Miss Clawson Pageant Contestants to Take the Stage Saturday

Glistening dresses, music, crowns and dancing and singing princesses will cross the stage Saturday evening at .

Contestants in the will be competing for the crown at the annual pageant. Two girls are entered in the Miss Clawson contest (ages 16-19) and five in the Jr. Miss Clawson contest (ages 12-15).

The contestants will compete in several categories: personal interview before the pageant, introduction, talent, casual wear, formal wear and final questions. They will be judged on self-expression, appearance, posture, poise, gracefulness, stage presence and other criteria.

Outside of the competition for the crown, the girls will also compete for awards including most promising poet, best artist, most photogenic and best actress.

Pageant director Linda Gould said each girl has a sponsor who helps pay for pageant fees that buy prizes, gifts bags and other items.

Gould started directing the pageant in 2004 and has been expanding it since, adding different age groups. The goal of the pageant is to help build self-confidence among girls in the community, she said. "You can see the growth year after year for the girls," Gould said.

To qualify for the pageant, contestants must live in Clawson, attend a school in Clawson or have a parent who works in Clawson.

The pageant winners have the privilege of wearing the crown for an entire year while participating in various community activities. There is also a Miss Princess and Young Miss Clawson pageant in October.

Pageant winners have made appearances at Clawson School Board and City Council meetings, the , and other events. They also made a donation to the Friends of the Library this month.

Following are the contestants in this year's pageant and their optional individual talent:

Jr. Miss Clawson

1. Stacey Gomoll, 12, , Clawson resident, singing

2. Emily Jacobs, 13, Clawson resident

3. Shelby DuFresne, 14, , Clawson resident, singing "Old Time Rock & Roll” by Bob Seger

4. Diana Davis, 12, East Hills Middle School, Clawson resident, playing the fiddle

5. Natasha Hampshire, 13, West Middle School, Rochester Hills resident

Miss Clawson

1. Melissa Engel, 18, University of Detroit Mercy, Clawson resident, flag/color guard routine 

2. Ashley Thornton, 16, Bishop Foley High School, Clawson resident, tap dancing

The pageant begins at 7 p.m. Saturday and admission is $8.

– Brittney Moody contributed to this report.