To the editor:
Aroostook County has produced countless Miss Maine pageant queens who have gone on to prominent and admirable careers. The ones who come to mind are: Patricia Cyr of Madawaska, Josette Huntress of Limestone, Sharon Pelletier of Madawaska, Renee Belanger of Washburn, Meagan Beals of Houlton, Molly Bouchard of Caribou and Meranda Hafford of Washburn.
Aroostook County pageants have always been hugely successful and the talent we have appreciated over the last 20-plus years has been astounding. The “Crown of Maine” has encouraged and produced numerous confident, poised and engaged young women in the plentiful pageant systems throughout The County.
Since 1997, Theresa Pelletier founded and directed the Miss Northern Maine and Miss Aroostook pageants. Several of the former Miss Maine queens named above, participated in this program. That’s exactly what the Miss Northern Maine Pageant, open to girls ages 2 and over, is intended to be … a positive program that prepares Maine’s talented young ladies for the Miss Maine program and beyond. It has always been my belief that the day Miss Maine is named Miss America; she will have been born and raised in Aroostook County.
As I work with Theresa on the 2014 Miss Northern Maine program, I was troubled by an email I received this evening from the mother of our Miss Jr. Teen Northern Maine reigning queen. Her daughter was recently named Presque Isle Pre-Teen Miss 2014. As a result, Danica Haskell was told that she had to “relinquish her title of Miss Jr. Pre-Teen Northern Maine 2013 and was not able to attend the upcoming Miss Northern Maine Pageant at the end of June to crown her successor.”
The mother of Kalena Pearce, the reigning Miss Teen Northern Maine 2013, recently named Miss Fort Fairfield 2014, sent me an email announcing her win. I emailed Kalena a congratulatory message only to receive the following from Kalena’s mother: “Thank you! Unfortunately though, the director of the Miss Fort Fairfield Pageant has let us know that Kalena now needs to relinquish her Teen Miss Northern Maine title. It has been a wonderful experience for her to hold this title and we would like to thank you for that.”
Why would any local pageant director or organization, other than Miss America, Miss USA or Miss Universe, who provide substantial income opportunities with aggressive appearance requirements for their queens, have any local Aroostook County queen relinquish any local title these young women have earned? We’re speaking of young women in these cases. Do these individuals who create and govern these preposterous notions recognize the disappointment this causes these young women? Shouldn’t pageants, particularly Aroostook County pageants, support one another?
Miss Vacationland, recently held in Presque Isle, referred contestants to the Miss Northern Maine Pageant as we referred contestants to participate in their program. What harm would have come to the Jr. Miss Presque Isle or the Miss Fort Fairfield pageant programs if Danica and Kalena were allowed to crown their successor on June 29th and fulfill their year as Miss Northern Maine? As the 2014 Miss Northern Maine pageant emcee, I would congratulate both Danica and Kalena, applaud their achievements and encourage young woman to participate in both programs.
I believe the fact that these two young women went on to compete in another pageant program is marvelous. It is so sad that any organization would require a 10-year-old and a 17-year-old to give up an honor they’ve earned. Actually, the experience at the Miss Northern Maine program possibly helped Danica and Kalena obtain the Jr. Miss Presque Isle and Miss Ft. Fairfield title.
It is truly sad that directors of northern Maine pageants cannot see the negative message their decision carries. If our program had a similar regulation, neither Danica nor Kalena would have been permitted to enter their local pageant. The only requirements for title holders of the Miss Northern Maine Pageant are to attend events when possible wearing the Northern Maine crown and banner, and to crown their successor the following year. What conflict could there possibly be if these young ladies were allowed a few hours to perform a talent, welcome new pageant contestants and crown their successor on June 29th? We encourage our contestants to compete in local programs. We recommend they compete in a larger pageant system to experience advanced levels of competition. This can only support young women who aspire to someday be crowned Miss America.
The Miss America Organization is one of the nation’s leading achievement programs and the world’s largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women. Last year, the Miss America Organization and its state and local organizations made available more than $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance. This assistance is not just for the handful of young women who become Miss America, but is available to the over 12,000 young women who compete in the state and local competitions as well. The Miss Northern Maine Pageant is currently in negotiations with the directors of the Miss Maine Scholarship Program, to consider our program serving as an official Miss Maine qualifier.
In spite of the unfortunate situation with Danica and Kalena, we encourage young ladies to continue to dream big and to have aspirations of wearing the Miss America crown. The women, who ultimately are crowned Miss Maine or Miss America, are educated, engaged, confident and poised. I invite you to read the resumes of the Aroostook County delegation of Miss Maine queens. You would be most impressed.
Brenda Libby, co-director
Miss Northern Maine Pageant
