The newest member of Dowagiac’s royal sisterhood will be crowned later this month, as the Miss Dowagiac Scholarship Pageant hosts its 77th ceremony on Saturday, Jan. 23.

The Dowagiac Daily News has been featuring the profiles of the 10 ladies vying for the crown.

This year’s pageant will begin at 7 p.m. inside the Dowagiac Middle School Performing Arts Center. Tickets for the event are available inside the office of the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce, inside the Dowagiac train depot.

Name: Di’maan Jhanae McGill

Contestant number: 10

Age: 17

Height: 5 feet, 2 inches

Eye color: Brown

Parents/guardians: Crystal Smith & Richie Bacon, Monte McGill, Sr.

Brothers/sisters: Vance Brown Jr., Monte McGill Jr., Jaydin McGill, Monteria McGill, Jasmine McGill, Jazmine McGill, Dejah Irving McGill

School attending: Dowagiac Union High School

Grade: 12

School activities: Varsity Soccer, Chamber Choir, Front Row Crew, Student Senate, Chieftain Heart, Mentor for Elementary School Students @ Patrick Hamilton Elementary

Outside activities: Dance, POMS Team, 4-H, Volunteer for United Way, Ronald McDonald House Charities for the fight against cancer

Interests and hobbies: Performing & competing on stage for dance/POMS Team, Doing hair & makeup for friends/myself, keeping up with the latest fashions, Friends, Sports (soccer, basketball, running), Animals, Helping Others

Awards and honors: MHSAA recognition in Lansing MI for Front Row Crew/ BOTF, Mayor’s Recognition for FRC/BOTF, Numerous Dance/POMS Team Awards, Medals, Certificates, Pins & Scholarships, All American Dancer NDA & NCA, Choir Festival Lakeshore, Studio Dancer Of The Year, Jobs For Michigan’s Graduates Program Induction, Varsity Soccer/Choir Patches

Three words to describe you: energetic, social butterfly, smiley

What are your ambitions and plans after graduation? My plans for after graduation are to attend college and further my education in Social Work Management & Criminal Justice. My ambition is to one day become a State Representative for Michigan, to make a difference.

What are your greatest accomplishments? One of my greatest accomplishments has been teaching hip hop, my favorite genre of dance at Miss Michele and Company for the past three years. What started off as one dance class has now branched off and became four different levels of teaching on Monday and Wednesday nights, as well as Saturday mornings. Another one of my greatest accomplishments is performing in the Disney Christmas Parade in Orlando, Florida, for the past two years.

Why did you decide to compete for the title of Miss Dowagiac? I decided to compete for the title of Miss Dowagiac because I want to show the girls & young ladies that I’ve grown up with, that anything is possible… If you want something you have to go for it and work hard to achieve it. I want to prove to them that this pageant has no color and that anyone can be Miss Dowagiac. I also decided to participate to be closer to my friends before we all part ways, after graduation. I believe that this pageant will help me prepare for life’s journey ahead of me, such as public speaking, job interviews and internships.