The race for the crown has begun. The 15 contestants of this year's Miss Indiana University Pageant have been involved in a whirlwind of preparations in hopes of becoming the next Miss IUB.
The pageant, to be held at 4 p.m. Sunday in Alumni Hall of the Indiana Memorial Union, will be the second Miss IUB competition since it made a comeback in 2006 after a 37-year absence.
This year's contestant group ranges in experience from state-level pageants to no previous experience at all, said the pageant's executive director, Lindsay Shipps Etienne.
"I feel so strong about this year's pool of contestants," she said. "It's so refreshing to see people who have never dealt with pageants coming together with those who have and seeing the work come together."
Aside from competing for $6,000 in scholarships from the IU Foundation, the winner will go on to compete against 26 other local-level winners in the Miss Indiana Pageant in June.
The contestants for Miss IUB will be judged on formal interviews and their talent, evening gowns, swimsuits and onstage interviews.