Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Jul. 26--Stefanie Range entered her first pageant this spring and won.
Stefanie, who finished eighth grade at Mt. Baker Middle School in Auburn this year, was crowned Miss Washington's Outstanding Teen on May 28. In mid-August, she'll compete in Orlando, Fla., to be Miss America's Outstanding Teen.
The 13-year-old was surprised and excited to win the Washington pageant, competing against older teens with three to four years experience in pageants.
"It feels great," Stefanie said. "It's really a whole new experience for me."
She answered judges' questions and sang in the competition with 17 other girls, ages 13 to 17, from throughout Washington, at the Auburn Performing Arts Center.
Contestants wore casual wear, physical fitness outfits and evening gowns in the competition. Her prizes in the pageant sponsored by the Miss Washington Scholarship Organization included a $1,000 savings bond and $500 in cash.
Contestants in last year's inaugural Miss America's Outstanding Teen pageant were awarded more than $150,000 in college scholarships.
The Miss America organization runs the national teen competition. The Miss America pageant is for women 17 to 24 years old.
For Stefanie, singing on stage came naturally because she has been in musicals since fifth grade. She performed in the Auburn Avenue Dinner Theatre's production of "Sound of Music" this month.
"Because I do so much theater, I'm used to being in front of an audience, and I just love it," Stefanie said. "It's kind of an unexplainable joy when I'm on stage."
She competed for the title of Miss Washington's Outstanding Teen with the platform "enhancing communities through the arts."
"I just want to promote what great things arts can do for communities," Stefanie said.
Stefanie's parents, Jane and Allen Range, and her sister, 17-year-old Michelle, are excited about her success.
"Our whole family is very proud of her," Jane Range said.
Steve Maynard, The News Tribune
-----
Copyright (c) 2006, The News Tribune, Tacoma, Wash.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.
For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
