Erin McShay
http://murrayjournal.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Stacey+Hansen+crowned+new+Miss+Murray-%20&id=3901123
On Sept. 12, 12 talented young women competed in the city’s annual Miss Murray pageant, though only one lucky individual got to take home the crown. Murray High School graduate Stacey Marie Hansen won the title for 2010. Hansen competed in the pageant the previous two years.
“It’s been her third year in the program and she really deserved to win,” said Leesa Lloyd, pageant director. “We are all so happy for her.”
The contest was open to young women living in Murray between the ages of 17 to 24 years old. The contestants were judged 30 percent on their talent, 35 percent on their interview skills, 15 percent on evening wear, 15 percent on swim suit wear, and 5 percent for their on stage question. After totallingall of their scores, the judges rank their top five in order.
Lloyd, a dance teacher at Murray High School, has directed the pageant for the past 14 years. She said the judges looked for service-oriented young women who hope to pursue an education after high school.
Murray City gave the pageant $4,100 for scholarship winners. Hansen won $2,400 for Miss Murray. The first runner, Kaitlin Pollei, was awarded $800; second runner up Shannon Ma won $600, third runner up Marion Stobell won $400, and fourth runner up Mallory Rogers won $200.
The pageant included a Little Miss Murray contest with girls between the ages of 7-9. The winner, Mykenzy Ford, drew a picture of why Murray is the greatest city in America.
Also on the night of the event, the pageant director announced a surprise Woman of Achievement award winner in Murray. This year’s award went to Rhea Kiisel, a previous Murray pageant director. Kiisel was responsible for starting up the pageant in the 1970’s. Kiisel went on to direct the state’s Miss Utah pageant.
Miss Murray’s duties are to ride in all the parades, get involved with the Murray Chamber, and implement a platform she feels passionate about.
The former Miss Murray, Cari Southwick, worked for organ and tissue donor awareness. Southwick highly recommends other young women get involved with pageants.
“It’s definitely changed my life,” Southwick said. “I’ve learned so much; it’s made me the woman I am today.”
Southwick now plans to continue working towards her social work degree at the Salt Lake Community College and to marry her fiancée in February.
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