Saxonburg resident competes in nat'l pageant
Mindy Jo Miller of Saxonburg is taking her titles as the first Miss Butler PA for America and the first Miss Pennsylvania for America to Las Vegas in hopes of becoming the first Miss for America.
The pageants are produced by An Officer and Gentlewoman LLC, a theatrical and television production company based in Washington, D.C., and are not affiliated with the Miss America pageant.
An Officer and Gentlewoman has been producing the Mrs. America pageant for married women since 1977 and started the Miss for America pageant for single, divorced and widowed women ages 18 and older this year.
“I am the first Miss Pennsylvania for America. This is the first ever year for Miss for America,” said Miller, a 40-year-old single mother.
She became Miss Butler PA for America in February and Miss Pennsylvania for America in April.
Competition was slim at the inaugural pageants, but Miller, who competed in pageants as a teen, is proud to have won her first state title.
She applied to become Miss Butler PA for America and was selected over two other applicants and won the Miss Pennsylvania for America pageant, which had nine contestants.
“This is my first state title, which is exciting for me,” Miller said.
Contestants from all 50 states will participate in the Miss for America pageant at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino from Aug. 16 to 23.
Rehearsals to learn the opening song and the walking pattern the women will use on stage and a nonscoring, fun event in which the contestants dress in costumes that represent their states precede the pageant
The contestants also will visit sites and attend events in Las Vegas before the pageant.
“It's pretty elaborate,” Miller said.
Like the state pageant, the national pageant includes interviews and swimsuit and evening gown contests. Preliminary rounds will precede the finals.
“My last pageant, I was in my teens. I enjoyed it. It was always a good experience. Win or lose, you always take something away from it — friendship, self-confidence,” Miller said.
She said her 19-year-old daughter, Marlisa, also has competed in pageants.
