PSU hosts pageant Portland

Do you have what it takes to be the next Miss Portland and perhaps the next Miss America? The Miss Portland pageant is coming to Portland State University March 29 in Lincoln Hall at 7 p.m.

Darcy DeBok, the director of the Miss Portland Scholarship Program said that they are still looking for more contestants.

According to DeBok, 10 of the 11 contestants were from Portland State University last year.

“We’re very tied to PSU this year,” she said.

DeBok said it is important to point out that the contest actually has two winners. Women can either win the Miss City of Roses or Miss Portland.

Each winner will receive a yearlong full scholarship to Portland State University.

“This is the biggest scholarship at this level in the area,” DeBok said.

DeBok said that this program is an official preliminary to the Miss Oregon Pageant

“PSU has been an awesome supporter,” DeBok said.

The winners from the Miss Portland pageant proceed to the Miss Oregon pageant in July. The Miss America pageant follows in September.

“The Miss America Program is the top provider of scholarships for women in the world,” DeBok said.

Katie Harman, the current Miss America and Portland State Student, was once Miss Portland.

According to DeBok, Harman wrote a personal letter to the upcoming contestants. Harman is currently touring the country to promote breast cancer awareness.

The Miss Portland pageant is a nonprofit organization. There is no entry fee required to become a contestant.

There are several requirements to becoming the next Miss Portland.

According to the Miss Portland Web site, contestants must be a woman and between the ages of 17 and 24 years old. Contestants must never have been married. The women must live, work or go to school within the Portland city limits. Contestant must also have a high school degree and be enrolled in or have the intention to enroll in a college or university.

The process for the pageant is the preliminary interview, the physical fitness competition (the swimsuit competition), talent and onstage interview.

DeBok said it is important that the women have talent and can articulate their ideas. “It’s not about the crown or the rhinestone, it is what the girls stand for and learn,” DeBok said.

Talent does not have to be the traditional singing or dancing, DeBok said. Kristin Barnhart, a contestant from Portland State University, is presenting a photo exhibition for her talent.

DeBok is a Portland State University alumni and was Miss Portland in 1996. “I sincerely believe in the benefits that the women continue to take away from the program,” DeBok said.

Those interested in the Miss Portland contest should check the Web site for requirements at www.missportland.com. For more information, contact Debok at [email protected].