By Staff
TOP SHAPEn Lauderdale County's Jaime Broadhead, right, and Holmes County's Jamie Sturgis show off their skills during the fitness routine of the 2001 Junior Miss Program Friday night. Photo by Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star.
By Ida Brown/The Meridian Star
August 4, 2001
Five Mississippi 2002 Junior Miss candidates copped double preliminary awards during Friday's state competition at the Temple Theatre.
Junior Misses representing Hinds, Forrest, Rankin and Scott counties and Pascagoula were the evening's double award winners, with Lauderdale County, Meridian, Moss Point, Simpson, Starkville and Winston County rounding out the list of preliminary honorees.
Double preliminary winners were:
Celeste Watson, Hinds County, poise and fitness. Watson is the daughter of Rebecca and David Watson.
Natalie J. Pope, Forrest County, talent and fitness. Pope is the daughter of Janet and Ethan Pope.
Angela Halverson, Rankin County, poise and scholastic. Halverson is the daughter of Ellie and John Halverson.
Christin L. Leiden, Scott County, poise and talent. Leiden is the daughter of Kelly and Matthew Leiden.
Jenna Torjusen, Pascagoula, poise and fitness. Torjusen is the daughter of Tina Tingle and Randy Torjusen.
Also copping preliminary wins were:
Carrie Jones, Lauderdale County, scholastic. Jones is the daughter of Paulette and Michael Jones.
Jaime Broadhead, Meridian, scholastic. Broadhead is the daughter of Dale and Susie Broadhead.
Mandy Robertson, Moss Point, scholastic. Robertson is the daughter of Margaret and Thomas Robertson.
Joanna Gaston Simpson County, talent. Gaston is the daughter of Robin and Hamp Gaston.
Brittany C. Carr, Starkville, talent. Carr is the daughter of Frances and Tony Carr.
Amy Catherine Foster, Winston County, fitness. Foster, the daughter of Angela and Jan Ganann, also was presented the "Be Your Best Self" Essay Award.
Each talent segment featured five members from the Sapphire Group, half of the Junior Miss contestants. The preliminary counts 25 percent of the candidates score and judging is based on originality, technical ability, appropriateness of selection and costume and stage presence.
Between the talent presentations, performances were presented by Lindsey Miller, the reigning Mississippi Junior Miss, and Allison Kellogg, Mississippi's 1999 Junior Miss.
The evening also included presentation of the fitness routine by the Diamond Group, the remaining half of the contestants. Choreographed by program choreographer and local dance instructor Suzie McCraw, the high-energy performance included crunches, jumps, push-ups and lunges.
During the presentation which counts 15 percent judges evaluate coordination, stamina, agility, posture and carriage without regard to physique or athleticism.
The Diamond Group also was featured in the poise preliminary. Dressed in white gowns, the contestants held Spanish-style fans as they walked across the stage to flamingo-style music. During the segment, which counts 15 percent of each contestant's total score, judges consider the elements of grace, poise under pressure, ability to communicate effectively, grooming and naturalness in posture and carriage.
Also during the preliminary, each contestant responded to the question: "What is your most memorable high school adventure and why?"
Responses included travels and mission trips abroad, attending conferences and cheerleader camps, being robbed while in a foreign country and a "Blues Clues" theme for a Sweet 16 birthday party.
The remaining 45 percent of contestants' evaluations is behind-the-scenes.
The judges' interview, which counts 25 percent, is a 10-minute interview and discussion session with each contestant. Judges look for perception, a sense of values, clarity of expression, concern for others and ability in human relations. Scholastic achievement, 20 percent, is conducted by a panel of qualified judges from the local area who review and rate transcripts of grades in core classes, college prep classes, electives, and scores on scholastic tests and college entrance examinations.
Contestants are critiqued by a panel of judges who follow the same criteria used on the local, state and national levels of the Junior Miss program.
Tonight marks the final evening of competition and will culminate with the announcement of the 2002 Mississippi Junior Miss. The program will begin at 8 p.m.
Ida Brown is special sections editor of The Meridian Star. Call her at 693-1551, ext. 3224, or e-mail ibrown@themeridianstar.com.