A Sooner is one step closer to the Miss America pageant.
Taylor Treat was crowned Miss OU among 11 other contestants, and will compete in the 2008 Miss Oklahoma pageant in June against 40 other women. If she wins the Miss Oklahoma pageant she could go on to compete in the Miss America pageant.
“She will be the face of the university and of the community,” pageant director Josh Hammers said.
Treat, a communications senior, was the third runner-up in the Miss Oklahoma pageant last year after she won the Miss Edmond State Fair crown.
Treat will make appearances at various campus events like Big Event, Day of Caring and Dance Marathon and will visit Norman schools, Hammers said. She will also complete a year of community service and is the recipient of up to $1,000 in scholarships and $300 in textbook grants, he said.
Contestant Lydia Gray, music sophomore, said she knows many women who have put themselves through college by winning money in pageants.
Miss OU represents Norman through community service, and she also represents the student body, Gray said.
Each contestant had a specific platform, ranging from mentoring, to healthy lifestyles, to helping serve the community, Hammers said.
The contestants raised $1,200 for the Children’s Miracle Network, an alliance of hospitals for children. Each contestant was required to raise a minimum of $100 for the network. Treat will help raise money to advance breast cancer research for the network, Hammers said.
University College freshman Olivia Barton attended the pageant to support her suitemate, who is a contestant, and said she thinks Miss OU is valued for her involvement on campus and ability to help students in situations where she is needed.
Barton said this was her first pageant to attend.
Gray said the Miss OU Pageant is broken into a series of five competitions: a private interview with the judges, swimsuit, evening gown, talents and the on-stage question.
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STeimers 3 years, 7 months ago
Next time try interviewing people who DIDN'T go to your high school.
JWade 3 years, 7 months ago
hahaha, this contest is ridiculous.