THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 25, 1995 TAG: 9506230175
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Close Up
LENGTH: Long : 126 lines
Tracy Blizzard, the petite beauty who will represent Portsmouth in the Miss Virginia Pageant, had a rather nerve-racking dream recently.
``I dreamed I got through the whole competition, and I did such a really good job that I got to the top 10. . .
``But it wouldn't show me who won the pageant. I knew who was competing against me, but I didn't know who won,'' said a frustrated Blizzard.
Fortunately, the 20-year-old who was named Miss Portsmouth Seawall Festival last month will get a chance to complete that dream next Saturday at the Roanoke Civic Center as a contestant in the Miss Virginia Pageant. The state competition is a preliminary to the Miss America Pageant. It will be aired locally at 9 p.m. on WTKR Channel 3.
Pageant fever hit the Old Dominion University student 12 years ago at age 8, when she placed second in the Little Miss Virginia Peninsula competition.
``I basically did everything a lot like a local (competition) for a Miss America Pageant,'' she said. ``There was an interview, there was talent and an evening gown competition. We had a lot of fun preparing for it.''
In the dozen years since, Blizzard has accumulated quite a few titles: Miss Virginia Sweetheart, Modern Miss Virginia and a second-place berth in the Miss Maryland Pageant. She entered that competition two years ago while a student at the University of Maryland, College Park.
The opportunity to show off her dance skills is actually the driving force that compels Blizzard to enter these competitions. She has been dancing since age 5.
``Normally if I do a pageant, it has to have some sort of talent incentive with it,'' said Blizzard, who practices ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and modern dance.
In the Miss Portsmouth Seawall Festival Pageant, Blizzard tap danced to ``Maple Leaf Rag,'' a routine she choreographed herself. She plans to dance on pointe in a ballet number for the state competition.
``When I went to the University of Maryland, I was majoring in journalism and Chinese, and that was the first time in my life that I had stopped dancing on a regular basis,'' the 5-foot, 104-pound Blizzard said.
``And I realized that that wasn't going to last too long, so I transferred to ODU this year to major in dance.''
In the seven weeks since she won the Miss Portsmouth Seawall Festival pageant (which is open to contestants from throughout the state), Blizzard, of Hampton, has spent most of her time honing her dance skills.
``I changed my routine, so I had to start from scratch with that,'' she said.
``A lot of the girls keep the same (talent) routine that they win the local with, and they take that to Roanoke. But with me, my main thing is to really, really punch out the dance because that's my favorite part of the competition.''
The judges' interview is a close second, she said.
``I've done a lot of work on that by watching CNN and reading the newspapers, Newsweek and Time magazines to just more or less get opinions from different sides of an issue.''
Her least favorite part of the pageant is the swimsuit competition.
``I have a pretty good shape, but I'm so short I feel like I'm at a disadvantage,'' she said. ``I'm very proportioned, but it's just that I would rather be dancing in a leotard or something else versus wearing a swimsuit.''
Psyched to win the state pageant, Blizzard has already decided on a platform, based on the performing arts, called ``ABC for Youth.''
``The ABC stands for `Arts to Build Confidence' for Youth,'' she said. ``It's based on getting children, who have a lot of spare time on their hands, involved in some creative things after school and to get them thinking creatively.''
After graduating from college, Blizzard plans a career in dance.
``I'm going to probably perform some, go to Disney and audition, and there are some things in New York I'm looking to audition for,'' she said.
Blizzard eventually wants to get her master's so she can teach dance on the graduate level.
``And then I want to open a dance studio. . . if the opportunities are there,'' she said.
Blizzard entered the Miss Portsmouth Seawall Festival pageant with every intention of going all the way to the Miss America pageant, held annually in Atlantic City, N.J.
``Oh, yes,'' she said enthusiastically. ``I think that's the best way to enter a pageant. . . Some girls might just set a goal, like, `I just want to make the top 10 at Miss Virginia,' but I want to go all the way.''
Name: Tracy D. Blizzard
Nickname: I really don't have one. In high school, some of my friends called me ``Smiley'' because I smiled all the time, and I always had a pleasant disposition.
Birthplace: Hampton
Birthdate: Aug. 14, 1974
Occupation: Hopefully a dancer one day!
What other job than your own would you like? I would love to be able to travel a lot - to be on tour with a Broadway or dance-oriented show.
Marital status: Single
Children: None
Fondest childhood memory: Doing things with my mother: shopping, getting ready for dance recitals and pageants, etc.
First concert: The Jackson Five at Hampton Coliseum when I was about 7.
What song or book title best describes your life? ``One Moment in Time'' by Whitney Houston describes me a lot. Maybe I haven't led a ``successful'' life as far as achievements, but that ``one moment in time'' I've always done well in that.
If you won the lottery, what's the very first thing you'd buy? A dance studio
If you could trade places for just one day with anyone in the world, who would it be and why? Debbie Allen. I'd love to be in her shoes one day. She's an African-American woman who does a lot of dancing. She did some choreography for the Oscars, the Academy Awards, that kind of thing. Debbie was also on ``Fame.'' That was where she got her biggest recognition. She was the dance teacher on ``Fame,'' the TV series.
Biggest accomplishment: Was when I made the show, ``Stagestruck,'' at Busch Gardens at 17. It was the main show, the biggest show there at the time. It was the last year they were putting it on. It was a variety show that spoofed different periods, like the '50s. I was the youngest on the cast. I did that all summer, and they paid me for it!
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I wouldn't procrastinate.
Perfect way to spend the day: With my family doing normal stuff, like relaxing, because a lot of times we're all on the go, but in different directions.
I can't resist: Funnel cakes
Favorite Portsmouth restaurant: I don't have one yet, but I've heard wonderful things about The Max.
Favorite Portsmouth hangout: I'll find one, trust me. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY C. KNAPP
by CNB