LEWISTOWN - There's an extra special reason for Juniata Valley residents to be excited about this year's Miss Central Pennsylvania Pageant.
One local woman, Marra Alexis Aurand, of McVeytown, will take part in the event in hopes of advancing to the Miss Pennsylvania pageant.
Aurand will compete along with Marla Peiffer, 19, of Quarryville, Cassie Cerulli, 18, of Larksville, Olivia Correll, 17, of Nazareth, Elizabeth Carr, 23, of Pecksville, Tess Mull, 22, of Philipsburg, Lacey Weaver, 22, of Conneautville, Jennifer Nicole Kruzynski, 21, of Lincoln, Tristalyn Bixler-Kint, 21, of York, Alexandra Leia Menna, 19, of Bellefonte, Jordyn Colao, 22, of Erie, Lauren Nicole Johns, 19, of Johnstown and Amanda Pope, 23, of Cranberry Township for one of three titles, Miss Central Pennsylvania, Miss Greater Juniata and Miss Freedom Forge.
The Miss Central Pennsylvania and Miss Greater Juniata contests are open to anyone who resides, attends school or works 40 hours a week in Pennsylvania. The Miss Feedom Forge title is limited to contestants from Mifflin County and neigboring counties.
"This year is mixed with a lot of inexperienced contestants, some with local pageant experience and some who have been to the Miss Pennsylvania pageant," Executive Director John Metzger said, "I'm excited to see how they do," he added.
The event will began at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Lewistown Elementary School located at 1 Manor Drive in Lewistown with an opening production number performed by the contestants, featured with the Miss Central Pennsylvania Princess.
The Miss Central Pennsylvania Princess program is open to girls between 4 and 12. The princesses will be paired with one of the pageant contestants, so there will be a limit of 24 contestants.
Participants will be competing in the following phases of competition: talent, on-stage interview question and modeling of their swimsuit and evening wear to judges for the chance of winning a $125 scholarship and a plaque. Other awards include talent/dance award, interview award, swimsuit award, non-finalist talent award, newcomer award and an award given in honor of Metzger's niece, Shannon Lloyd who was killed in a bike accident in 2001.
Once the judges have chosen a winner for the three titles, the Miss winners will then advance to the Miss Pennsylvania pageant to be held in late May, in Pittsburgh.
Chris Ruble will be master of ceremonies and there will be performances by Miss Central Pennsylvania 2011, Laura Traub, Miss Greater Juniata Valley 2011, Sherri Homanko, Miss Central Pennsylvania's Outstanding Teen 2011, Maria Cinti, Miss Greater Juniata Valley's Outstanding Teen 2011, Katie Schreckengast, Miss Freedom Forge's Oustanding Teen 2011, Sandra Archer.
Tickets to the pageant will be available beginning at 6 p.m. at the door the night of the pageant.
For more information on the Miss Central Pennsylvania Princesses, call Miriam Dalby at 667-2075.
