2008 Miss IU-Bloomington crowned, wins $3,250 scholarship

Some girls dream of tiaras and beauty pageants. For Gabrielle Reed, that dream became a reality this weekend.\nReed, a sophomore, won the 2008 Miss IU-Bloomington Scholarship Pageant Sunday. Her prizes included a $3,250 cash scholarship, the title of Miss IU and a chance to compete in June’s Miss Indiana pageant. \nReed said the win was a surprise.\n“I’m really excited. It was really unexpected,” Reed said. “I’m just happy to be representing IU and going to state.”\nAbout 220 people gathered in the Willkie Auditorium to watch 10 participants compete. LED lights, T-shirts, poster boards and cheers helped fans show support for their favorite participants. Lindsay Shipps, executive director of the Miss Indiana IU Scholarship Organization, hosted the pageant.\nThe 10 women walked out on stage and introduced themselves to the audience along with Lindsey Roscoe, the 2007 Miss IU. \nThe pageant consisted of several phases worth various percentages of the participant’s overall score. Prizes were awarded for winners of interview, talent, swimsuit, Hoosier spirit and the people’s choice award.\nThe first phase of the pageant, the interview, was completed before the event started. Reed won the interview, swimsuit and talent portions of the pageant.\nKatie Rayl, a freshman participant, said preparing her talent for the pageant is \nimportant.\n“For me it’s a lot of time working on my talent because it’s not one of my strengths,” Rayl said.\nIn the final phase, contestants wore evening gowns and were asked an on-stage question relevant to their platform issue. Shipps said platforms are an issue of value to each participant.\n“Their platform is something important to them,” Shipps said. “Usually to their family.”\nThe first role of Miss IU is to present her platform at Kiwanis Club the Wednesday after she is crowned, Shipps said. \nStraight No Chaser, an IU men’s a cappella group, performed after on-stage questions. The pageant judges tallied up contestants’ final scores during the performance. \nShipps announced the pageant winner and awards at the end of the two-hour program. Heather Bryan, Kayla Stockert, Dorianne Mason and Tracie Ortman were all runners-up in the pageant. Senior Megan Knigga won both the people’s choice award and the Hoosier spirit award. \nShipps said the pageant went smoothly.\n“It went absolutely perfectly. We didn’t have one issue come up technically,” Shipps said. “Couldn’t be happier with my winner.”