by MIKE CHAIKEN
CTFashionMag.com
Five women were selected Sunday in two different pageants to represent the Waterbury area at the Miss Connecticut Scholarship Pageant this June at The Palace Theater.
The Miss Greater Waterbury pageant was held in the afternoon and the Miss Naugatuck Valley pageant was held in the evening at Rotella Interdistrict Magnet School.
Danielle Radeke of Hamden was crowned Miss Greater Waterbury. Micayla Barrows of Prospect won the title of Miss Southbury. Courtney Ouellette of Bristol was selected as the new Miss Naugatuck Valley. Lindiana Frangu of Waterbury was selected as Miss Greater Waterbury’s Outstanding Teen. Zorri McCray of Waterbury won the title of Miss Naugatuck Valley’s Outstanding Teen.
Radeke, as she posed for photographs after the pageant, said, “I’m absolutely ecstatic. It’s taken me a couple of tries to win this title, but I knew this is where I was meant to be– and this is the capacity I’m meant to serve in. I knew it would happen eventually so I’m thrilled.”
“I’m in complete shock right now. Oh my god. I can’t believe this,” said Ouellette who is marking her eighth year trying for a crown. Naugatuck Valley is her first ever title. She kept competing for an opportunity to go to Miss Connecticut, she said, because “It’s been such an amazing experience. These last eight years, I’ve made so many new friends. I’ve gained so many life skills.”
“I’m pretty excited,” said Barrows, “I can’t describe it. It’s been a long journey. This was my third time. Third time’s a charm.”
“I’m beyond excited right now,” said Frangu. “It’s amazing.”
The Greater Waterbury pageant was Frangu’s first ever competition in a pageant. She said she stepped forward because “I love that as a teen I can have a voice and we can promote a platform that’s close to us.”
McCray said, “I’m feeling amazing right now. I never thought this would be my life right now but I’m so ready for it.”
McCray also was competing in her first pageant on Sunday. “I thought pageants were amazing because my best friend is Miss Connecticut’s Outstanding Teen (Brooke Cyr of Waterbury). She’s truly amazing. I’ve seen all the work she does and I want to do the same thing.”
The Miss Connecticut Scholarship Pageant will be at The Palace Theater in Waterbury June 5 to 9.
For more information, go to www.MissCT.org
Additional photographs will be published at www.CTFashionMag.com later this week.
PHOTOS by MIKE CHAIKEN
