For two seniors, competing in Indiana pageants has helped them become the women they are today. Hannah Clingan and Megan Myrehn have spent countless hours preparing for such competitions, time they both believe is very well spent.
Senior Hannah Clingan counts among her greatest pageant experiences those in which she has formed new friendships.
"There are many likeminded young women with leadership qualities and hearts for service. Their stories are inspiring and encouraging," Clingan said. "I've made so many new friends that I never would have had."
Clingan decided to enter pageants because of the great opportunity offered in her hometown, Covington, Ind., and the encouragement she received from the people there. Upon winning her first pageant title, "Miss Fountain County," at age 16, Clingan decided to utilize her talents, particularly because she enjoyed public speaking.
"I kind of dabbled in it," she said. "Now, I have this goal I'm working towards."
Last year, Clingan competed in the Miss Indiana Pageant, part of the Miss America Organization, a leading scholarship provider for women. She received the Newcomer Award, for the highest scoring newcomer, and the Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness Award. Her platform is "Promoting Health and Wellness," and her talent is Latin dance.
Next June, she is returning to the competition with high ambitions to obtain the title of Miss Indiana, a pageant that takes place in Zionsville, Ind. at the end of June. If she is successful, she will have the opportunity to compete on national television for the title "Miss America."
According to Clingan, the best part about the Miss America Organization is its history and the core values it promotes for American women.
"It's the epitome of the American Dream. You take these small town girls, and you give them this title. They attain semi-celebrity status and a microphone to speak out," Clingan explained. "They can really make a positive impact, and that's something really special."
While Clingan is focused on her dream, she still puts her academics first, especially with the competition only seven months away. For Clingan, preparation for a pageant is a lifestyle, and entails organizing, labeling, shopping for wardrobe and makeup and making healthy decisions every day.
"It's not about just being a beauty queen," Clingan said. "It's a job. I'd have that title for a year, and I'd get to promote my platform and the Children's Miracle Network."
Competition, however, does not come free. Clingan will need to raise money to benefit Children's Miracle Network, and some competitors invest in interview coaches and additional instructors for the talent portion of the competition. Buying a gown can be expensive, too. Overall, the competition can come with a hefty price tag, but many women manage the budget for far less. Senior Megan Myrehn, who also competes, agreed with Clingan that pageants can become pretty pricy, but only if you let them. Myrehn, for example, won Miss Virginia Teen USA wearing simply her prom dress.
Myrehn competes in pageants through the Miss Universe Organization rather than Miss America and won the title of Miss Indiana USA last weekend. Along with the title, Myrehn won various prizes including scholarships and appearance opportunities representing various organizations as Miss Indiana USA.
Like Clingan, Myrehn is no stranger to competing in pageants. She competed for the title of Miss Virginia Teen USA three times before winning the crown in 2008, but Miss Indiana USA is the first Indiana competition Myrehn has won.
"I love being from Indiana," Myrehn said. "I always tell people representing Indiana is an honor and something I'm excited about, even though I've lived in other places."
According to Myrehn, the hardest thing about competing in pageants is that people are judging you personally. Unlike pressure placed on a member of an athletic team, a pageant is based on others' opinions, and different people have different criteria. It was important to Myrehn to be in great shape for the competition, and she wanted to start early in the process of losing weight the healthy way.
"Some days, you don't really feel like going to the gym, you feel like eating a brownie. It takes self-control," Myrehn said. "At the end of the day, to me, it's always been worth it."
Myrehn, who has a job offer from Eli Lilly after her Management Fellows internship last spring, has not finalized post-graduation plans because of the possibility that she might win Miss USA. If crowned the winner, Myrehn would move to New York for the year. Through competition, Myrehn said she was able to improve her interview skills, conversational tactics and self-reliance through her pageant experience.
For Myrehn, pageants are an excellent way to happen upon possibilities for the future, to explore who you are and to ultimately figure out what you want to do in life.
"Many people think of a pageant girl as just a beauty queen, but there are so many different roles," Clingan explained. "You're a public figure. You're a role model. You perform."
For Clingan, pageants are an opportunity to open up several career opportunities for college women, particularly in the fields of communication and media. Since a pageant titleholder meets several different people, it can give them the chance to polish their skillset. They can hone their abilities to do public interviews and become more knowledgeable about politics. Overall, she considers it a great way to better one's self.
"I have learned how to persevere," Clingan said. "I think that has been important. It's not just about walking in and walking out with the crown. You have to work, and invest yourself to be successful."