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ROTUJN DA
SIXTY-SIXTH YEAR
TUESDAY, MARCH 17,
NINETEEN
Miss Longwood Pageant This Saturday The First Runnerup to Miss America (the reigning Miss Virginia) will be among special performers at the Miss Longwood Pageant Saturday, March 21, at 8:00 p.m. in Jarman Auditorium. As First Runnerup to Miss America, and as a Swimsuit Preliminary Winner, Julianne Smith won a $19,500 scholarship. In the Miss Virginia Pageant, she was a Talent Winner and recipient of a $2,000 scholarship and other gifts. With one exception, she fared better than any other Miss Virginia in the history of the Miss America Pageant. The exception was Kylene Barker, who won the national title in 1978. Julianne, 22, a former U.S.O. and Busch Gardens entertainer, is currently touring the United States as a member of the Miss America Troupe, a group of six Miss America contestants. Other special performers at the Miss longwood Pageant include the Held-Over Sisters, a widely acclaimed musical variety act that "stole the show" at last year's Miss I/mgwood pageant; the Karen Sherrill Dance Arts Troupe of North Carolina, which consists of 13 pageant winners and others; and Holly Jereme Wright, Miss Virginia of 1980, who will serve as emcee. Ms. Wright hai been featured at the state pageai't for each of the past six years. "Held Over," a Richmond croup, consists of three sisters,
ages 15, 13 and 12. They have performed their singing, dancing, and comedy act before audiences of all ages along the east coast. Two of the girls have had theater experience as Von Trapp children in "The Sound of Music." One appeared nationally on a "PM Magazine" television feature on mannequin modeling and on a WXEX-TV production on break dancing. The Karen Sherrill Dance Arts Troupe has won over 50 first place awards at talent competitions throughout the east. They have performed extensively for more than 100 pageants and special events. Most of the dancers are college students, and 13 of the 15 currently hold or have held pageant titles. They are choreographing numbers especially for the Miss Longwood Pageant, including the theme opener, "Catch a Wave," from the Beach Boys. Emcee Holly Jereme Wright, Miss Virginia 1980, is regarded as one of the most versatile and talented women to ever win the state title. She is a dancer, singer, actress, and comedian. In addition to her annual appearances at the Miss Virginia Pageant, she performs at the Miss North Carolina Pageant, the Miss Wheelchair America Pageant, and the Miss Wheelchair Virginia Pageant. She currently owns and operates the Elizabeth City School of Dance in North Carolina. She is a
graduate of East Carolina University with a degree in dance and drama. The Miss Longwood Pageant has built a reputation as one of the outstanding local pageants in Virginia. And according to Pageant Director H. Donald Winkler, "we're doing everything we can to maintain that reputation." This year's show, he said, "should be one of the best ever." Ten contestants, chosen from 30 in preliminaries held last November, will compete for the Miss Longwood crown. The winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship, a $500 cash award to assist with wardrobe expenses for the Miss Virginia Pageant in July, and an official Miss America crown. Golden Corral Family Restaurant of Farmville is providing the scholarship and cash award. Other scholarships to be awarded include $700 for the Second Runnerup (primarily from Carmine Foods), $300 for the Third Runnerup (from the Pageant Director Don Winkler), and $100 for the Fourth Runnerup. A talent winner and Miss Congeniality also will be announced. Students can buy tickets in advance for $2.00 or at the door for $3.00. Sororities will be selling tickets at the discount price during the week of the pageant. JULIANNE SMITH
The 1987 Miss Ungwood Pageant contestants: (from left to right) Sandra Clayton, Bonita Turner, KeUy Shannon, Elizabeth Cho, Missy Little, Susan Ragan, Sonja Venters, Debbie Wood and Anita Washington. Not pictured: Carla Lockhart.