Students sang, danced, played instruments and showcased their talents in other ways to earn scholarship money at the Miss Indiana University scholarship pageant Sunday evening in the Indiana Memorial Union’s Alumni Hall.
The Miss IU scholarship pageant, organized by the student group Pageantry at IU, is a preliminary pageant for the Miss Indiana and Miss America pageants. The winner of the pageant goes on to represent IU at the Miss Indiana pageant in June.
“A pageant could just be superficial, about looks and not about a greater purpose,” said Theresa White, director of Pageantry at IU. “But depending on the attitude you bring to it, it can be about personal growth, finding your voice and building confidence and values. I really think the contestants did that tonight. I’m always so impressed by them.”
The 11 pageant contestants took part in interview, onstage question, talent, evening gown and swimsuit categories. The pageant’s winner receives a $1500 scholarship, the first runner-up is awarded $1000 and the second runner-up receives $500. Smaller scholarships are provided for winners of individual categories within the pageant.
Miss America pageants are built on the values of style, service, scholarship and success, White said. Each contestant develops a platform for a cause or social issue they care about and have invested time and energy in.
The winner of Miss IU 2016 was junior Justus Coleman. Her platform was cultivating sisterhood and support among women.
“This proves to me that I don’t have to doubt myself or my mission,” Coleman said. “It brings me so much joy to be able to support women, and now I have the opportunity to be a role model for even more people with a platform I really care about.”
Last year’s Miss IU winner, Lauren Mnayarji, served as an emcee for the event. After winning Miss IU, Mnayarji was the third runner-up at Miss Indiana.
“Though being onstage is fun and exciting, the work we do offstage and the relationships we build are what have the biggest impact,” Mnayarji said. “And as I continue to find my voice, I will keep sharing it with the world.”
The pageant was sponsored by the IU Student Foundation, the Miss America Organization and South Central Kiwanis. The student group Circle K also teamed up with Pageantry at IU to organize a food drive during the competition, helping to emphasize the service element of the pageant’s mission, Pageantry at IU president Morgan Geer said.
Instead of paying for a ticket, people attending the pageant were asked to bring a food donation.
Miss IU is the only student-run pageant in the state, Geer said.
“It truly is a sisterhood up there with all the girls on that stage,” said contestant and first runner-up senior Kyla Brummett. “You have not only the support of your family, but the support of every student involved in the pageant, which is amazing.”
