CMU student to compete in Miss Michigan pageant

Charlotte Bodak/Assistant Photo Editor
Edwardsburg resident India Jackson laughs as she holds a photo of herself after competing in a pageant Sunday evening. “There are a lots of pros competing in competitions,” said Jackson. “You can win things from clothing to scholarships.”

The opportunity to compete in the Miss Michigan pageant is a big step for sophomore India Jackson.

Coming from Edwardsburg, a small town, Jackson will compete to be crowned Miss Michigan in Port Huron on Friday and Saturday, where entrants will be judged on their performances in the evening gown, fitness/swimsuit and final question competition.

Entrants will move on to the second day of competition after passing the evening gown and fitness/swimsuit portions.

Jackson said she’s competing because of the networking and scholarship opportunities the competition brings.

“It’s a perfect opportunity to make connections with different people,” she said.

Jackson won her hometown competition, being crowned Miss Edwardsburg 2010.

“If I win, I get a lot of scholarship money,” she said. “It’s definitely a motive for competing.”

The competition awards more than $1 million in college scholarships to the winners, finalists and semi-finalists.

Jackson also said she is competing to prove something to herself and to dispel the pagaent girl stereotype.

“Part of me is doing it just to prove to myself that I can actually do something like this,” she said. “There’s a lot of stereotypes about pageants and trying to challenge the stereotypes that you don’t have to be a ditzy girl to come out on top.”

She said the transition from her small hometown to Mount Pleasant to now competing for the chance to be Miss Michigan is a large one.

“It’s a big transition for me,” she said. “This is huge for compared to where I’m from.”

Miss Universe Organization Executive Director Melissa Pitchford said there is a huge amount of competition this year.

“We are overwhelmed by the response and caliber of all the participants from Michigan,” Pitchford said.

Jackson said the competition makes her nervous but excited at the same time.

She said she is taking 14 credits this semester and is trying to find the perfect balance between the competition and school.

“I’m just trying to focus on school,” she said. “I’m trying to give everything an equal amount of attention. I’m not pulling my hair out yet.”

The broadcast and cinematic arts major said when she finishes school, she wants to be a television personality and report on entertainment news.

“I want to be a TV personality like Ryan Seacrest,” she said. “I want to report on entertainment news.”

She said no matter how well she does in the competition, school is the most important thing to focus on.

“School’s the main priority,” she said. “No matter what.”