By Demetria Ma, Staff Writer
With her calm and conservative demeanor, senior Lily Mooney isn’t one you’d expect to have been runner-up for Miss Fountain Valley, a local pageant. As she settles into her seat, her nervous smile makes it evident that she generally doesn’t like attracting too much attention to herself. Her modesty gives way to a sparkle in her eyes as she starts off by recalling her favorite moment during preparation for the Miss Fountain Valley pageant.
“[The other contestants and I] had the chance to eat donuts and watch a little live performance after a long practice – the singing and dancing and, well, the eating. It brought us all together; we were just having fun,” said Mooney.
Mooney entered in her first pageant and came out as first runner-up for Miss Fountain Valley 2015 on Nov. 1. She then went on to compete in an open, state-wide pageant for Miss Orange County 2015 on Jan. 10.
“I learned so many different life skills from being part of these two pageants that I can hardly believe I never considered competing before,” said Mooney.
Each pageant is put on by one of many different organizations and each offers different titles and rewards.
Local, structured pageants such as Miss Fountain Valley, are a good choice for first-time pageanteers, since there are more practices to allow contestants more preparation. Open pageants, such as Miss Orange County, which are open to the entire state, are typically for more experienced girls because of its fewer practices.
On the morning of the Miss Orange County pageant, each contestant had a private interview. The rest of the competition, including onstage questions, fitness, talent and evening gown, is open to the public later in the day.
“The interview has to be the scariest part because it’s private and you’re with several judges and…it’s still very intimidating. You can’t ask anyone for help,” said Mooney. “It’s also about all the political events and current events today, so you have to be up-to-date. So I read CNN, like, every night to prepare.”
From her experiences in the world of pageantry, Mooney has realized that for girls to succeed, it is not about being an ideal young woman. Rather, it is about learning to have confidence in oneself.
“If you asked me a year ago if I ever would be in a pageant, I probably would have laughed in your face. I don’t fit the ‘pageant girl’ mold,” Mooney remarked.
She added that although there are certain elements of truth in what people see of pageants on TV, her own experience was far from typical. Aside from a few of the more seasoned girls who appeared slightly intimidating, many of the other pageanteers at the statewide competition were very amiable.
“I personally believe outer beauty should have nothing to do with the judging process. It’s not about the clothes or the makeup or your luck with genetics, but how you present yourself,” said Mooney. “Each contestant is a possible lifelong friend, not just your competition.”
Mooney believes that each and every girl on stage during the pagents were there because they had the confidence to put themselves out there for the world to see.
“In the end, it goes back to the four points of the crown: style, success, service and scholarship,” said Mooney. “Everything that a young woman needs on her path towards her dream.”
Great article Demetria! Just one correction…Lily was the first runner-up and overall talent winner for Miss Fountain Valley.