DATE: Sunday, June 22, 1997                 TAG: 9706200255

SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS     PAGE: 03   EDITION: FINAL 

COLUMN: CLOSE-UP 

SOURCE: Doris Townsley 

                                            LENGTH:   79 lines

CRYSTAL LEWIS: MISS PORTSMOUTH SEAWALL

Crystal Lewis, this year's Miss Portsmouth Seawall, takes off today for Roanoke, where she will compete in the Miss Virginia Pageant.

But it's not the first time that Lewis, who was crowned Miss Williamsburg last year, has competed in the statewide pageant.

``Last year was my first year,'' said Lewis, 19. ``I was the youngest one there, made the top 10. So I'm real excited about going back this year.''

Lewis, who lives in Newport News, said she would make a good Miss Virginia.

``What Virginia is looking for, is a woman who is confident in herself, confident in her state, and able to represent it everywhere she goes. I believe I could do that quite well.''

In addition, Lewis said, the winner of the pageant is given the chance to advocate a platform.

``For me,'' she said, ``that would be volunteerism, specifically in education.''

Lewis, who created a volunteer tutoring program in a North Carolina elementary school, hopes for the opportunity to convey the importance of this issue nationwide.

``North Carolina, in particular, is reputable for having a lack of teachers,'' she said, ``because the pay is quite low. So it's crucial that volunteers step in and meet the needs of children in overcrowded classrooms.''

This year alone, Lewis has also been in three other pageants: Miss Lynchburg, Miss Central Shenandoah, and Miss Hampton/Newport News. She placed as first runner-up in the Miss Central Shenandoah Pageant and second runner-up in the other two.

While many people consider pageants to be beauty contests, she said, this is a distorted view.

``The pageant system to me,'' she said, ``is just a wonderful forum for young women today to come out and show that they have talent and that they have brains, and at the same time earn much-needed scholarship money.''

Lewis, who has a double major in voice performance and religion at Campbell University, also said that pageants provide exposure, which is something that she hopes will help her in her future career.

``I'm aspiring to be a gospel music recording artist,'' she said. ``That's where my heart lies.''

Name: Crystal D. Lewis.

Nickname: Sissy.

Birthdate: February 5, 1978.

Parents' names: Bill and Linda Lewis.

Brothers/sisters: One brother, Matthew, age 17.

Pets: A kitten named Calli.

Fondest childhood memory: The drive from Missouri to Virginia, when we moved. I was 8. It was snowy, we were in the mountains, and it was a lot of scenery I'd never seen before.

Favorite food: Rockola's cheese fries.

Favorite movie: ``Dirty Dancing.''

Last book read for fun: ``Billy Budd'' by Herman Melville.

Pet peeve: People who drive slow in the fast lane or don't use their turn signals.

Favorite way to spend the day: At the beach.

What song title best describes your life? ``I Believe in You and Me'' by Whitney Houston.

If you could trade places with anyone in the world for just one day, who would it be and why? Reba McEntire, because she's a performer who started out young, worked hard, and is at a point where she is enjoying her success.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? To be 2 inches taller.

Biggest accomplishment: College. I will be the first Lewis to graduate from college.

If you had 15 minutes on national TV, what would you say? That people need to be less selfish. They need to look beyond themselves and help their fellow man.

If you had three wishes for Portsmouth, what would they be?

1. Continued good leadership.

2. Wonderful school system.

3. Increased tourist attractions.

What do you like most about Portsmouth? The people are so nice. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by JIM WALKER

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