Girl, grandma buckle up for pageant
HILARY MATHESON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 12 years, 1 month AGO
EDUCATION REPORTER Hilary Matheson covers education for the Daily Inter Lake. Her reporting focuses on schools, students, and the policies that shape public education across Northwest Montana. Matheson regularly reports on school boards, district decisions and issues affecting teachers and families. Her work examines how funding, enrollment and state policy influence local school systems. She helps readers understand how education decisions affect students and communities throughout the region. IMPACT: Hilary’s work provides transparency and insight into the schools that serve thousands of local families. | June 20, 2014 8:00 PM
The grandmother-granddaughter team of Connie Jones, 57 and Esmeralda Ramos, 11, from Kila will compete in America’s Super Pageant on Sunday in Hamilton.
Esmeralda has been competing in pageants since she was 6 months old, but this will probably be the largest one with the most age categories she has entered.
“I like competing and meeting so many other kind, nice girls,” Ramos said. “I have so much fun.”
This is the first pageant for Jones, who said she entered the pageant to provide support and encouragement for her granddaughter.
“It’s really special to be able to do the pageant with my granddaughter,” Jones said about the unique experience.
The pair has been speaking at area schools and making appearances at farmers markets speaking on the pageant platform, “Buckle Up.”
“I want to encourage kids to wear their seat belts,” Ramos said. “So many people die in car accidents from not wearing their seat belt.”
Their appearances have a dual purpose — to spread the message of seat-belt safety and earn the Kila pair points in the pageant competition.
“If you ask a person to buckle up, nine out of 10 people will,” Jones said, adding that she reminds her passengers to put on their seat belts before driving.
The message to buckle up hits home with Jones, who said one of her neighbors’ children died after being ejected from a vehicle during an accident.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “seat belts reduce serious crash-related injuries and deaths by about 50 percent.”
Preceding the competition, America Super Pageant contestants will spend time making appearances around Hamilton.
Contestants will be judged on personality as well as appearance in formal wear and little black dresses.
Esmeralda’s mother, Jolene, said she had a dress sent up from Florida for her daughter’s formal-wear portion of the pageant. Jolene has some experience competing in pageants as a young girl. Jolene will do the hair and makeup for her daughter and mother.
“I know it really brings up young girls’ self esteem,” Jolene said, adding that it’s fun to dress up, perform and meet new people.
Ramos will compete in the preteen age group and Jones in the classic category. The pageant will be webcast at 7 p.m. Sunday. Sign up to watch the event at www.americasuperpageant.com.
Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at [email protected].
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