CONTEST JUDGES SEE DOUBLE

It wasn't hard to know who belonged to whom during the Mother-Daughter Look-Alike contest held Saturday at West Park Mall.

It was easy for onlookers to pair the 31 mother-daughter teams competing in the annual event because most had on matching or color-coordinated outfits. But even when the clothes didn't match, hairdos, eyes and smiles were dead giveaways for almost all of the contestants.

This was the fourth year for the contest, which mall marketing director Carol Mezza refers to as a "feel-good community event." The contest seems to be a lot of fun for families and passers-by, and it's a good way to add to Mother's Day celebrations, she said.

"It just picks up on the momentum for the traffic we'd have anyway with folks shopping for their moms," she said. "People enjoy watching it because it's so much fun to see people go out and get ready for it."

Each team was judged by a three-member panel as they walked down a runway, and scores were tallied to award three prizes each in two categories. Mothers with daughters in high school or younger competed in the mother-younger daughter division, while others competed in the mother-older daughter division.

Winners received shopping gift certificates for use at the mall.

The Filer family of Jackson stole the show by entering a trio of candidates in the mother-younger daughter category. A collective "ahh" was heard from viewers and contestants as Mary Jo Filer, dressed in a denim shortall with matching hat, followed her 2-year old twins Ali and Becky down the runway.

"My whole concern was keeping them together," said Mary Jo after accepting first-place honors in the team's first competition. "I wasn't the least bit nervous because I was too busy trying to corral them down the runway."

Kristi Bowers of Delta entered the contest with her daughter Jillian, 5. The two entered the contest two years ago but "didn't fare very well." This year an older Jillian was ready to try again, however, so the two donned identical orange sundresses and similar hairstyles and registered for competition.

Apparently, they were better-prepared this year, because the pair took third place in the mother-younger daughter competition.

"We came back because everyone tells us we look exactly alike," said Kristi Bowers. "I think it was a lot of fun."

Aleshia Musgrave of Chaffee and her mother, Linda McKinley of Scott City, took first place in the mother-older daughter contest. This was the tandem's first win in three straight competitions. They received second prize in the mother-older daughter division in both of the other competitions.

The duo said they didn't see the close resemblance others always mention, although they admitteed they do "favor." McKinley's favorite part of the event is being mistaken for her daughter's sister or daughter, while Musgrave said she enjoys spending time with her mom to prepare for the event.

Both women said they enjoyed the challenge of trying to look alike and they plan to re-enter the competition next year.

"It was great fun -- we're going to do it again next year," said McKinley.

Added Musgrave: "Mother's Day makes it nice."