Bay-Rama Beauty Pageant Gets Scholarship Boost

There's another reason for would-be beauty queens to practice their smiles: money.

Miss Bay-Rama and the two members of her court will receive $500 scholarships from on Green Street in New Baltimore.

"This kind of brings the pageant to a new level this year," Pageant director Lisa Edwards of the Anchor Bay Chamber of Commerce said Monday.

This is the first time scholarship money will be awarded during the competition. Like in the past, the queen and her court members will also receive stipends for gas and travel to mandatory community event appearances.

The pageant will start at 6:30 p.m. on the opening day of the Bay-Rama Fishfly Festival, which runs from June 20-24 in downtown New Baltimore.

The Miss Bay-Rama judges will look for personality, poise and confidence during attire and question-and-answer segments.

Among the requirements for entry are:

• Teen girls must be 16-19, single, never married and without children.
• Their principal residence must be in the Anchor Bay School District.
• They must attend practices for the pageant.

Last year, student Morgan Sommers was crowned Miss Bay-Rama. Sommers was among in the pageant--the highest amount in the past decade, according to organizers. .

For more information, visit www.bay-rama.com or email lisa.edwards39@yahoo.com. To fill out the contest application online, go to http://bay-rama.com/fishfly-festival-2012/191-2/