CHARLESTON, W.Va. — More than 140 pageant contestants from across the world will be in Charleston over the next two weeks to compete in the Miss Teen and Mrs. and Miss International Pageants.
Events will be held in the Capital City from Aug. 5-12.
The final competition for Miss Teen and Miss International finals are this Saturday, Aug. 5 at the Clay Center. The Mrs. International finals are scheduled for next Saturday, Aug. 12 at the state Culture Center.
Amanda Moreno, the reigning Miss International 2016, said contestants will need to represent a platform they support.
“Each contestant has a personal platform that she really believes in, so she’s driven, she’s dedicated and she has service above self,” Moreno said on Monday’s “580 Live” heard on MetroNews affiliate 580-WCHS.
The competition is not about winning the crown, Moreno said.
“It’s not really about how great, fabulous and beautiful she is — although she is all of those things — it’s about what she’s willing to do for the community and the kind of difference that she’s going to make,” she said. “Yeah, the crown and banner are really beautiful, but they’re temporary. The skill sets, the friendships and the opportunities you have — those are long lasting.”
The Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau, along with the City of Charleston, are hosting the events. The young women represent a number of countries including Australia, Japan, India, the United States and more.
The pageants were held in Jacksonville, Florida last year. That is where Garin Harris was crowned Miss Teen International 2016. Harris, also a guest on “580 Live”, said every contestant has to be able to set a good example for young women.
“I think she has to be a good leader. Especially as a teenager, I feel like we have lots of different pressures and lots of people putting these different ideas in our head. I think she needs to be strong in what she believes in,” Harris said.
A variety of events will be held in Charleston including an Ice Cream Social, Tea with First Lady Cathy Justice at the Governor’s Mansion, a Red Carpet Gala at the Charleston Marriott Town Center.
“You have to be able to speak, you have to be able to work in the community and be able to relate to all different types of people, so they’re going to be doing so many different activities here,” Harris said.
Harris is a violinist and a ballet dancer.
“That’s what really ended up shaping my program called ‘Dancing Through the Pain,’” she said. “I took basic exercises, ballet moves and stretches and I work with chronic pain patients.”
Moreno said during her time as Miss International she’s been able to travel the world to promote her platform “True Beauty Movement” that works with young woman on body image and character.
Mrs. International Pageant showcases married women ages 21-56, Miss International Pageant includes single women ages 19-30 and the Miss Teen International Pageant focuses on young women ages 13-18.
The event is expected to have a more than $1.5 million economic impact this year in Charleston.
Below is a full list of events:
Miss Teen and Miss International Schedules
Tuesday, Aug. 1
9:30 a.m. A Royal Event: Princess Day at the Kanawha County Public Library
Noon Lunch, Ice Cream Social and Workshops, Boys & Girls Club, 301 Tennessee Avenue
2 p.m. Beach Volleyball and Paddle Boarding, Magic Island
6 p.m. Fashion Show, Mi Cocina de Amor, 711 Bigley Avenue
Thursday, Aug. 3
1 p.m. Miss Teen rehearsal, Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences
6 p.m. Miss International 2016 Amanda Moreno will sign autographs before throwing out first pitch at the West Virginia Power game (6:40 p.m.)
7:30 p.m. Miss Teen Preliminary Competition, Clay Center
Friday, Aug. 4
7:30 p.m. Miss International Preliminary Competition, Clay Center
Saturday, Aug. 5
1 p.m. Miss Teen and Miss International rehearsal, Clay Center
7:30 p.m. International Pageant final competitions for Miss and Miss Teen, Clay Center
11 p.m. Coronation Ball, Charleston Marriott Town Center
Mrs. International Pageant Schedule
Tuesday, Aug. 8
8:15 a.m. Breakfast and tour, J.Q. Dickinson Salt-Works, 4797 Midland Drive
10:30 a.m. Tea with First Lady Cathy Justice, Governor’s Mansion
1:30-3:30 p.m. Uncork & Create, 901 Quarrier Street
Thursday, Aug. 10
5 p.m. Business After Hours Red Carpet Gala and Silent Auction, Charleston Marriott Town Center, Salons A-D
Friday, Aug. 11
7:30 p.m. Mrs. International preliminary competition begins, West Virginia Culture Center
Saturday, Aug. 12
1 p.m. Rehearsal, West Virginia Culture Center
7:30 p.m. Mrs. International final competition begins
11 p.m. Coronation Ball, Grand Hall, West Virginia Culture Center