THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 30, 1995 TAG: 9506280130
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 88 lines
When Elizabeth A. ``Beth'' Howell, Miss Chesapeake 1995, steps on the stage of the Roanoke Civic Center this weekend, her mom will be on her mind.
The 21-year-old daughter of Coy and Linda Howell is concerned about her mother's recent cancer surgery and upcoming treatments, but she said it won't stop her from concentrating on winning the Miss Virginia Pageant.
``This will give me the incentive to do better,'' the recent James Madison University graduate said. ``And my mom will be up there. She's a real trooper and one of my biggest supporters.''
And when Howell traveled to Roanoke with her chaperone Sheril Overton, she had to make a side trip to Southampton County to sign the contract for her new job as chorale director of the county's middle and high schools.
Neither her mother's illness nor her upcoming job will distract Howell from her goal.
As Miss Augusta County 1994, Howell participated in last year's Miss Virginia competition. So she knows what lies ahead. But the nervousness will still be the same.
``I know what to expect and know the talent and the intellect of the other contestants will be high,'' the 1991 Great Bridge High School graduate said. ``Last year, I went up with blinders on, and now I'm aware of what it takes to win. But I won't be less nervous. I think it will be the same, and I like that, I do better when I'm nervous.''
Up until last year, Howell had never entered a pageant. A member of Sigma Alpha Iota women's music fraternity first gave her the idea.
``I was watching one of my big sisters from my fraternity at a pageant last year,'' she said. ``It just prompted me to give it a try. I love to perform, and I figured I'd be less nervous if I was on stage than just sitting and watching in the audience.''
Inspired by her fraternity sister, Howell entered the 1994 Miss Chesapeake Pageant and was second runner-up. She then entered and won the Miss Augusta County Festival Pageant, which allowed her to participate in last year's Miss Virginia competition.
Festival pageants like the one in Augusta County are open to all state residents regardless of where they live.
In reflecting on last year's Roanoke effort, Howell said she's been getting ready for this weekend by boning up on current events, trying to get more physically fit through aerobic workouts, rehearsing her talent number and doing extensive research into her pageant platform ``Goal 2000,'' the federal government plan to distribute education money to individual states.
Howell said she's undergone several interview coaching sessions and even a mock judges' interview to prepare for Saturday's final.
In addition, she's also been busy getting her pageant wardrobe together, which includes three evening gowns, three cocktail dresses and various other performance, evening wear and rehearsal clothes.
Howell said pageant contestants are judged on talent (40 percent), judges' interview (30 percent) and evening gown and swimsuit (both 15 percent).
But if this is a scholarship pageant interested in talent, ability and intellectual achievement, why the swimsuit part?
``I think the pageant committee wants to make sure that you're physically fit and able to stand the grind of travel, performances and personal appearances the winner has to make,'' she explained.
As far as talent performances are concerned, Howell said she'll draw on her years of stage experience.
``I've been on stage since I was 1 1/2,'' she said.
She's taken 15 years of dance lessons, 16 years of piano and four years of voice training. She's sung in her church choir and with the Great Bridge High School Causeway Singers.
For her talent spot, Howell plans to sing ``Think of Me,'' from the Broadway musical ``The Phantom of the Opera.''
She and the other Miss Virginia contestants are in Roanoke this week registering, rehearsing for the pageant's big production number and attending various cookouts, parties, teas, receptions, individual rehearsals and photo sessions.
Howell said she'll have a contingent of supporters from Chesapeake and Harrisonburg.
``My sister and brother-in-law, friends from high school and college and my boyfriend will all be up there this weekend,'' Howell said.
But she's most concerned about seeing her mother at the Civic Center.
``With my mother in the audience,'' she said, ``I know I'll do the best I possibly can.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Elizabeth A. ``Beth'' Howell, Miss Chesapeake 1995
by CNB