The Miss North Augusta High School Pageant is a pageant welcoming all female students from NAHS, grades 9-12. This year’s pageant will be held in the Jacket Arena on Saturday, March 20th at 6:30pm.
When asked why they and others enter the pageant, Lia Murphy, a junior from North Augusta High School, and the 2020 Miss Sweetheart, said, “I entered Miss NAHS because I have been in the audience since I was in elementary school and it always looked like so much fun.” Emma Carter, a sophomore and the 2020 Miss Freshman, said “Because I’ve always loved doing pageants and I knew my school pageant would bring up many fun opportunities.” Heidi Coughenour, a junior at NAHS and the 2019 Miss Freshman and 2020 Miss Sophomore, said, “I signed up for this pageant because I grew up always watching and wanting to become a part of this North Augusta tradition. I saw that the girls on the stage had made an impact in their school and community and wanted to be a part of that impact of just being a leader and inspiring others.”
The pageant is a lot of work and there's a lot that goes into it. Murphy said, “For most, it starts weeks in advance. The first thing I always do is choose my dress. The day of the pageant always starts early with hair and makeup!” When asked what all goes into the pageant, Carter agreed with Murphy, stating, “A lot of prep goes into the pageant including buying new dresses for two categories and practicing the way you are going to present yourself.”
Pageant day comes with a multitude of things to do. The day starts with interviews and then moves to the on-stage portion where competitors wear their dresses and outfit of choice. Coughenour shares the excitement, stating, “The pageant for me is an exciting day that I always can count on to give me an adrenaline rush. I love the feeling of presenting my best self in front of all of my friends and family who support me so much, which I am so grateful for! The overall atmosphere is so positive because of all of the competitors supporting one another and having a great time throughout rehearsals and competing, because in the end, we are all nervous and can make everything better by having fun!”
Winning the pageant is also a topic of interest. When asked about it, Coughenour explained, “I think that if you believe in yourself, you know you’ve put in the work and practice, and you are passionate about advocating for something that is important to you, you are all good to go! Whether you gain a title, or it just isn’t your time, you should be proud of all that you have learned in just the preparation and take the things you have learned with you in your future.”
All the girls interviewed agreed that participation in the pageant is worth it, and that competitors gain much. Coughenour said, “I gained so many skills that I have taken with me throughout my high school and pageant career. I would say that confidence is a big trait I obtained by being interviewed and learning the skills of how to navigate an interview and speak on what I am passionate about. I also learned time management skills throughout handling schoolwork, dance, and focusing on practicing for the stage.” Murphy recommends the pageant to anyone, saying, “I recommend the pageant so much to everyone! Miss NAHS is such a fun experience and I think everyone should at least try it once.”
Pictured: Former NAHS Pageant Competitors
Photo Credit: Greer Worley
Comments