Not Your Average Beauty Queen

They say first impressions are everything.

Most Americans get their first impression of beauty pageants through the media.

Most people have seen—or at least heard of—"Toddlers in Tiaras." You know, the show where thumb-sucking mini divas parade around a stage in wardrobes better suited for a Playboy bunny while their overbearing parents cue their every move from the crowd.

Or maybe you are more familiar with the infamous Miss South Carolina 2007 speech where the frazzled contestant stated, "I believe that our education like such as in South Africa, and the Iraq, everywhere like such as…and, I believe they should uh, our education over here, in the U.S. should help the U.S. or should help South Africa."

With first impressions like these, it’s no wonder pageants and pageant winners have attained such a bad reputation over the years.

But when you meet Sarah Fahey, your first impression of ditzy, dumb pageant winners dissipates. Most people would never guess that such an accomplished young individual won the title of Miss Libertyville 2011.

"People usually think that you are really fake and sort of full of yourself. I just try to be myself, I guess; I don’t try to put out something I’m not," Fahey said.

With her positions as board member of FBLA, board member of ACE, an editor of the yearbook, an AP student, a member of her church’s youth group, and a swim and track team athlete, Fahey has no issue defying the stereotypical pageant queen role.

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Preparation is Key

Even though this was Fahey’s first time competing in the Miss Libertyville pageant, she was far from unprepared.

“You have to give a one-minute speech, so I wrote like, six different speeches on different topics. I brought them to the pageant director. She decided which one she liked the best, and then helped me make it better,” Fahey said.

Fahey worked hard to prep for the five-minute interview that would take place during the pageant. She had her mom constantly drilling her, and going over questions with her at random in the weeks prior to the pageant.

Bunny Otrembiak, the pageant director, also helped Fahey select outfits that she would be required to wear during the pageant. For one of the outfits, Otrembiak asked the contestants to wear brightly colored suits, recalled a laughing Fahey.

“I have a ton of black and blue suits from FBLA, but I had to get one that was like, bright pink, just like in ‘Legally Blonde,’” Fahey said.

After weeks of preparation, the day of the pageant was finally upon Fahey.

“I wasn’t too nervous,” Fahey said.“Well, I guess I got nervous when I recognized people in the crowd.”

The girls first lined up on the stage in front of the Cook House, stating their names and ages. They then proceeded to walk around the stage and gave their minute-long speech. The contestants then sprinted to change into swimsuits and parade around the stage once more, only to change into a formal gown moments later.

In their fancily clad outfits, the girls answered interview questions. A rose ceremony was then held in which the previous year’s winners presented each of the contestants with a rose. The winners were announced shortly thereafter.

Peers Say Fahey is Great to Work with

The pageant winners--the crowned Little Miss, Junior Miss, and Miss Libertyville--are responsible for appearing at several different local events throughout the year, such as the , , the , the Twilight Shuffle, Meet with Santa, , Santa’s Workshop, and .

The Junior Miss Libertyville winner, Joanna Brundza, has gotten to know Fahey very well through all the events they have attended together. Brundza seems to have nothing but positive feedback when it comes to Fahey. She even says that Fahey helped her to make the adjustment to high school.

“Working with Sarah is great! She is so nice! She is an amazing public speaker. She is kind, and she is very selfless. She always worries about other people before she worries about herself. Future candidates could have a lot to learn from her,” Brundza said.

There are some benefits to all of the time, sweat, and hard work the winners put into the pageant. Each of the winners receives a big prize package, full of gift certificates to local restaurants and stores.

“The nicest thing I got was definitely the one-hour massage. I still haven’t used it yet, but I’m looking forward to it. I was thinking like finals time or maybe after swim season,” Fahey said.

But for Fahey, the best thing about winning the pageant is the awe-stuck gazes she often receives from little kids.

“When I started talking to them, they would always get so excited because they think you are like, famous or something,” Fahey said.

Teachers Say Fahey is a Natural Leader

FBLA adviser and yearbook sponsor Kristen Connolly is one teacher who can attest to Fahey’s committed attitude; she has known Fahey since she joined FBLA her freshman year.

“Sarah is just a natural leader. She always makes good choices. She is a really strong role model for all of our members. She is just really passionate about it,” explained Mrs. Connolly.

As a member of the FBLA board, Fahey is responsible for coming in and helping to run all the board meetings alongside helping to plan both community service projects and social events.

“She has a great personality. You know, she’s just one of those people you enjoy being around. She doesn’t complain, and she’s hardworking,” Connolly said.

Connolly, well aware of Fahey’s responsible and passionate disposition, decided to promote Fahey to an editor position even though this is only Fahey’s first year on the yearbook staff; this massive responsibility is rarely bestowed on a brand-new staff member.

"Because I knew Sarah from outside of class, I knew she would be such a good leader. Due to time and everything, you want to make sure you have people that will do it right and put forth the effort. I know I can rely on her. I can rely on Sarah to do anything," said Mrs. Connolly.

Fahey: Caring Queen

Fahey’s friends have described the newly crowned queen using words like "caring" "hardworking" and "determined."

"To me the stereotype of pageant winners can often be self-centered, and this is the opposite of Sarah. She does not care about what others think, but just wants to help out the community of Libertyville," said senior Allison Kelly, who is a member of the same church youth group as Fahey.

Kelly and Fahey, alongside seniors Mitch Kenney and Sam Chon-Briggs, have bonded through many mission trips whose outreach has spanned across the nation.

"Sarah has always been dedicated and interested in serving others just so they benefited; she is a kind, loving person that cares about other people," asserted Chon-Briggs.

Fahey has already been on three mission trips in the duration of her high school career: New Orleans in 2009, West Virginia in 2010, and most recently, the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota in 2011.

"Sarah is so nice to little kids, and so good with them. All of the kids [who lived on the Reservation] loved her. I’ve enjoyed getting to know Sarah so much because she is honestly such a great person and cares about everyone," said Kenney.

ACE advisers Sean Ferrell and Nancy Stetter are also well acquainted with Fahey. After all, she is one of 12 board members of ACE. The board discusses the direction that ACE should go in, activities in which members can participate, and things to talk about in the weekly meetings. Students on the board are chosen by the two advisers.

"Sometimes there are students that just jump out at us. They are active in the club, and they come to every ACE event. They come and express their different ideas for ACE. Sarah definitely stands for what our mission and goal is by being drug and alcohol free, being a good role model, and being a good leader. She really just exemplifies those characteristics. She brings a lot of good ideas to the table," Stetter said.

Upon finding out Fahey was crowned this year’s Miss Libertyville, a look of surprise and admiration crossed the faces of Ferrell and Stetter.

"Really? You would never know that. She is just very modest and humble," Ferrell said.

This article was written by Taylor Wanbaugh, editor-in-chief with Drops of Ink, a publication written, edited and produced by students at Libertyville High School.