MISS AMERICA PAGEANT Area contestant appreciates show of support

A sponsor took some of the guesswork out of choosing a swimsuit.
By LAURA FARR
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- Strong support from the Youngstown area has buoyed the spirits of Miss Ohio, Amanda Beagle of Howland.
Beagle, 24, is here competing in the Miss America pageant.
"The [Youngstown State University] Alumni Association helped fund my sendoff party, and the YSU marketing Department put a full-page ad in the Miss America program book. It's so great," she said. "I appreciate the well-wishers and support from everyone in greater Youngstown and the entire state."
Monday was the first day of preliminary competition in the Miss America pageant, and Beagle took part in the swimsuit phase.
Swimsuit competition
Wearing a two-piece, orange and black swimsuit, Beagle demonstrated her physical fitness and personality.
"This year with Speedo as a corporate sponsor, it took the guesswork out of selecting the competition swimsuit," she said.
"We had a choice between a one-piece or a two-piece. We had three color choices; orange and black, yellow and black or pink and black," Beagle said.
"I tried to stay focused. There is a workout facility in my hotel, so I took advantage of that. [But] I'm an eater, too. I'm enjoying all of the food and goodies that are available for us," she said.
"So far Miss America is what I expected. There is amazing talent, and it's going to be quite a ride.
"I watched Miss America as a child. I always looked up to the women ... and I thought I would never be like that. It's funny looking back ... and now being here. I realize that you don't have to be perfect. It's about wanting to be the best that you can be," she said.
Scoring
Contestants are scored on a 1 to 10 point scale. There is one panel of judges for all four nights of competition.
During the three nights of preliminary competition, the judges award scores for categories: private interview, 30 percent; talent, 30 percent; casual wear, 10 percent; evening wear, 15 percent; onstage question and discussion, 5 percent; and lifestyle in swimsuit, 10 percent.
The Miss America finals will be televised live on ABC at 9 p.m. Saturday. The Miss America Scholarship Organization, with the help of local and state volunteers, has made available more than $45 million in scholarship money to turn dreams into education, achievement and success.
Beagle has won more than $30,000 in scholarship money from three years of Miss Ohio competition, which will fund her master's program at the Cleveland Institute of Music. She plans to major in vocal performance.
"I would like to be a professional opera singer, and of course continue my work with kids. ... I'll always be a teacher no matter what," she said.