Competing in the Miss SWOSU Pageants is not only a challenging and tough experience, but also a very rewarding one.
The annual Miss SWOSU Pageant was held last Saturday, Nov. 11, at the Fine Arts Center. Every year, this competition invites a variety of respectable young women to compete for the title of Miss SWOSU. After having competed in the pageant myself this past Saturday, I want to offer you an inside look of what it entails to be a contestant in the Miss SWOSU Pageant.
Before the process even begins, there is an information meeting where the directors hand out all necessary paperwork and describe the process. After the meeting, contestants must start submitting all required paperwork and forms.
To start, participants must determine their CSI. A CSI is a Community Service Initiative, something that the individual woman is passionate about and that will help serve the community. A CSI could range anywhere from helping the homeless to advocating to shop locally. Part of the paperwork includes writing a paper detailing facts about the chosen CSI, such as why they chose it, how they plan to implement it on campus, and what it means to them.
Then, there are forms to fill out regarding their personal hobbies, interests, clubs, activities, and volunteer work. They may also submit a personalized resume. Contestants are also responsible for gathering different patrons to sponsor the pageant. Contestants must also each choose two young girls 5-10 years of age who they will mentor to be their ‘Little Star’.
After all paperwork is turned in at the mandatory meeting, the real work begins. All contestants must attend weekly group rehearsals while also individually rehearsing their own chosen talent. There are also different opportunities for contestants to go to the 95.5 Coyote Radio station and participate in a segment called ‘Conversation Corner’. Each contestant is also in charge of selling tickets to the event, including collecting and handling the money. Contestants are also invited to a Bowling Party to have the opportunity to connect with their Little Stars before the pageant competition. There were also multiple ‘Mock Interviews’ for contestants to participate in to prepare them for their official private interview.
The week of the Pageant competition, contestants attend multiple rehearsals and are invited to a contestant dinner on Friday night. On Saturday afternoon, each contestant goes through a private interview with the judges. The women then arrive Saturday evening at the Fine Arts Center, ready to compete.
For me, the pageant was a wonderful, fun-filled experience that I felt not only helped develop my confidence as a woman, but also gave me the opportunity to connect with people I may not have otherwise met.
Miss SWOSU 2024 Mackynsie McKedy said this when asked about her experience: “My experience competing in the Miss SWOSU pageant is an experience I will forever hold dear to my heart. Through preparing and competing in this pageant I have learned so much about myself and gained skills that will benefit me in the future. I have made special friendships with all of the beautiful women who competed and I am grateful to the Miss Southwestern Scholarship Organization for providing such an amazing opportunity. I am looking forward to this year as Miss SWOSU 2024 and I can’t wait to see what is to come!”
I would encourage any young women who are students at SWOSU to consider participating in next year’s Miss SWOSU 2025 pageant!
