Miss Chippewa has contestants dancing for Women's Aid Services
Miss Chippewa was crowned Wednesday night among ribbon dances, recitations and dance moves.
About 80 people attended the first Miss Chippewa contest, to raise money for Women’s Aid Services of Isabella County, said Cadillac junior Rachel Risch.
“We knew we wanted to do something with girls, we knew we wanted to do a beauty pageant so they kind of complemented each other,” she said.
The RPL 430 event was held at Coco Joe's, 4855 E. Broomfield Road.
Bethany Bacheller, Miss Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle won the title with a ribbon dance.
The Carey Resident Adviser said she was excited about the support from her residents.
“I’m not really a pageant girl,” the Freemont senior said. “I wouldn’t really do it if it wasn’t for the cause… I think it’s great, it’s for women and it’s for the local community.”
Each participant performed in four rounds of the competition, biography and sash, sportswear, talent and personal question.
Megan Swisher, Miss West Point Village, recited a portion of Wicked, a speech by Nessarose Thropp, Wicked Witch of the East.
The Sunfield junior said she wants to participate in the Miss America Production of Pageants, starting with Miss West Michigan in November.
“My roommate thought it would be a really good experience for me since I want to get involved in the Miss America Contest,” she said. “I thought it would be a good plan to get scholarships and go on to grad school.”
Just as Swisher was looking beyond the pageant, Tara Buening, 23, Mount Pleasant, came out for the cause, not just the event.
“I work for women’s aid, so it’s just part of sponsoring our own agency and it sounded fun,” Buening said.
The agency also receives money from school events, fundraisers and this year they were sponsored by the Lady’s Night downtown.
Miss Freshman, Macomb freshman Nicole Basilico, won first runner up and Miss Infusion, Hartland sophomore Jacquelyn Babinski, won second runner up.
Babinski used part of her Infusion dance routine as a solo dance for her talent, which was her favorite part of the show.
“I think it’s a really important cause and my major is geared toward kids that have to deal with domestic violence,” she said. “So for me it was a … great cause.”
