Special to the Register
RICHMOND —
Three young women with Madison County connections will be among the 30 contestants vying for the title of Miss Kentucky 2010, July 15-18, in Lexington.
The pageant is celebrating its 75th anniversary, and for the first time, the public will decide, via an Internet vote, which contestant will become one of the semi-finalists.
Votes will be cast for the “Kentucky Choice” semi-finalist on the Miss Kentucky website, www.misskentuckypageant.com. Votes cost $1 each, and there is no limit to the votes of votes that may be cast.
Amelia M. Gandara, 21, is Miss Richmond Area. She the daughter of Carmen Gandara and Joseph Kruszynski of Yuma, Ariz., and is a gioengineering major at the University of Louisville. Her ambition is to work in non-embryonic stem-cell research, specifically in the area of organ regeneration.
Her platform issue is “Transferable Skills — Encouraging Childhood Expressive Arts,” and her talent presentation will be a classical ballet performance of “Kitri’s Variation.”
Djuan Keila Trent, 23, is Miss Berea Area. She is the daughter of Lafondra Gaudette and Keith Anthony Trent of Columbus, Ga., and has a theater performance degree from Berea College. She plans to obtain a master’s degree in business and pursue a career in entertainment.
Her platform is “Homeless Prevention — A Hand Up, Not a Hand Out,” and her talent presentation will be a vocal performance of the song “Up to the Mountain.”
Annie Franklin, 17, is Miss Madison County Area. She is the daughter of Scott and Mikka Franklin of Winchester. She is majoring in theater arts at Morehead State University and plans to pursue a career in the performing arts.
Her platform issue is “The Importance of Arts Education,” and her talent presentation will be a vocal performance of the jazz song “Feeling Good.”
The pageant will take place in the University of Kentucky’s Singletary Center for the Arts. Among the featured entertainers this year will be: Miss America 2000, Heather French Henry; Miss America 2004, Ericka Dunlap; Miss Kentucky 1998, Chera-Lyn Cook Kennedy; and Miss Kentucky 2009, Mallory Ervin.
Also attending as a special guest this year is Miss America 2010, Caressa Cameron.
Cameron, along with former Miss Kentuckys, will be appearing at an autograph signing at Miss Priss in Victorian Square in downtown Lexington on Saturday, July 17, from 1 to 3 p.m. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Children’s Miracle Network and the Miss Kentucky Scholarship Organization.
Preliminary competitions for the pageant will be conducted on Thursday, July 15, and Friday, July 16, starting at 7 p.m.
The final night of competition, culminating with the crowning of the new Miss Kentucky, will begin at 7:30 on Saturday, July 17.
Tickets may be obtained by calling the Singletary Center Box Office at 1-859-257-4929.
More than $36,000 in cash scholarships will be awarded to contestants in addition to numerous prizes and in-kind scholarships to various colleges and universities.
The new Miss Kentucky will advance to the Miss America Pageant which will be conducted on January 15, 2011, in Las Vegas and broadcast live on ABC.
The Miss Kentucky winner will speak in schools across the state promoting the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s “Kentucky Proud” program educating students of all grade levels on the benefits of buying products and goods grown and produced in Kentucky.
