The annual beauty pageant for women ages 21 to 56 will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 10, at the Kenton Ridge High School auditorium. Admission is $10.
But they won’t be prowling all alone. In less than two hours, three different tiaras will be doled out — one to Miss Teen Ohio International, one to Miss Ohio International and then one to the lucky, delicately aged missus.
In all, it’s three pageants on one night featuring Ohio ladies from 13 to 56. But this isn’t your mother’s, er, grandmother’s, er, you know, pageant.
With its inception in 1988, the International pageant system was the first to drop swimsuits in favor of more practical fitness wear, according to Jodi Cessna, a former Mrs. Pennsylvania herself who now oversees International pageants in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Ohio.
“I had no problem with wearing a swimsuit,” Cessna confessed, “but I didn’t normally go to the beach in high heels.”
Fifteen girls and women will compete Saturday night, with the winners going on to compete for the true international titles in Chicago in July.
“It’s women from all over the United States and different countries,” Cessna said. “I was Mrs. Pennsylvania and found myself standing between Mrs. Minnesota and Mrs. Sri Lanka.”
And just like there’s a Miss America and a Miss USA, there’s also a Mrs. Ohio America, which has a swimsuit portion.
But not having one isn’t like some moral judgment.
“They’re still in spandex,” Cessna said. “But your feet are much happier in tennis shoes.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0352 or amcginn@coxohio.com.
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