Contestants Chantal Ramos and Hailey Garcia take time out before their competition in the Diamond Queen Pageant on Friday in San Juan. (Delcia Lopez| [email protected])
SAN JUAN — Glamor, grace and poise are all key factors in a pageant — qualities which were on full display here Friday at PSJA Early College High School, where young women of the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo area participated in a pageant for the chance of securing a $1,000 scholarship.
The high school kicked off its inaugural Diamond Queen Pageant Friday afternoon and featured seven contestants, who just before the event were seen “backstage” preparing for the show. Contestants and volunteers hurried as makeup was applied, gowns were prepared, lines were rehearsed and performers practiced.
For Benilfa Gonzalez, Spanish teacher at PSJA High, this was the culmination of efforts to start a new tradition of excellence and opportunity.
The pageant was open to high school seniors at PSJA High.
PSJA Principal Rowdy Vela, who previously worked at Memorial, wanted to bring the pageant to the high school to give the students the opportunity to learn new skills.
Before announcing the pageant the administration wanted to come up with a name that reflected their school.
“We are the crown jewel of PSJA, that’s how we’re known because this was the first high school in the PSJA district,” Gonzalez said that the name, Diamond Queen, also stemmed from the school colors.
Each of the contestants were given a total of 55 tickets that they had to sell ahead of the pageant which helped raise money for the $1,000 scholarship prize.
For 17-year-old Samantha Delgadillo, the scholarship would go toward attending one of her dream schools — Texas A&M, University of Texas at Arlington or University of North Texas.
“I would definitely use it toward my education,” Delgadillo said. “That is one thing off my shoulders .. not having to worry about where I’m going to get that grand from.”
“This is only for seniors because the seniors are the ones that are going to be graduating and the money we want for them to use is for college,” Gonzalez added.
Judges scored contestants the design of their own spirit stick, and for the stage interview and presence for how they presented themselves on stage.
Delgadillo said her favorite part of the pageant was being with the other contestants, “because even though I go to school with them I didn’t know them on a personal level and now that we’re in this pageant together we’re getting to know each other.”
“It’s just a new friend that you make and it’s going to be bittersweet at the end when we graduate,” Delgadillo added.
PSJA dance teacher Monica Acevedo served as a co-sponsor for the pageant, together with Gonzalez, and her role was to help coordinate many of the functions. She helped get the orchestra, dance team, choir and theater to participate, and also set up the stage.
“With this pageant we are going to showcase beauty, precision, and also intelligence along with being a well rounded young lady,” Acevedo said, adding she wanted to create the ambiance of a “true pageant.”
Acevedo said a modeling coach was hired to work with the contestants to help build their confidence, which she said will serve them well on their journey toward becoming tomorrow’s leaders.
“I hope that with this pageant they are able to build their confidence, they are able to use these leadership skills and interview qualities for … whenever they go off to get their careers,” Acevedo said. “I hope they turn out to be strong, educated young women.”
