Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / June 8, 1989, edition 1 / Page 13
Part of The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
€Kie‘Cliatlotte Host Thursday, June 8,1989 LIFESTYLES Section B Page One By LORA VAPTOERHALL lifestyles Editor WestFest, Inc. sponsored Its first annual Ms. WestFest Pa geant, In addition to the one day festival. Since the start of the festival In 1986, there has been an In terest In expanding to two days Instead of one, said Sam Young, president of WestFest, Inc. 'We wanted to give black wom en an outlet that they may not have had growing up," said OlUe Hough, pageant director. Hough Is a fashion designer and In the past has worked with a variety of pageants Including the Miss Black South Carolina Pageant and Miss Black USA Pageemt. She is also the owner of O. H. Fashions In Lancaster, S.C. Preparations for the pageant ; began as earfy as February with the Initial recruitment. "We placed applications In several locations and we had approximately 25 applications. Eighteen were chosen but we ended up with 15 contestants." said Hough. The pageant was open to women between the ages of 21 and 40, regardless of marital status. Soon after the official an nouncement of the pageant at a press conference, rehearsals began. "We had rehearsals at the Afro-American Cultural, Spaugh Middle School and the final re hearsals were at the Civic Cen ter," she said. During the course of rehear sals the contestants went through a series of workshops Including: speech Instruction, modeling tips, dance lessons and clothing tips. 'We also had a pizza parly, a catered pool party and we were the invited guest of the Civic League's annual 'Evening Under the Stars’, On the day of the pageant the contestants stayed at the Ra* dlsson Plaza Hotel, courtesy of Soft Sheen Products of Chicago, one of the co-sponsors. Other sponsors included WJZY Channel 46. Fashion Fair Cosmetics and radio station WPEG. Prior to the start of the pa geant the contestants were In terviewed by the Judges. "They were Judged on commu nications and salesmanship," said Hough. Those two catego ries accounted for a maximum of 20 points each. "The total number of points that could be received was 155," said Young. Other categories Included; tal ent-40 points, evening gown-25 points. personaIlly-30 points and swlmwear-20 points. "The Individual with the high est number of points was se lected Ms. WestFest." Young said. The pageant commentators were Samantha Thompson, of WPEG and John Gordon, of WJZY. After the prelude the contest ants Introduced themselves while doing a song and dance number to 'Bubbling Browns Sugar.' "They wore top hats and tafia? s with a variety of colored cum- merbimds. "Ms. Barbara Howse-Meadowss? choreographed the dance," Hough ^d^. Seven seml-flnallst were cho- ;? sen based on the number of points each had acquired. The semi-finalist were: Chella Mills, Amy Villegas, Lisa Bige- low-Basnlght, Kathy Mingo, Deborah Osborne, Tommicha 'jr — Hi H— Chiffon Dinkins, 21, sang 'And Fm Telling You' and 'His Eye Is On The Sparrow.' Denise Harrison, 26, is shown above modeling swimwear. 't, Sweet Obsession was the featured group at the coronation ball. Walker and Angela Williams. 'Each (semi-flnallst) had to ? answer a question on stage,’ Hou^ said. "The Judges were trying to se lect a spokesperson to repre sent WestFest," she said. Young added."It was not a beauty contest or a talent con test. It was based on choosing a well rounded person who would be a good spokesperson. "She (Ms. WestFest) needs to be aware of who we are as blacks, willing to serve and be representative of black women In this community vdth poise, beauly, charm and grace. She has to have a social conscience and be willing to work In the projects as well as the board room." The Judges were; Donna Blunt Philadelphia, Pa: Larry Mallory, Chicago, 111: Dr. Douglas Rucker. Lancaster. S.C.: Diane Ervin, Charlotte: and Kirk Myers. Charleston. S.C. "We felt very secure In the fair ness of the pageant." said Yotu^, "Ihe talent Ural was presented ranged from singing to mono logues. "After the competition we got a request from the audience ask ing Chiffon Dinkins to do anoth- ? etiSOng," said Hough. ;?: Dinkins, 21, received a stand ing ovation for her acapella ver sion of 'His Eye Is On The Spar row.' Previously she sang 'And I'm Telling You,' by Jennifer Holi day. Second place went to Debo rah Osborne, 37, of Charlotte. She received $500 In cash and a year supply of Soft Sheen Prod ucts. Kathy Mingo, 24, also of Char ArtworK/CHERYL BEAUTY BUNN lotte, was chosen as Ms. Con geniality and she was the first runner-up. Mingo received $1,000 cash and a year supply of Soft Sheen Products. The winner was Angela Wll- llEims, 22, of Boone, N.C. She re ceived $1,500 In cash, a year supply of Soft Sheen Products and a trip to Montego Bay, Ja maica. The remaining seml-flnallst received flowers and plaques. iiAll of the contestants received ??:glfts from Fashion Fair Cosmet ics and Soft Sheen Products. "Overall the pageemt was good and the ladles did and excellent Job," said Hough. "Next year we're expecting a larger number of contestants. f;?? "It's not a typical pageant be cause we take an active Interest in the ladles. We're trjdng to help some of the women In their various careers. "For instance, there Is a young lady who Is Interested In attend ing law school and I imderstand that some contacts have been made for her, one of the girls is an artist and a show Is being set up for her...another one of the girls Is a dancer and she will help coordinate the pageant next year," said Hough. "The general attitude was that they had a great time and that It was a great learning experi ence," she concluded. Iihii.iaih.. Usa Blgelow-Basnlght introduces herself during a group perfor mance to the tune of 'Bubbling Brown Sugar.' m t-h' ■I St Ms. WestFest 1989-Angela WllUams Photos/LaN«y& Fstguson . .§ ' i V'll Sam Young, president of WestFest Inc., is shown above crowning Ms. WestFest 1989, Angela Williams. Kathy Mingo, (1), was first runner-up and Deborah Osborne (r) was second runner-up. Angela Williams, 22, potrays a bag lady in a monologue about street life. I. Lynette Murray, 28, per formed a modem dance. Bessie Bouler, 34, modeled an elegant evening gown.
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
June 8, 1989, edition 1
13
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75