Today's Girl pageant comes to Murchison
By Nathan Straus News Reporter

Murchison Independent School District will be the site of a Today's Girl beauty pageant. The pageant, a preliminary competition for the 2008 pageant, will show in the school cafeteria Saturday, November 17. It is open to girls up to 18 years old. Registration opens at 10 am.

Sharon Beard, Northeast Texas regional director, said the Today's Girl program is relatively new.

"This is our third year," Beard said. "The first year it was only in Texas, now it's in 10 states."

The program seeks to develop poise, stage presence and interview skills in young girls, Beard said. Today's Girl also has a scholarship program available for 16 through 18-year-olds.

According to a Today's Girl press release, the preliminary in Murchison is one of many to be held in Texas. The winners will advance to the June state finals, and the state winners will go to the national competition in July, 2008.

The competitions covered by the Murchison preliminary pageant are the Henderson County Today's Girl Baby (0- 3), Today's Girl Doll (4-6), Today's Girl Miss (7-9), Today's Girl Junior (10-12) Today's Girl Teen (13-15) and Today's Girl (16-18).

Beard said the pageants are only part of the program, and Today's girls take part in a variety of activities throughout the rest of the year.

"They've done Relay for Life, parades, and there's a community service requirement, " Beard said.

Girls join the program by participating in a preliminary pageant. The Murchison pageant entry fee is $60 and the deadline is November 12. Entry forms and information can be obtained by calling 903- 852-3812, or by emailing B9shr@aol.com. Entry forms can also be obtained from the program website, www.todaysgirlonline.com.

"The goal is for these girls to be the best they can be through interaction with other girls," Beard said. "We want to prepare them to be an adult."

Beard also said there are several hundred Today's Girl participants in Texas, making the state the largest concentration of the more than 500 members nationwide.

In the pageants, girls model casual wear and party dresses, and there is a talent show for ages seven and up. Crowns, banners and trophies are the prizes at the local level, while the national level boasts cash prizes depending on the entry, Beard said.