By KC IFEANYI

kni002@latech.edu

 

Stars were definitely out Tuesday evening as nine Miss Tech hopefuls took the stage of Howard Auditorium for “A Red Carpet Affair.”

The Miss Louisiana Tech University pageant not only celebrated its 50th anniversary, but also the crowning of Bethany Moore, a freshman family and child studies major, as Miss Tech 2007; Lauren Abshier, a freshman biology major, as first runner-up; Jennifer Russell, a freshman interior design major, as second runner-up; Nichole White, a senior vocal performance major, as third runner-up and Stephanie Kearley, a senior studio art major, as fourth runner-up.

Shortly after taking Natalie Berlin’s Miss Tech 2006 crown and title, Moore said she felt surprised she won given the fact she is a freshman.

“I’m feeling overwhelmed; it’s just so surreal,” Moore said. “I didn’t expect to come in and win my first year, but I’m so excited and ready to get to work.”

Moore and the eight other contestants strutted their stuff in swimwear, showed off their skills in the talent event and glided gracefully across the stage for the eveningwear portion.

Aside from the various talents of the contestants, including singing, violin playing and even a dramatic interpretation of a Maya Angelou poem, the audience was also treated with a medley of songs from Union Board talent show winners Full House and a high-energy step show from the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

After the judges tallied the scores and Berlin gave her final goodbye, Jamie Wilson, Miss Louisiana, announced the winners.

Not only was Moore popular with the judges, but also with the students, taking home the People’s Choice Award.

Even though everyone walked away with a prize, not everyone walked away with a smile.

This being the third Miss Tech pageant she has competed in, White said she was a little disappointed taking home third runner-up.             

“It’s good to be on the stage again. I always have fun on the stage,” White said. “I wanted to win but it’s all a part of the competition.”

White was not the only person let down by the evening’s results.

Michelli McKnight, a recent Tech graduate and third runner-up in Miss Tech 2006, did not agree with the judges’ decision.

“My pick for the night, Stephanie Kearley, didn’t win,” McKnight said. “I thought she had the best talent and was the prettiest girl on stage.”

McKnight also said she felt the familiar pageantry nerves watching the girls perform on stage, especially during the talent portion.

“Swimsuit is easy, cause all you have to do is walk across the stage and with the question-and-answer part, you’ve already had your interview earlier in the day,” McKnight said. “But in talent you actually have to do something, and the crowd is not always forgiving.”

Despite a rocky start to the evening with props falling and curtains wanting to cut the opening act short, Moore said out of all the pageants she has done, Miss Tech may be her favorite, and not just because she won.

“[Miss Tech] is definitely the most fun,” Moore said.

“You have all your sorority sisters screaming for you. It’s just fun.”