Florida Blue Key crowns winner of Miss University of Florida Pageant

February 11, 2009

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida Blue Key hosted its annual Miss University of Florida Pageant with a 500-person crowd at 7 p.m. on Feb. 2 in the Phillips Center. At the event, outstanding young women competed in various categories for a chance to enter the Miss Florida Pageant and subsequently the Miss America Pageant held later this year. This year’s Miss University of Florida crown went to Paige Smith. The Miss Florida Gator Scholarship recipient is Diana Kelly.

As an age-old University of Florida tradition, the pageant is a fantastic event taken seriously by judges and contestants. Lauren Beard, contestant eight, said she calmed herself before her piano performance of “Chopsticks” by repeating, “I’m not nervous anymore. I practiced this a thousand times. There’s no point in being nervous anymore.”

Pageant judge Shelly Meyer, who has spoken at other Florida Blue Key-sponsored events, riled up the crowd by leading Gator chants during each intermission. Gainesville City Commissioner and UF Student Affairs Vice President Jeanna Mastrodicasa also served on the judging panel. The remaining judges are Miss America-certified. Brooke Helvie, Miss University of Florida 2008, asked contestants questions and sang “Somewhere over the Rainbow.”

The esteemed pageant is a competitive event that evaluates contestants on various criteria, including their leadership and service inspiration, an on-stage talent performance and an eveningwear presentation. The contestants performed an array of talents, such as a piano performance, a comedic monologue and baton twirling.

Aside from being exceptionally beautiful and talented, the participants are also role-models, excelling in leadership, scholarship and service.

“This is not just a beauty contest,” said Amanda Hall, Miss UF Pageant director. “These are normal girls. These girls are leaders on campus representing a philanthropic organization that they support in the Gainesville community.” The contestants shared their passion for organizations such as Gainesville Pet Rescue and Healthy Women, Healthy World.

Florida Blue Key also hosts the annual Gator Growl pep rally and coordinates the annual Homecoming festivities. Its annual Speaker’s Bureau Speech & Debate Tournament is continually regarded as one of the most prestigious debate tournaments in the country.

For more information, contact Amanda Hall at 863-449-0576 or Steve Reiss at 561-271-2380. For further details about the Miss University of Florida Pageant, visit Florida Blue Key’s Web site at http://www.fbk.org.