BEAUTY PAGEANTS RETURN THIS YEAR TO DISTRICT FAIR AFTER ABSENCE OF 32 YEARS

It has been 32 years since a Southeast Missouri District Fair beauty queen was selected.

"We'll have four queens this year," said Pete Poe, a spokesman for the annual seven-day fair.

"I don't know why the beauty pageant was discontinued following the 1961 Fair, but I'm excited about this year's event," he added. "I'm glad to see it back. It can grow for us."

The pageant, sponsored by KFVS-TV, will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. That way, all the winners can ride in the Monday fair parade.

Poe said the fair board had discussed a beauty pageant in the past. "This year, we feel we have the right combination of people to put it on. We're ready for it."

Four contests will be conducted during the 1993 event:

Little Miss SEMO Fair, for girls ages 10-13.

Junior Miss SEMO Fair, ages 14-16.

Miss SEMO Fair, ages 17-22.

Mrs. SEMO Fair, 21 and over.

A Miss SEMO Fair was selected during the years, 1948 through 1961.

"I'm really looking forward to this newly-revived annual pageant," said Melody Hutson, who will coordinate pageant activities.

Hutson is no stranger to beauty pageants. She was selected Mrs. Missouri of 1991, and has since been involved in a number of pageants as consultant, judge, and/or coach.

She serves as a local pageant director for the Greater St. Louis USA system which serves as preliminaries for Miss Missouri and Miss Teen Missouri USA.

She was coordinator for the Cape Girardeau Bicentennial Queen Contest, and is a beauty pageant consultant and coach, teaching participants how to interview, use stage makeup and how to act on the stage.

One of Hutson's students recently defeated 75 other girls to win a beauty pageant in Kansas.

"I'm really excited about the fair pageant," she said. "Some of the winners here will advance to state competition."

The winner of Miss SEMO Fair will advance to next year's Missouri State Fair competition at Sedalia and will be eligible to compete in the Miss Missouri contest. The Mrs. SEMO Fair winner will also advance to state competition.

Winners will also make appearances throughout the fair, and will be introduced during various stage shows.

Contestants for the Little Miss and Junior Miss contests will be judged in sportswear and evening gowns. "Interviews will be conducted for the other two divisions Miss SEMO Fair and Mrs. SEMO Fair who will also be judged in sportswear and evening gowns.

Interviews of contestants will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday at Drury Lodge. Rehearsals for the pageant will be held at 1 p.m., with the pageant to take place in the R&R Tent at the fairgrounds, across from the Arena Building.

"We've had several inquiries about the contests," said Hutson. "Early indications are that we could have a good turnout."

The entry fee for Junior Miss is $25. Entry fee for Miss SEMO Fair is $30, and the winner's entry fee for the Sedalia State Fair Pageant will be paid.

The Mrs. SEMO Fair entry fee is $75, with the winner's entry fee to be paid for the Mrs. Missouri United States Pageant. Participants must be from Missouri.