Final Night of Prelims Complete in Outstanding Teen Pageant (with Photo Essay)

Pictured in the photo to the left are (from left to right) France Beard, Tammy Folger-Sutter & Mackenzie Ross. Tammy is the wife of the late Wayne Sutter, who passed away on May 7, 2011 after having served a number of years as the Executive Secretary and Salute Page Chairman for the Miss Mississippi Corporation (MMC). Friday’s competition was dedicated to the memory of “Mr. Wayne.”  Tammy currently serves as the Treasurer for the MMC. France Beard wowed the crowd and the judges with her jazzy dance number to “La Fleur” and took home a bouquet of flowers – and scholarship money to boot – for the work and practice she put into her performance.  Beard, a native of Madison, is competing in her first-ever Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen Pageant.  She was crowned as Madison County’s Outstanding Teen on October 16, 2010.  She is the daughter of Clay & Ann Beard and enjoys dancing, cheer-leading and art. Her platform – a cause each contestant has to choose to promote during their year of service – is PAWS: Promoting Animals Worth Saving. “I got involved in this effort by obtaining the required service hours for my school,” says Beard. “Once I began working with the Madison Ark, which is a local shelter in my area, I fell in love with the animals that needed my help. “I am so passionate about my platform because animals are extremely close to my heart. I strongly believe it is my duty to protect these animals because they cannot protect themselves. Animals also serve people with great services such as sight dogs and family defendants. The relationship between a pet and a person is irreplaceable and extremely valuable. As stated before, pets teach children responsibility due to the dependency of a pet on its owner. Pets also provide physical activity opportunities which can get children back outdoors, enjoying God’s creation.” The Evening Wear / On-Stage Question phase of competition is designed for the judge to assess the contestant’s beauty, poise, grace, and commanding stage presence, as well as for the contestant to make an on-stage statement of her interests, opinions, and aspirations in answer to a question selected  for her.  One question will be asked and the judge is to consider the answer to the question. The contestant who scored highest in the Evening Wear / On-Stage Question competition last night was New South’s Outstanding Teen, Mackenzie Ross, who was asked about how she feels competing in the Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen Pageant has helped her.  She responded with a very complimentary view of the pageant process.  The first-year competitor said that she believes that she has formed friendships that will last a lifetime and that each of the girls competing in the pageant is hopeful for, not only themselves, but for each other. Ross will receive scholarship money in addition to the bouquet of flowers she took home for her performance in the competition.  She lives in Meridian with her parents, Jim & Cindy Ross.  She is promoting CHILD Encouragement as her platform issue.  CHILD is an acronym which stands for five key ideals that directly relate to a child’s life: Character, Happiness, Involvement, Learning, and Development. She says that she became aware of the changes that a person can make in a child’s life when she began reading to elementary children some years ago. “I have seen major accomplishments in my time involved with children. By reading with students, their literature skills and zest for learning have noticeably increased. Also, I have worked with organizations such as Angel Tree, Challenger League, Wesley House and several local elementary schools on academic, artistic, and personal levels. Overall, the numerous smiles I have seen on childrens’ faces have been the most heart touching accomplishments of all.” The final night of competition will be held tonight (Saturday, June 4, 2011) at the Vicksburg City Auditorium.  Tickets are available at the door.  I believe the tickets are $30, but I may be wrong – things have been a little crazy since Wayne passed away.  I encourage each and every one of you who are reading this to head out to the pageant tonight.  It will be an awesome experience for anyone… especially those of you who have never been to one of the Miss Mississippi Corporation’s productions. The choreography, design, lighting – EVERYTHING – is amazing and this year’s pageant is one of the best yet! Competition begins promptly at 8 pm so get your seats early!!! [gallery orderby="title"]]]]]> ]]>