MU sophomore captures Miss Columbia title

Sophomore Paige Sommerer was crowned Miss Columbia on Saturday.

By Sangeeta Shastry

Published Feb. 17, 2009

Seven MU students vied for the Miss Columbia Pageant this Saturday at the Missouri Theatre, and one came away with the crown.

This event served as Columbia's preliminaries for the Miss America Pageant. Candidates from each state are chosen to participate in the famed nationwide pageant.

Like the Miss America Pageant, participants in the Columbia event judge the contestants in the categories of interviews, eveningwear competitions, swimsuit competitions, talent demonstrations and organized dance numbers.

"The Miss Columbia Pageant follows the standard exactly to what the Miss America Organization sets," said Erin France, one of the coordinators of the Miss Columbia Pageant.

Sophomore Paige Sommerer was crowned Miss Columbia.

"I'm so excited," Sommerer said. "I'm in a dream state. It hasn't sunk in yet."

Sommerer's platform began with her immersion into acting and vocal performance. During high school, she performed in about 10 musicals with Theater in the Park in Kansas City, her hometown.

At MU, Sommerer has taken both acting and vocal performance classes and performed in productions organized by her sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma. She was introduced to the Miss Columbia Pageant through one of her professors.

Sommerer wasn't familiar with the pageant process before applying for the Miss Columbia Pageant. But because of her stage experience, Sommerer felt comfortable with aspects of the competition such as the talent and swimsuit competitions.

Sommerer's platform also focused around the lives of people affected by intellectual and developmental disabilities. Sommerer said the national financial situation has heightened her concern for the issue.

"Especially in times of economic downturn, many people affected by such disabilities are placed into institutions because private care is too expensive," Sommerer said. "I'm hoping to create community based homes which government policymakers have said are more cost effective."

Junior Miranda Wall entered the pageant by chance. It was the first time she has ever competed in such an event.

"I received a phone call asking if I was interested in applying," Wall said. "We had to write a resume, a platform and get those approved along with a picture."

Wall's participation in the event gave her the opportunity to promote her platform centering on animal welfare.

"I would really like to implement some benefits to the human society here and get some better vegetarian and vegan options with more restaurants involved," she said.

Wall also wants to expand the local farmer's market and improve the bike routes around Columbia.

Although she wasn't crowned Miss Columbia, Wall has explored options for becoming involved with her specific cause in the Columbia community.

"The winner does remain in the community," Wall said, citing Amanda Williams, Miss Columbia 2008, as an example. "You just need to find a challenging platform."

France said past pageant winners have not had a large impact on the community because the pageant was open to residents across Missouri.

"One of my goals for the pageant was for Miss Columbia to be a vital part of our community," France said.

Wall and Sommerer praised coordinators France and her husband Sean for their management of the entire event.

As Miss Columbia, Sommerer wants to get the word out about the pageant.

"The audience was alive and it seemed like most people there had never been to a pageant," Sommerer said. "I hope that this keeps building."