stage presence and wardrobe.
The new Miss Teen DC International proved that perseverance always pays off, having competed this year for her third time. It was amazing to see how Lystra had blossomed and transformed since we originally competed together two years ago. The two new queens are very passionate about their platforms and will be a fabulous team!
At the end of the pageant, one of the teen contestants was quietly tearing up back stage, disappointed that she didn’t win. I told her that it took a total of 5 tries to become Miss Teen International and to keep up the good work and not give up. She seemed consoled by my words and my story of “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”
Juliana McKee
Looks like so much fun!
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