Miss Gravette pageant to be held Friday, with crowning on Saturday, after parade

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

GRAVETTE - A special highlight at the annual Gravette Days celebration this weekend will be the selection of Miss Gravette 2013. The pageant will feature Gravette’s and the area’s prettiest girls, who will all be on stage at theGravette High School Performing Arts Center Friday, Aug. 9, at 7 p.m.

Deree Mitchell, who has directed the pageant several years, said the theme this year is “Miss Congeniality” and pays tribute to anyone who has competed for the pageant title.

There is no admission and all former Miss Gravettes are especially invited to be present.

When the “showtime” curtain rises at 7 p.m., the contestants will all be directed in an opening number designed by Mitchell, who is again director of the production.

During the evening, the girls will be judged on their appearance in Gravette wear (20 percent), evening wear (40 percent), on-stage answer to a question (10 percent), and on individual fi ve-minute interviews conducted by judges prior to the on-stage presentation (30 percent).

The new Miss Gravette will not be announced until a coronation ceremony in Old Town Park on Saturday, following the Gravette Day parade. Tiny Tot and other age group pageants will follow.

Mitchell, commenting on the congeniality theme, said, “It takes courage,self-confi dence and poise to compete in pageants. It’s not just about beauty!

“Pageant competitors can be stereotyped at times. But the truth is these women and young ladies are very intelligent and well-spoken, which can be intimidating to others,” she said.

Opinion, Pages 8 on 08/07/2013