This year’s Miss OCU Pageant will take place at 7 p.m. Oct. 19 in the Kirkpatrick Auditorium in the Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center.
This year, 13 contestants, ranging from sophomores to seniors, will compete for the crown.
The competition weekend will kick off with the Mr. OCU Pageant on Oct. 18, and will continue with the Miss OCU activities on Oct. 19.
Tickets to Miss OCU will cost $15, and can be purchased in advance from participants, or at the door of the event.
The participants will be evaluated in categories including an offstage personal interview, onstage question, personal fitness & swimwear, onstage talent, and evening wear.
The five judges of the pageant are OCU alumni and community leaders, including two former Miss OCU winners.
Darwina Marshall, president and executive director of the Miss OCU pageant, says the judges are looking for a true representative of the OCU community.
“The judges are looking for a contestant who can represent the voice of the student body, the ideals of the Oklahoma City University community, and our affiliation with the Methodist Church,” Marshall said.
One of the most important aspects of the pageant is the contestant’s commitment to their charitable platform. Judges look for a contestant who has strong leadership skills within the community and can best represent OCU’s commitment to service leadership.
“Miss OCU has a large responsibility in sharing the message of her service with the school, the community, and, hopefully, at the national level,” Marshall said. “OCU has a deep commitment to servant leadership, and we are looking for a representative who shares that passion.”
The winner and first runner up of the competition will receive tuition assistance through scholarships.
Marshall emphasizes that this is the reason why many young women choose to participate in pageants throughout their educational careers.
“We have a strong pageant tradition at OCU,” Marshall said. “Many of these young women have chosen to become leaders in the community through pageants while fulfilling their educational dreams through the scholarships that the competitions provide.”
Once chosen, Miss OCU will secure her spot in the Miss Oklahoma pageant in June and will work with the Board of Miss OCU to ensure a strong performance at the state competition.
Sarah Beth White, the current Miss OCU, said the competition gives participants a chance to represent their school in a meaningful way.
“The position of Miss OCU gives young women the opportunity of a lifetime to represent and uphold the ideals of strong women,” White said. “It’s an absolute joy to represent the students and the core values of OCU at Miss Oklahoma.”
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