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Arts & Entertainment

Upper Southampton Teen Vies for Miss Philadelphia Crown

Senior Jordyn Skubish will compete in the Miss Philadelphia Pageant on March 31.

Jordyn Skubish, 17, woke up one morning and decided she wanted to compete in a pageant. After discussing the opportunity with her parents, the Upper Southampton teen, discovered the Miss Philadelphia pageant, filled out the application, got accepted and auditioned, and is now one of 18 finalists in the March 31 competition.

"This is actually my first pageant," Skubish said. "For awhile it's been something I wanted to do. So I just applied."

The audition process included a five minute interview and a 90 second preview of the candidate's talent, Skubish explained.

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Skubish, a senior at , went back and forth when considering her talent. She has been dancing since she was three years old, and sang in school from 5th to 9th grade. She said she decided that she was more comfortable singing in front of people, so she chose that as her talent.

To better prepare, Skubish said she started taking voice lessons. She'll be singing "I'm Not That Girl" from the musical "Wicked."

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Skubish has also been preparing for the two on-stage interview questions and the 10 minute, in-person interview that takes place before the on-stage competition.

"I've been watching the news a lot to learn [about] controversial issues," she said.

In addition to being on top of current events issues, she said she's been practicing walking around her house in high heels, and reviewing the information she learned during mandatory workshops for the pageant.

During the workshops, Skubish said the candidates practice walking and posture, mock interviews and get vital information for the night of the competition.

Though the workshops are full of helpful information and tips, it doesn't prepare the competitors to be in the spotlight. Luckily, some of Skubish's extracurricular activities have readied her for that.

She was on the cheerleading squad from her freshman through junior year, and most recently she was involved in as the dance captain and a competitor in the obstacle course and speed pyramid.

In addition to the interview, on-stage questions and talent portion of the competition, Miss Philadelphia competition phases also includes lifestyle and fitness and evening gown categories.

During the lifestyle and fitness portion, judges are assessing the physical fitness, tone, stage presence, confidence and energy of the candidate, according to the orientation guide for the competition. During the evening gown category, categories are assessing the girl—not the gown—for poise, present, grace,  energy and charisma.

Each category requires a different outfit.

"I wear probably about four or five outfits," Skubish explained. "A cocktail dress for the opening number, an evening gown, a swim suit, a talent portion dress and then, of course, my interview outfit, which is business attire."

Out of all of her wardrobe choice, her evening gown is her favorite.

"I [wore] it to my junior prom last year, it's really pretty," she said. "I got lots of complements on it."

It is a gold, strapless, floor-length gown, with sequins and a sweetheart neckline, Skubish said.

Though the pageant is still a few weeks away, Skubish said the whole experience up to this point has been amazing. Since it is her first pageant, she said that getting this far has been more than she expected. She doesn't know if she will win, but she said she is grateful for being able to participate.

"I won't be disappointed because it's just amazing that I made it this far with it being my first pageant," Skubish said about the possibility of not winning. "I'd definitely try again next year. I have a couple more years to go to participate."

Girls ages 17 to 24 who are a resident or full-time student in the Philadelphia area (which includes Bucks, Delaware, Montgomery, Chester and Philadelphia counties) can compete in the Miss Philadelphia pageant.

Skubish isn't practicing a shocked and amazed winning face, either, because she said it truly would be a shock.

"I think it would come natural because it would be such a shock [to win]," she said. "I don't even know what I would do. It would just be amazing!"

The winner of the 2012 Miss Philadelphia competition—which takes place at 8 p.m. at Drexel University’s Mandell Theater—will go on to compete in the 2012 Miss Pennsylvania pageant on May 16, in Pittsburgh.

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