York Town News
Local woman seeks community's help to become Miss Maine USA
By Jennifer L. Saunders
Amanda Wright of York is hoping to become Miss Maine USA.
Courtesy photo
Wright, 21, grew up watching pageants on television with her mother. Her decision to seek the title of Miss Maine USA is the culmination of a childhood dream, and is a labor of love for this college student who also works full time in nearby Kittery.
"I was born and raised in York. I have lived here my whole life," said Wright, who graduated from York High School in 2003 after participating in such activities as cheerleading, theatre and chorus, and went on to volunteer at the school assisting with the cheering squad for several years.
Currently studying for her degree in business administration at York County Community College in Wells, Wright has been inducted into Phi Theta Kappa, a national honor society for two-year colleges. While studying and working, she decided it was time to take the first step down the runway by giving her dream a chance.
"All my life, my mom and I would always watch pageants. … I've always wanted to do pageants, but I didn't know how to go about doing that. … I was watching it on television one day, and I decided I was just going to do it," she said of Miss Maine USA, a two-day competition set for Nov. 25 and 26.
Wright recently competed for the title of Miss Hampton Beach, her first pageant, and came in fifth out of 30.
"I was so shocked. I had no experience whatsoever," Wright said.
That success was followed by the New England Royal Miss competition in Bangor, where Wright came in first overall in just her second pageant.
"It was really a big boost," she recalled.
In November, Wright will compete for Miss Maine USA, and she has already been hard at work raising the funds necessary to pay for the competition and working with former Miss Maine USA and reigning Mrs. Maine, Heather Clark, as her coach.
"She teaches me a lot about interview skills, dealing with the public and 'the walk.' The walk is actually a lot harder than it seems," Wright explained.
If Wright is crowned Miss Maine USA, she will become one of the national competitors for Miss USA. The contestants are judged in three categories: interview, swimsuit and evening gown.
"Everybody gets so worried about the interview and saying the right thing. I just look at it as meeting new friends," she said. "If I don't win, I'll be back the next year."
Wright said she is also hoping to compete in the Miss America system in the future, in which part of the selection is based on the contestant's platform and on their talents.
"I sing, so that's definitely my talent," she said, adding her platform would be raising funds and awareness for diabetes research.
The difficult part, Wright said, is the cost to enter and prepare for pageants such as these. She is currently approaching local businesses seeking participation in her program book to defray such expenses as the $595 entry fee, due Oct. 15, as well as coaching services, stylists and wardrobe. Individual donations are welcome as well, Wright said, and any funds raised above her expenses will be donated to the American Diabetes Association in honor of her father.
"I work full time just to go to school," she explained. "I've been working overtime and trying to put in so much extra effort. Any help at all would mean so much."
The experience so far, Wright said, has helped build her confidence.
"First place or last place, you have to be true to yourself. You can't go out there trying to pretend you're someone you're not," she said. "I'd rather fail on my own terms than succeed on someone else's."
Want to make a contribution or learn more about Amanda Wright's effort to become Miss Maine USA? E-mail somethingpink03@yahoo.com or write to Amanda Wright at P.O. Box 170, Eliot, ME 03903.
