And the winners are. Front row: Natalia Diaz, Young Miss Sullivan County 2010; Dara Schiff, Miss Sullivan County Pre-Teen 2010. Back row: Christina Buckler, pageant director; Jessica Goins, Miss Sullivan County International 2010; Jennifer Ferris, Mrs. Sullivan County International 2010; Taylor Murphy, Miss Teen Sullivan County International 2010, Amy Bernhardt, assistant pageant director.
Story and photos by Ted Waddell
CALLICOON – Beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder, and that old adage was never more to the point than on Saturday night, when a select number of young girls, teenagers and beautiful women participated in the 2010 Sullivan County International Pageant which took place before a crowd of 700-some people at the Villa Roma Resort and Conference Center.
The coronation of Natalia Diaz as Young Miss Sullivan County 2010.
The theme of the 2010 pageant was “A Tribute to the 1960’s”, and the evening got off to a 60s-flavored start as the contestants paraded around the stage in front of a backdrop laced with distinctive Woodstock logos, followed by a video of Jimi Hendricks performing his brand of the National Anthem, a flash back in time to the original 1969 Aquarian Exposition known as “Woodstock”.
The popular event was divided into five categories as contestants vied for the crowning tiaras and the chance to move up to higher level pageant competitions: Young Miss Sullivan County 2010 (ages 5-8), Miss Sullivan County Pre-Teen (ages 7-12), Miss Sullivan County International 2010 (ages 13-18), Miss Sullivan County International 2010 (ages 19-29) and Mrs. Sullivan County International 2010 (ages 21-56).
The judges voted on more than just perceived beauty, as the contestants were graded in several categories such as their ability to project a vibrant onstage presence, grace and poise before the crowd, and confidence in answering questions both during private interviews and interviews in front hundreds of folks.
A kiss for the winner. Amy Bernhardt, assistant pageant director, congratulates Dara Schiff as Miss Sullivan County Pre-Teen 2010.
Scoring for the competition included: Young Miss Sullivan County and Miss Pre-Teen Sullivan County: casual wear (25% of the overall score), party dress/evening gown (25%), and onstage interview (50%). Miss Teen Sullivan County International, Miss Sullivan County International, and Mrs. Sullivan County International: private interview (40%), fitness wear (20%), evening gown (20%), and onstage interview (20%).
Winners of the three highest levels will return to the Villa Roma on October 9, 2010 to compete in the New York International Pageant. Adrianna Sherwood, Miss Teen New York International 2010 an 18-year old teenage and senior at Tri-Valley High School was recently diagnosed with MS, but that didn’t stop her from attending the ceremony and interviewing contestants, on stage.
Miss New York International 2010 Jacqueline Brooks, 25, of Long Island served as the pageant’s special guest and mistress of ceremonies. A pageant competitor since 2001, throughout the year she will be focusing on her platform titled “Hang Proud” which is designed to promote positive self-esteem amongst young women by turning negative feelings about themselves into positive action in their schools, churches, and communities.
Dara Schiff, Miss Sullivan County Pre-Teen 2010.
“The girls are excellent and should be very proud of themselves,” said Heather Shively, 17, of Delaware, Miss Teen All-America.
This year’s pageant featured a panel of five judges: Karen Watson, on the committee of the Miss Finger Lakes Scholarship Pageant, Miss Greater Rochester Scholarship Pageant, Wayne County Fair Pageant and the Newark Rose Pageant; Brian Rubin, reporter for the Shawangunk Journal; Michelle Semarano, Thunder 102 radio personality of “Ciliberto & Friends”; Fred Wright, CEO and president of Miss Teen All American Pageant; and Jessica Dymond, community development associate at New Hope Community. Jodi and Scott Cessna of Altoona, Pa. attended the local pageant and addressed the crowd during the event. They serve as directors of the International Teen, Miss and Mrs. Pageants of Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio.
Christina Buckler won the title of Miss Sullivan County Teenager in 1997, and was back on the stage as director of the 2010 Sullivan County International Pageant. “We don’t like to call it a beauty pageant because of all the stereotypes,” she said.
Taylor Murphy, Miss Teen Sullivan County International 2010.
According to Buckler a lot of the points are derived from the interviews conducted by the panel of judges, and as title holders the girls select platforms or organizations they will support throughout the year to raise awareness of their particular causes.
Assistant director Amy Bernhardt has been working with pageants in the county for a couple of decades, starting with Linda Cellini and then Maurice Gerry who ran the local events for years. “It’s not about how much your gown costs, it’s all about how you present yourself, and that shines through,” she said.
Stepping up to the podium for farewell speeches were Angel Herrmann, Young Miss Sullivan County 2008 and Sarah Carr, Miss Sullivan County Pre-Teen 2008.
“Being Miss Pre-Teen Sullivan County has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” said Carr. “I have had the opportunity to meet some of the most wonderful people which I will always keep in my heart…to the young lady who will be crowned next make your reign spectacular. Be patient, be kind and be understanding, but most importantly, be positive.”
Tabitha Curry, one of the contestants in the race for Miss Teen Sullivan County International 2010 is overcome with emotion as the winner is announced.
After the winners were crowned, the contestants mingled with their parents and friends on stage amidst tears of joy mixed with a little sadness, and later tucked away their glittering evening gowns for the future.
Winners of the 2010 Sullivan County International Pageant
Young Miss Sullivan County (Natalia Diaz, 6, of Monticello), First Place Runner-Up (Lindsey Cruz), Second Place Runner-Up (Christina Samantha), Third Place Runner-Up (Antonya Arscott).
Miss Sullivan County Pre-Teen (Dara Schiff, 9, of Ferndale), First Place Runner-Up (Krystal Warf), Second Place Runner-Up (Tatianna Ackerley), Third Place Runner-Up (Gabriella Budd), Fourth Place Runner-Up (Nicole Brennan), Fifth Place Runner-Up (Taylor Valentine).
Miss Teen Sullivan County International (Taylor Murphy, 14, of Jeffersonville), First Place Runner-Up (Grace Ienuso), Second Place Runner-Up (Sarah Thilberg), Third Place Runner-Up (Katherine Thilberg), Fourth Place Runner-Up (Jessyca Wolcott).
Jennifer Ferris, Mrs. Sullivan County International 2010.
Miss Sullivan County International
Jessica Goins, 18, of Callicoon), First Place Runner-Up (Felicia Ramos), Second Place Runner-Up (Amanda Maner).
Mrs. Sullivan County International (Jennifer Ferris, 38, of Mountandale), First Place Runner-Up (Kathryn Miller).
2010 Sullivan County International Pageant Special Awards – People’s Choice Award (Marina Braddock). Young Miss Photogenic (Natalia Diaz), Miss Pre-Teen Photogenic (Amanda Rampe), Miss Teen Photogenic (Ynez Jones), Miss Photogenic (Jessica Laymon), and Mrs. Photogenic ( Jennifer Ferris).
For information regarding the Sullivan County International Pageant, visit their website: http://sullivancountypageant.web.officelive.com.
To view more photos or to purchase prints from A Pageant of Glittering Lights visit the Chronicle on Zenfolio.
The Catskill Chronicle 
I too, was once in this pageant and won the title of Miss Sullivan County Teen in 1997. It was my first pageant and I loved the experience and made some new friends! I was 13 at the time and because of the pageant, some new doors opened up for me. I have judged the pageant twice since my win and can tell you that this pageant is definitely not like the “Glitz” pageants you see on TV, as Christina said.
I think those type of shows send out a bad message. I have watched “Toddlers and Tiara” and “Little Miss Perfect” in the past and I too get aggravated with the message that it sends.
In my opinion, the “Sullivan County Pageant” gives girls the confidence to stand out, rather than fit in and it shows our community that there are people who care about our area and want to represent it.
I don’t think there is any “Sleeze Factor” about it at all.
Have you had the chance to attend it? If not, then maybe next year you can, and let us know what your opinion is, I bet you leave afterward realizing it isn’t what you thought!
As the Director of the Sullivan County International Pageant, I would like to clear up some of the common misconceptions that people have about pageants. We are in no way a “glitz” pageant as many have seen in television programs such as “Toddlers & Tiaras”. In the Sullivan County International pageant the young children wear casual wear outfits and formal wear which only account for 50% of their score (25% & 25%). The other 50% of the their score is actually based solely on how well they can speak and their composure while doing so. I personally competed in this pageant when I was ten years old and loved the experience which is why we continue to offer this opportunity to girls and women throughout the County.
Re: Young Miss Sullivan County — why subject little children to a contest where looks are the justification for entering? My 5 year old granddaughter is beautiful, really beautiful, and I would hit the roof if she was entered in such a display. There are plenty of other activities in the county that help develop poise and public speaking without the sleeze factor so evident in “beauty contests”. Let children be children, not miniature sex objects.