HOULTON, Maine — After a successful run a year ago, the Miss Shiretown Pageant is returning for a second season. This year’s pageant will take place Saturday, April 4, at the Houlton Community Arts Center.
“We are currently accepting registrations for all age divisions,” said pageant director Lori Soucy. “This pageant is open to girls from Southern Aroostook and beyond. This year I have added the Miss Shiretown Ambassador title for the contestant who raises the most money through the people’s choice photo contest.”
The pageant is held in conjunction with the RSU 29 Music Department and is open to contestants ages birth to 25 and older in a variety of age divisions. Contestants will be broken down into eight age categories — Tiny, birth to 18 months; Little, 19 months to 3 years old; Junior Princess, ages 4-6; Princess, ages 7-9; Preteen, ages 10-12; Junior Teen, ages 13-15; Teen, ages 16-18; Miss, ages 19-24; and Ms/Mrs., ages 25 and older.
Last year’s pageant raised around $1,000 for the RSU 29 Music Department and organizers hope to at least match that amount if not exceed it this year.
The pageant also serves as a fundraiser for the Crown CARES (Creating A Respectful Environment in Schools) program, which is “specifically designed for volunteers, pageant systems and peer ambassadors who wish to promote awareness as a platform on the epidemic of bullying in schools, to cultivate a safe environment and most importantly teach skills to develop social responsibility in school-age children, youth and teens and is modeled after the Unite Against Bullying Project.”
Participants will compete in interview, fun fashion and evening gown categories. Each area is worth one-third of the contestant’s score. There are also additional optional competitions that the contestants can sign up for, such as talent, casual wear, fitness wear and supermodel.
Soucy said there is a Facebook photo contest as well.
“Chadwick Florist and Greenhouses will be providing a bouquet for the new queens,” Soucy said. “This event would not be possible without the help and sponsorship of the Houlton Music Department as well.”
Emcees for this year’s event will be Bailey Soucy and Skyla Libby.
The deadline to enter is March 4. For information, contact Soucy by email at lori_2000@msn.com or via Facebook under Lori Van Houten Soucy.
