Miss SU candidates show grace in revue

Four ladies of Southern were highlighted for their beauty, elegance, personality and poise, Thursday, in the F.G. Clark Activity Center as the Miss Southern Revue once again took place.
In addition to Miss Southern candidates, ladies vying for Miss Junior and Senior participated in all but the talent and Q-and-A portions of the revue.
DeAnna Blue, a junior, chemistry major from Monroe; Charisse Gibson, junior, mass communications major from New Orleans; Miranda Nixon, junior, political science major from Austell, Ga. and Sabrina Whitney, junior, criminal justice major from Tallulah were the four Miss Southern 2009-2010 candidates.
According to Welton Bowie, custodian manager of the F.G. Clark Activity Center, there were about 1,500 students and university affiliates in attendance of this year’s pageant titled, “One Moment in Time.”
Co-hosts Lorenzo Turner and current Miss Southern, Mhykeisha Evans, introduced the candidates for Miss Sophomore, Miss Junior and Miss Senior in the first scene of the evening’s events.
Candidates for Miss Southern, dressed in all white, were formally introduced while they walked down the run-way, as their platforms were read aloud by Evans, while they were serenaded by New Orleans rapper Dee-1, who performed, “Queens.”
The Gold-n-Bluez dancers entertained the audience with their award-winning routine as the ladies prepared for the next scene.
During the intermission, the candidates for SGA Vice-President as well as Association for Women Students and Men’s Federation Presidential were given the opportunity to inform the audience of their own platforms and paths for the student body.
“I’m enjoying the pageant,” said SGA Presidential candidate Phillip Wallace, a junior, political science major from Baton Rouge.
“This pageant is a representation of the culture here at Southern. I enjoy seeing my fellow colleagues, peers and members of the jaguar nation represent themselves. This year seems like everyone is showing class, I am very pleased with what I saw.”
In the third scene, the swimsuit scene, displaying their stage presence to the audience.
During intermission after the swimsuit portion, Kool DJ Super Mike local radio station Max 94.1 played music.
The SGA Presidential candidates were introduced; they elaborated on their platforms, as well as the chief justice candidate Koi Lomas.
The fourth scene of the evening was the talent portion. Whitney and Gibson performed entertaining dance routines, while Nixon sung and Blue performed a skit and dance routine.
The final portions of the evening—the formal dress and question and answer portion—followed. This was the time for the ladies to display their cognitive and verbal skills to the audience.
One question Blue was asked was “what are your views of candidates GPA’s to hold office?” She replied, “GPA’s do not produce leadership abilities,” although she did express the importance of outstanding academic performance.
After the ladies made their last impressions on the audience, Evans, along with Little Miss Southern, took her final walk around the stage as Miss Southern, as, “One Moment in Time” played in the background.
“I actually had a good time,” explained Whitney. “First, I was nervous because I never danced in heels; my main focus was to be decent and presentable but have a good time and get the audience’s attention.”
The students of the university were not the only members of the Jaguar Nation in attendance.
“I think the preview went very well tonight,” explained Southern graduate Angela Randall, who enjoyed the evening’s events with her two daughters.
“I think we had some good performances; many of the girls are multitalented,” she said.
“I’ve seen a variety of dancing, singing and oration. From what I can see tonight we have some pretty good candidates for each of the positions.”
On Monday, as the general election ballot results were read, DeAnna Blue and Sabrina Whitney were named the run-off Miss Southern candidates, while Kristen Hardy and Elyssa Lassister will enter a run-off for Miss Senior, as will Kenya Warren and Michelle Anderson for Miss Junior.
“It feels great! I’m very excited and now we just have to push forward and put forward a great dedication to win this race,” said Whitney Monday evening after receiving 693 votes.
Blue, who’s slogan “The Sky is the Limit,” pointed to the sky as results were read and said she’s also ready for the run-off election.
When asked how she felt about entering a run-off, Blue said, “It’s awesome! I know that what God has for me, is for me. I’m excited, I hope the students can see how excited I am, and will continue to support me on Wednesday.”
The run-off debates will be held today at 6:30 p.m. in the Cotillion Ballroom of the Smith-Brown Memorial Union.