Fifty-three floor-length dresses, fifty-three pairs of high heels, fifty-three women and just one crown.

 

Miss Michigan close to home

Among the women who competed for the crown was an Oakland University graduate. Angela Venditti, Miss Michigan, graduated from OU with a bachelor’s degree in communication.

While at Oakland, she participated in the American Marketing Association and went to the international collegiate conference in New Orleans.

According to Venditti, in order to have a state title, one must win a local pageant first then compete for the state title.

Though she didn’t win Miss America, Venditti said she competed three times before winning Miss Michigan in June 2012.

 

A full-time job

“It is considered (a) full-time (job) to get ready for Miss America and to make all of your appearances,” she said. “There is pressure. Everyone is watching to make sure you fulfill your responsibilities.”

In the past year, Miss Michigan has made appearances for her sponsors, Children’s Miracle Hospitals and community service.

“To win a state title you have to quit your job and school for a year to prepare for the Miss America competition,” she said.  “I get to meet so many people and kids. I get to go to so many cities and places I might not have ever been able to go to if I weren’t Miss Michigan.”

 

Competing for the title

The competition has five different sections — private interview, evening gown, on-stage question, talent and swimsuit.

Since 1921, women have been competing for the chance to wear the diamond-encrusted crown, which represents Miss America. The pageant is the world’s largest scholarship program in the world, with a $50,000 scholarship to go toward further education.

“(The interview is) my favorite because you get to know judges,” Venditti said.

To prepare, she went through a series of mock interviews, talent practice, sorting and readying outfits as well as working out.

Tap dancing is Venditti’s talent.  She said she has been tap dancing since she was three years old, competing throughout junior high and high school.

According to Venditti, a state title is for one year and all 53 women compete for Miss America. If the winner is unable to fulfil the responsibilities, the state title goes to the runner-up. These same rules apply for Miss America.

Miss New York, Mallory Hytes Hagan, was crowned Miss America.

Venditti said if she were to have won, she would have used the scholarship money toward a master’s degree in marketing.

“I am bummed she didn’t make it, but so proud that she even got there,” Christina Venditti, her sister, said.