University of Mississippi - Ole Miss Yearbook (Oxford, MS)

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PARADE OF BEAUTIES UPTOWN GIRLS With the theme of New York, New York, the 2004 Parade of Beauties competition BROUGHT THE BiG APPLE TO OxFORD AND NAMED LaNIER WrIGHT AS THE THE WINNER wriUen In CARLA GORDON ' - ' m n tA evening of Nov. 4, the stage of the Ford Center for liie Performing Ai Is iransformed into New York, New Yorlc as Ole Miss women vied for ijuujje of Most Beautiful at the 7 1st annual Parade of Beauties. Seventy-four contestants were judged in two separate categories. The scoring for the competition was composed of a private interview, worth 20 percent of the final score, and the evening wear competition, worth 80 percent of the final score. Private interviews were held before a panel of five judges throughout the pageant day. During the evening wear portion, contestants were judged on physical fitness, stage presence, poise, personality and beauty of face and figure. Based on this scoring, the top 25 contestants are selected to compete for the top 10 positions, as well as the title of Most Beautiful. The scores from the previous rounds are dropped after each round. Director of Campus Programmingjennifer Taylor said. Lanier Wright, nominated and sponsored by her sorority Phi Mu, was crowned Most Beautiful 2004. Wright, of Thomaston, Ga., is a sophomore special education major and a member of the Ole Miss Dance Company. Wright said she felt ver) ' supported by her sorority. I could hear them in the crowd cheering for me when I was on the stage, Wright said. It is such an honor to be chosen by them. Wright, no stranger to pageants, has participated in Georgia ' s Junior Miss Competition and plans to enter Miss University. Her chosen platform for pageants is the Make-a-Wish Foundation, which she has participated in for five years as a wish granter. During her interview portion of the Parade of Beauties, she shared her experience with the panel of judges. After a long day of preparing, Wright was shocked to be crowned. I was ready to get out of those four-inch heels, put on my blue jeans and eat the spaghetti my mom made, then they called my name, Wright said. I still cannot believe I won. The top 10 finalists included: Tara Tutor, Lauren Ezell, lara Smith, p iohi;rap u ' (J hr DARRELL BLAKELY Lacey Franklin, Cointne ' Walker, Leah Chancellor. Lc lic Wilkcrson, Smith Greer, Gary Johnston and Stribling Whites. The Parade of Beauties is an annual competition organized by the Student Pnjgramming Board. Contestants seek sponsorship from student organizations, academic departments, friends and family. All sponsors I was ready to eet out of those four-inch heels, put on my blue jeans and eat the spaghetti my mom made. . . then they called my name, Lanier Wright said. were announced at the pageant. Each year the Student Programming Board chooses a theme for the night. ' New York, New York ' is a great theme. There are a lot of fun songs we used and a skyline backdrop for the stage, Student Programming Board Director Justin Smith said. A.SB President Gordon Fellows and ASB Judicial Chair Sara Hart Rosenblatt presented the awards. Janna Hughes, Alicia Harper, Amber Gardner and Justin Smith all performed musical numbers between pageant events. Ole Miss Army ROTC Cadets Matt Pierce, Benton Montgomery, Matt Songe and Hunter Gray escorted the contestants. Beta Alpha Psi, of the E.H. Patterson School of Accountancy, audited all scores. THE TOP 10 BEAUTIES INCLUDED: Courtney Walker, Smith Greer, Leah Chancellor, Stribling Whites, Tara Tutor, Most Beautiful Lainer Wright, Lauren Ezell, Tara Smith, Lezlie Wilkerson, Cary Johnston and Lacey Franklin Distinctions | 113

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• - ;.« SOPHOMORE LANIER WRIGHT, claims ihe crown and title of the 2004 Parade of Beauties Quee-

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CAMPUS FAVORITES Ten senior ranking members of the Ole Miss student body were ELECTED AS THE 2004 CaMPUS FaVORITES plwhoiap mJ h DARRELL BLAKELY You have to recognize when the right place and the right timejiise and take advantage of that opportunity. There are plenty of opportunities out there. Tou can ' t sit back and wait. -Ellen Metcalf author indsay Harper, from Columbus, Miss., is the daiigiiter of Ron and Nancy garner. While majoring in English and double minoring in history and frnalism. Harper is the current Associated Student Body Secretary and Student Programming Board Co-Director of Pageants. She participates also as a member of the Sigma Tau Delta Honor Society, National Beta Club, National Dean ' s List, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Order of Omega Honorary Society, Mortar Board, Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society and has been placed on the Dean ' s Honor Roll. Harper has also been a top 25 Most Beautiful in both the 2002 and 2003 Parade of Beauties, an Ole Miss Ambassador, a Diamond Girl, a 2002 Orientadon Leader and the executive assistant to the Associated Student Body Vice President. Harper was nominated by her sorority, Delta Gamma, for this honor. It is a privilege to be recognized by my fellow students and friends, Harper said. I love Ole Miss, and I will never forget these four wonderful years. ■I mJAd, . philosophy major and history min(jr from Scnalobia, Miss., is the )n o VillAm and Ann Todd. Todd is a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity as w«-H as-sap Tiember (jf the Chancellor ' s Leadershij) Class. Other honors include being a member of Gamma Beta Phi, Al[)ha Lamba Delia and (iokk-n Key Honor Society, where he serves as historian. Ibdd has also been a member of I he Associated Sludenl Body goverimient where he has served on the Student Involvement Commidee and ihe Suideiil Services C onunitlcc. lie resides as a member of College Republic ans, Ole Miss Ambassadors, Rebels y gainst Drunk Driving, the C algary Rescue Mission and is a volunteer lf)r the (Jraceland Rctirenieiil Home. Todd said he ran lor this position because he wanti ' d lo represent the university. I love Ole Miss, and 1 wan let I lo repicsenl I he iiniversily. ( )le Miss has always been one of ihe most impoilant lliings in my life, Todd said. Re|)resentiug the university is such an honor be( ause 1 have loved Ole Miss since 1 was born. 1 am very proud that the students at Ole Mi.ss have elected me lo this position. f 114 I The Ole Miss 2005