Dale Wins Junior Miss Title

Liz Huberman

Nantucket's Junior Miss scholarship pageant at the high school is about education, talent, ambition, and expression. But more importantly, it's about sisterhood and bonding. Amidst flowers and flashing cameras, makeup and sparkly dresses, and droves of family and friends in the packed Mary P. Walker Auditorium, 15 girls held hands in hopes that they might wear the medal of the 2007 Nantucket Junior Miss.

One of the largest groups to be a part of the annual event, all 15 candidates had diverse talents, intelligent speeches, and elegant poise. The pageant "emphasis on education" is not a beauty pageant by any means. Rather, one-fifth of the points goes towards scholastics in school, another 15% is self-expression, 25% to talent, and an interview that occurs prior to the main event with the judges is another 25%.

Miranda Dale, who hopes to study language at Colorado College, won the 2007 Junior Miss title, after a very unique display of her martial arts capabilities during the talent portion.

"We just had a great time," said Dale, "I didn't even think about the money at all."

Dale will now go on to a statewide Junior Miss competition in Franklin, Mass. this coming February, with a chance to go onto the National Junior Miss Program in Mobile, Alabama in July of 2008. "I'm excited to see the differences between all of the other girls in Massachusetts," she said about her future endeavor, "I'm just going to play it by ear and have a good time."

Runners-up for the 2007 Junior Miss Scholarship Pageant are: 1st Runner-Up: #14, Nellie Morley; 2nd Runner-Up: #6, Cassandra Moran; 3rd Runner-Up: #2, Kristie Flaherty; 4th Runner-Up: #5, Tiffany Lee.

Take a look at our slideshow below, and stay tuned for an upcoming video segment during This Week on Nantucket and on the web, plus a full-length show of the entire event, both on Channel 22.

Congratulations to all of the amazing & talented candidates of this year's Nantucket Junior Miss: #1, Tiffani Montijo; #2, Kristie Flaherty; #3, Marta Cary Hermansdorfer; #4, Jessica Norris; #5, Tiffany Lee; #6, Cassandra Moran; #7, Jessica Dalzell; #8, Spencer Perry; #9, Miranda Dale; #10, Morgan Day; #11, Whitney Butler; #12, Heidi Marks; #13, Catherine Tripp; #14, Helen Morley; and #15, Olivia Hull.

All coverage of the 2007 Nantucket Junior Miss is sponsored by Madaket Marine & The Nantucket Junior Miss Board.