by David Flint
Lauren Giumarra of Stephentown will be heading for Rochester next month to take part in the New York State competition for the National American Miss Pageant. Lauren is 15 and will be a sophomore this year at Berlin High School where she is a cheerleader, sings in the chorus and is on the Honor Roll. She likes soccer, horseback riding and – would you believe it – football.
She received an invitation last year to audition in a modeling competition. She was accepted for further trials but turned down the offer due to time and financial constraints. It was probably this audition that brought her to the attention of promoters for the American Miss Pageant. Lauren decided to give it a whirl.
She auditioned for American Miss in June, presenting her goals, grades in school and why she was interested, and she was accepted for the Jr. Teen category of competition. Then followed a training session at the Marriott in Albany. Contestants are instructed in how to stand and walk with dignity, how to interview effectively, speak with confidence and how to smile and make eye contact.
“It’s not a glitzy pageant,” said Lauren’s grandmother, Cathy Lawless. “They are looking for well rounded young women to represent New York State. The girls wear age appropriate clothing and little or no makeup.”
The Jr. Teen competition will be held at the Hyatt Regency in Rochester August 22-24. The girls receive scores from a panel of judges in three categories. The first is a walk on stage in formal dress, escorted by a close relative or friend. Lauren is practicing walking and standing in heels with confidence. The second category is the Personal Introduction where the girls introduce themselves on stage, speaking into a microphone before a live audience, giving their name, hometown, what their career goals are and anything interesting they would like to share about themselves. Then there is the Final Interview speaking individually with each of the pageant judges.
Lauren said she’s “kind of nervous” but having fun preparing for the Pageant. “I would really like to represent my state as Miss New York,” she said. Already a number of local businesses have sponsored her for the Pageant to help cover expenses. Anyone else who would like to be a sponsor is welcome to give her grandmother a call.
Lauren finds modeling fun and interesting but is not sure that’s what she would want as a career. She does want to attend college and right now she’s thinking more along the lines of a career working with children.
Regarding this pageant, grandmother Cathy said, “Basically it’s about showing off and that’s kind of hard for Lauren because she’s not a show-off.”