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Thursday, March 28
The Indiana Daily Student

Miss Indiana eliminated at pageant

caMissIndiana

One by one, Miss Indiana Terrin Thomas and the other Miss America contestants introduced themselves to the cameras before the final round of the competition Sunday.

“Indiana basketball had No. 2 and No. 4 in the NBA draft, and I’m here to take No 1. I’m Terrin Thomas, Miss Indiana,” said Thomas, a junior at IU.

Despite her enthusiasm, Thomas was not chosen to continue in the next round.
Sunday night, Thomas and 49 other contestants awaited the results from the preliminary rounds of the Miss America competition.

Hosts Lara Spencer and Chris Harrison announced the 15 contestants who would continue in the competition for the title. The results were read during the two-hour live show.

Since leaving IU to compete for the crown, Thomas attended promotional events including luncheons, rehearsals and appearances upon her arrival on Sept. 10, in Atlantic City, N.J.

Thomas competed in one of three groups on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. On Tuesday, Thomas was questioned in a private interview with the Miss America judges, and she revealed her evening gown.

“There’s one part the people don’t know about from the TV,” said Teresa White, director of the Miss IU Pageant and Miss IU Student Organization Adviser. “There’s a 10-minute interview with the judging panel, like a job interview.”

On Wednesday, Thomas competed in the talent portion of the competition, and on Thursday she answered her onstage question. For a break from the competition, the contestants all participated in the “Show Me Your Shoes” parade on the boardwalk in Atlantic City.

Thomas won the Miss IU pageant in February and the Miss Indiana contest in June. She received scholarship money after advancing in each round on her way to the Miss America competition. White said Thomas automatically receives a $3,000 scholarship for competing in the Miss America pageant.

IU is the only school in Indiana where the student organization produces, promotes and recruits for the Miss IU competition.

“It was really exciting for them when Terrin won Miss Indiana,” White said. “Their contestant had moved on.”

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