It started out in 2001 as 'Little Miss Hottie Hottie,' but four queens and four years later hard times call for hard sell and what was once a neighborhood pageant for fun has turned into an all-out fundraising drive for an entire neighborhood in Lake I. So this year they will be choosing 'Miss Lake I' and the funds raised will be used to buy books and uniforms for about 50 kids. The pageant's organizer is Stephanie Gray and she introduced us to the 7 contestants in the heart of Lake I on Flamboyant Street.
Stephanie Gray, Pageant Coordinator
"We decided to make it a big pageant to help buy school supplies for the students back here because we know that we are not a very wealthy community so we are giving everyone a little to help their parents purchase school supplies. It is just for the community and we are just trying to send everybody back to school.
This pageant is very unique because its not like all the other pageants because we don't normally put in sports wear because that is too expensive and we are not wealthy, I myself am only a teenager and I don't have a job. We will have the talent, introduction, I don't want to give out anything because it will be a night to remember.
I really want to see all of those children behind Lake I graduate with a good education because Lake I is in so much poverty and we are trying to decrease the poverty and let people look up to us and we can do whatever want."
Miss Lake I will be chosen on Saturday night at the Community Center. The show begins at 7 pm. Tickets are $1 for children under 12; $2 for teenagers, and $3 for adults. Tickets can be bought at the door or by contacting Stephanie Gray at 202-4294. The organizers are also still soliciting sponsors.
