Several times a week, junior Ashley Snyder spends hours in the music wing with music teacher Marc Bolden, tirelessly practicing her song for the talent portion in the Greater Baltimore Junior Miss Program Competition on February 13.
As the big day grows closer, juniors Sydney Comitz, Angelica Ellison, and Snyder work hard for the ultimate test, the Junior Miss Program. “I really liked the chance to meet other people and have the opportunity, not to be judged on looks, but to showcase my best self,” said Comitz.
The Junior Miss Program is, according to America’s Junior Miss, “a college scholarship program for high school senior girls,” because the majority of the finalists are currently seniors. The moral values of this organization are different than most other pageant programs. America’s Junior Miss website states that “AJM’s mission is to empower outstanding high school women by providing scholarship opportunities, developing life skills, and encouraging positive values; and to impact the lives of all young people.”
“I think it’s important to teach little girls everywhere that it’s not about how many boyfriends you have but what kind of person you are” said Snyder.
Senior Kristi Snyder, this year’s Maryland finalist, said, “The most important part of the program is to make girls understand that they don’t have to change themselves like they do for the stereotypical pageant.”
“I chose to do this program because it’s a really great opportunity to show what the campaign was saying about being your best self and not trying to be necessarily the prettiest, but being who you are and being proud of it,” said Comitz.
“I thought it was really cool how Kristi [Snyder] did it last year, and then she talked to me about it a couple of months ago and it really sparked my interest in the program, and I’m really excited,” said Ellison.
“A really nice part of the program is the ‘Little Sisters’ part of the program,” said Comitz.
“There is a really neat part that has the contestants partner up with a younger girl and mentor them, and perform with them as part of the program,” said Ashley Snyder.
“The ‘Little Sisters’ portion of the program started on the state level, but is now being introduced on the local level. I still keep in touch with my little sister. It is a great chance for the contestants to have a relationship with younger girls,” said Kristi Snyder
The Junior Miss Program is broken into several different parts. The interview portion judges contestants by their ability to answer any question and how they handle themselves in stressful situations.
The scholastic portion is one of the most important aspects, counting for 25 percent of contestants’ scores. “This part is never seen by the contestants, but the grades are given to a panel that comes up with a final score based on the classes, and the overall grades of the contestant,” said Ashley Snyder.
The self expression section is the portion when the contestant wears a formal dress and walks across the stage. They are asked another question to see how they handle being on stage in front of an audience.
There is also the fitness section, which is a choreographed dance to Michael Jackson’s “Wanna be Starting Something.”
The participants are all anticipating the competition and preparing. “I’m working out to prepare for the fitness portion and working on my talent for the show. I’m probably going to sing, ‘A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes,’” said Comitz.
“I think we’re all singing a song,” said Snyder, “I’ve been working out as well and have also been taking voice lessons practicing my song for the talent portion, ‘I’ll Stand by You’ by Carrie Underwood.”
“I think I am singing either ‘When I Fall in Love’ or ‘Alabaster Box,’” said Ellison.
As the girls prepare for this event, they are fully anticipating the friendships they hope to make with the other contestants. “These girls become like family, because you learn more about them than you thought possible,” said Snyder.
“I think we’re all excited, it’s a great opportunity to show who you really are and what you can show the world,” said Comitz.
“My best advice for the girls is to think of it not as a test, but a testimonial,” said Kristi Snyder.
Allison Walczyk can be reached for comment at [email protected]