Despite only 5 girls, Niles pageant will go on
Published 12:42 am Monday, October 17, 2005
By By ERIN VER BERKMOES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - The pageant will go on.
Despite just five girls meeting the requirements for the 2005 Miss Niles/Brandywine pageant, it will continue as planned.
This year, the pageant committee decided each girl wanting to participate must participate in the orientation session and no late comers would be able to compete.
Schultz, who has been involved with the pageant for 10 years, said when it came time to have the orientation only five girls and their parents showed up with their complete applications. When the hour-long session was over Schultz and the committee began to look at the applications and found all the contestants to be from Niles.
The orientation session is held to inform the contestants and parents of the obligations which come with the title of Miss Niles/Brandywine and her court.
Schultz added the Mr. Blossomtime information was included in the packet because they were looking for gentleman to participate in the contest.
Schultz said the number of girls participating in the pageants over the last decade has dropped not only in Niles but in the surrounding communities.
Last years Miss Niles/Brandywine pageant had just 12 participants, where as in years past there have been more than 20. Five of last years contestants were from Brandywine High School.
The Miss Niles/Brandywine came about in 1992 when members of the Brandywine community approached the Blossomtime committee asking if they would be able to hold their own pageant and participate in the Blossomtime contest.
As of right now the committee is planning a pageant for next year, but Schultz is looking to give the chairman position up to someone else.
Schultz said the committed talked to this years five contestants and asked them if they have a problem with there not being more contestants. The girls said they like the group the way in which it is and wouldn't change it.