Donald Trump may rule the Miss Universe/Miss USA/Miss Teen USA franchise but this weekend it was all about Miss Massachusetts and Miss Teen Massachusetts 2011 and the pageant site was in Lowell. Using a venue like the Lowell Memorial Auditorium was a first for this pageant. The audience, the organizers and the talented ladies seemed comfortable and happy at the LMA. With the coordination of the Greater Merrimack Valley CVB and the experienced LMA staff to call on, organizers might consider  making a return run for the 2012 and 2013 events.

As to the event itself, the young women contestants came from across the state from Ludlow to Lowell and Worcester to Quincy. From the swim suit stroll to the glitz, glitter and glamour of the runway strut, these ladies from 15 to 26 displayed charm and confidence. They were athletes, dancers, volunteers, high school cheerleaders, class leaders, college grads, fundraisers, mentors, musicians, students at BC, Northeastern, Curry and Providence, travelers, adventurers, on the Dean’s list, Honor Roll and National Honor Society, spokespeople, models, linguists and even a nurse. 

After two-days of competition – tonight the winners were chosen by the judges.  Miss  Massachusetts 2011 is Alida D’Angona of  Boston and a Gordon College Alum. Miss Teen Massachusetts 2011 is Kay Tetreault – 17 years old and a pageant veteran from South Hadley.

Congratulations to all the pageant participants.

BTW – It hardly seems possible that it was back in 2002 that Latoya Foster an anchor on Lowell’s MediaOne’s cable news won the Miss Massachusetts title. She is now Latoya Edwards – a prominent anchor at NECN.