Six to compete in Akron pageant

YOUNGSTOWN — Six young women from the Mahoning Valley have been selected to participate in various divisions of the Nationals 2008 Akron Pageant on Saturday at Independence Middle School in Independence.

Competing will be:

• Miss Jr. Pre-Teen Division: Paige Chappell of Austintown.

• Miss Pre-Teen Division: Alyssa Samolyk of Canfield.

• Miss Junior Teen Division: Montana Stupka of Girard and KeiAsia Williams of Youngstown.

• Miss Teen Division: Christina DeSantis of Hubbard and Tymira Stenson of Youngstown.

They will be competing in modeling routines in both casual and formal wear, and each will also be judged on personality and interviewing skills during interviews conducted by an Akron panel of judges.

The title winner in each division will receive a cash prize and specialty gifts. In November, she will receive an expense-paid trip to Orlando, Fla., to represent Akron and the surrounding communities at the Cities of America National Competition. There she will be competing for a share of the more than $60,000 in prizes and awards.

There is no cost incurred by the nominees for participating in the pageant competition. Community businesses, organizations and private individuals are official sponsors for each young woman. Through sponsorships, each contestant receives the necessary training, rehearsals and financial support needed to become a contestant.

Any business, organization or individual interested in becoming a sponsor for one of the young women should contact the pageant coordinator, Anna Klejnowski, at (800) 569-2487.