The Calendar Girls pageant popular at area high schools will now be brought to Turkey Creek Middle School. The first pageant will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at the school’s multipurpose room.
“Why should all the high schools have all the fun? This will get them going,” organizer Julie Hasting said.
Hasting and Amanda Duncan are organizing the pageant. The idea started as an FFA sweetheart pageant. But they wanted to have an event where the whole student body could participate.
“It’s great,” Duncan said. “It prepares them for high school, but (also with) a lot of local pageants going on. They can use their dresses more than once.”
Not only will it give them practice for the high school Calendar Girls, its main function is a fundraiser. One of the things organizer would like to use the money raised for is end of the year sports banquets, which the school has not been able to fund.
To make it affordable for all contestants, they will only have to sell four business card ads for $15 each and 10 calendars at $15 each. Hasting and principal Fredda Johnson both have bought business sponsors.
Hasting stressed the affordability aspect of the pageant.
“Some of the girls won’t be able to do this in high school because it’s expensive,” Hasting said.
Johnson was a little hesitant about the pageant at first. But Hasting has taken a liking to calling it a “Confidence Pageant.”
“I’m not from a pageant background,” Johnson said. “But once they laid it out, I felt comfortable. I want it to be fair. This is something that helps the girls realize it’s not just their outside presence but what’s on the inside that counts.”
All girls competing will be featured in the calendar whether in a group shot or as a month or cover girl. The public speaking portion will be 40% of the judging.
“If these girls get up there and have the confidence, then there is no better or worse,” Duncan said.
A modeling agent will come coach the girls on modeling techniques versus pageant walks to emphasize the contestants’ natural beauty and movements.
All the judges will be from out of town. Michael Cameron from Cameron Financial Management will be the tabulator, and Jennifer Morgan and Lisa Harris Tucker will be emcees. National Honors Society students and FFA officers will escort the girls the night of the pageant.
“It’s a good way to show school spirit,” Johnson said. “It will really unify the school. We’re middle school and we’re proud.”
Tickets will be $10 at the door.
TURKEY CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL CALENDAR GIRLS
When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15
Where: Turkey Creek Middle School, 5005 S. Turkey Creek Road
Cost: $10