New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
Do you want to be Miss New Bedford?!
The Miss New Bedford Scholarship Program is now seeking contestants for its annual Miss New Bedford Pageant! This year’s winner will receive a $3,000 scholarship plus an incredible prize package! Last year, the program celebrated its 60th anniversary, awarding Acushnet resident Janelle Guenette with a $6,000 scholarship. Since 1954, the pageant has awarded more than $120,000 to winners and contestants. In addition, the program is renowned for its emphasis on community service. Each year, Miss New Bedford participates in a range of 75 to 125 community engagements and charitable events throughout her year. Because the program provides a strong foundation for future success, Miss New Bedford titleholders have gone on to accomplish great things in all aspects of their lives from business to family, and community.
Now, it’s another young woman’s turn to win the opportunity of a lifetime….
The What and Why: A life-changing opportunity. Have fun, make new friends, win scholarship money, and earn the chance to stand beside elected officials, network with professionals, brush up on public speaking skills, and enhance your resume. Titleholders and past contestants alike attribute their confidence, drive, and ambition to the skills they learned from competing. Most say that the Interview phase of competition prepared them later in life to excel in professional interviews and achieve their career goals.
The Who: The pageant is open to young women, 17 to 24 years of age, living, working, or attending school in Acushnet, Assonet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Freetown, Lakeville, Mattapoisett, Marion, New Bedford, Rochester, and Westport. The current reigning Miss New Bedford is Janelle Guenette. A resident of Acushnet, she is a graduate of Bridgewater State University with a B.A. in Communications Studies. As Miss New Bedford, Janelle has devoted her year to promoting Big Brothers Big Sisters – a program uniting positive mentors with youth. Janelle received a $6,000 scholarship, plus an additional scholarship from winning the Lifestyle and Physical Fitness Preliminary Award at this year’s Miss Massachusetts pageant.
The ‘Say What’?! The perks of being Miss New Bedford are endless. Not only is there scholarship money, but an outstanding prize package. Local donors and sponsors contribute all the essentials for Miss New Bedford throughout her year including wardrobe allowances, gift certificates, massages, hair and nail care, tanning, personal training and a gym membership, personal make-up artistry, custom jewelry and more. Then, there are the appearances! Some requests are truly unbelievable from out-of-state trips to emceeing major events! Lastly, the chance to compete at the Miss Massachusetts pageant offers additional scholarship money and the incredible chance to compete for the title of Miss America!
Learn More NOW!: Anyone interested should attend the upcoming informational meeting and orientation on Sunday, Aug. 18, at 10 a.m. at the Cheryl McCormack Academy of Dance, 731 Tarkiln Hill Road, New Bedford (behind the King’s Highway Stop&Shop). Attendance creates no obligation to compete. This is simply an information session, so please attend! (The pageant will be held on Sunday, October 6th.) You must notify the facilitator of your attendance in advance. You may do this via www.missnewbedford.org by emailing info@missnewbedford.org or calling us at 508-264-2437.
