By Emily Duncan, Staff Writer
Fourteen female students share a common goal on campus: to be crowned the next Miss OCU.
The 30th anniversary Miss OCU pageant will be at 7 p.m. Oct. 23 in the Kirkpatrick Auditorium in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center.
Throughout the night contestants will compete in five areas of competition: on-stage question, swimsuit, talent, evening gown, and interview.
The pageant provides an opportunity for students to fund their education while promoting a platform that they are passionate about, said Darwina Marshall, executive director for Miss OCU and Miss OCU Teen.
Miss OCU is part of the Miss America Organization, Marshall said.
“This means the winner goes to the Miss Oklahoma pageant to compete for the state title in June of 2010,” she said. “So far, three Miss OCUs have gone on to win Miss Oklahoma.”
A spot in the Miss Oklahoma pageant is not all Miss OCU receives.
Three semesters of tuition paid, room and board fees and a year of free meals from Sodexo are three of the substantial prizes contestants are eligible to win.
Contestants have a range of pageant experience.
This will be Caroline Carthey’s third year to compete for the title. The acting senior has a new perspective on Miss OCU this year.
“I think what sets me apart this year from other years is that this year it’s a competition against myself,” she said. “I’ve done if for two years and I just want to have fun.”
Another change Carthey has made involves a new platform, “Bought with Price.” Through this platform, Carthey said her goal is to educate and raise awareness about human sex trafficking.
The pageant is not what inspired Carthey to involve herself in this platform. Carthey said she got involved last year through the Spero Project, a local agency that creates awareness about human trafficking.
The passion Carthey developed through volunteering with the Spero Project is what motivated her to compete in Miss OCU again this year, she said.
“I wasn’t originally going to do it this year, but I got to thinking and I changed my mind,” Carthey said. “It made me translate my thoughts to paper about getting others aware of human sex trafficking.”
Carthey said competing in the pageant is beneficial.
“It’s taught me how to be poised when I speak and have an opinion and be comfortable in keeping it even when it’s not popular,” she said.
For Jeanette Sealey, Miss OCU will be a new experience. The dance management sophomore competed last summer in a Miss Oklahoma preliminary pageant. Miss OCU will be her second Miss America Organization pageant.
“I’m a little nervous and I’m usually not nervous on stage but this is different,” she said. “It’s hard because its front of your peers.”
Sealey is preparing herself to control her nerves.
“I’m working on my talent and practicing my walk in my heels,” she said. “I’ve been preparing for interview by staying up-to-date on reading the news.”
Sealey also is prepping herself in areas that deal with her platform- informing the public about hearing loss and newborn hearing screening. Sealy said she chose her platform after involving herself in an organization, Hearts for Hearing. The organization assists children with hearing loss.
She said her appreciation for music throughout high school and college also helped solidify her platform choice.
“Music is a big part of my life and I want these kids to hear music,” she said. “I feel like music shaped me.”
Sealey said she’s not focusing on winning, though future goals include being Miss Oklahoma.
“I’ve learned that when I focus on winning I don’t win,” she said. “You can win you relax and just let yourself have fun.”
To purchase tickets call the OCU ticket office at 405-208-5227. Tickets are $10 for students.
This article initially appeared in the Oct. 13 issue of The Campus.
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