As December rolls around at Homewood High, that means the production of the annual Miss Heritage Pageant. This year’s evening of glitz and glamor will be hosted in the auditorium on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. with 55 female students participating in hopes of winning the crown and $1,500 scholarship.
Byron Mosquera, Show Choir director at HHS, is the new primary event coordinator after the retirement of former director Scott Thorne last year and has taken on more responsibilities to facilitate the pageant smoothly.
The pageant adopts a different theme in terms of set design and musical choice each year. Mosquera says that this year’s inspiration draws from musical artist Taylor Swift and her massive influence on culture currently.
The event itself is not limited to the evening’s on-stage pageant, but also consists of an individual interview with the judges for the girls to showcase their personality and intelligence.
“The girls will first come in the morning and do an interview with the judges,” Mosquera said. “They will ask them questions about themselves based on their information form that they filled out when registering. It’s really an opportunity for the girls to get interview experience and show their personality.”
The interview portion accounts for only one part of the multiple categories a participant is judged on. In addition to their professional abilities, the girls are judged on their poise and confidence on stage in the evening pageant.
“In the evening they have the actual pageant,” Mosquera said, “They’ll do an opening number with an outfit they choose that represents who they are as a person. After that, they’ll go into the evening gown which is floor length and walk the stage while their accomplishments and involvements are read out.”
The scores are totaled after these events and the top 20 contestants – five from each grade level– are chosen to answer a final onstage interview question in order to distinguish the class queens and coveted Miss Heritage.
During the judge’s deliberations, the audience is entertained by musical performances from guest singers, and also the highly anticipated escort dance in collaboration with the Star Spangled Girls.
The escorts for the pageant are male HHS students who accompany the participants onto the stage in the evening gown portion, usher audience members to their seats before the show and perform a choreographed dance number during the intermission.
“We typically have a lot of athletes like baseball and basketball players,” Mosquera said. “It’s kind of one of those moments for guys who might not be in show choir to get in there and do some dancing for fun.”
For participants like Cate Geer, the pageant is not just about the hair and makeup. Geer, a Junior at HHS and three-year participant who was crowned Freshman Queen and top five her sophomore year, believes that her involvement has been enriching on multiple levels.
“I think it’s a great opportunity,” Geer said. “I get to talk to girls I don’t usually talk to, get good interview experience and have an excuse to put on a fancy dress. I really feel that all of the girls who participate highlight Homewood in such a positive light, and I’m honored to share the stage with them.”
Geer says that her and most girl’s preparations for the pageant extended into the weeks before including hair and makeup appointments, as well as finding the perfect outfits to wear for each event. Participants must also take the time to polish their interview skills and rehearse their on-stage question in case they make it to the top five of their grade.
As tradition dictates, Charlotte Lee, the 2022 Miss Heritage, will return to HHS to pass the crown to the next winner. This ceremonious act will occur at the conclusion of the 2023 pageant on Saturday evening, an event sure to embody grace, talent and celebration.
