October 20, 2021 Issue, Page 10 of 10

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10 Living October 20, 2021 Former Miss America to perform at 60th anniversary of Miss Elk City and Miss Queen of the West Pageants on November 20 Susan Powell credits Beckham County upbringing and the local pageant as her launching point Home Matters, she got her went on to be the runner-up in ing modest bathing suits on themselves,” Powell explained. Maryland was a biker and start at the Elk City Methodist Miss Oklahoma. beaches. Although the swim- “By that, I mean, as a contes- sponsored by a riding club. Church. She was taught under “was able to take the schol- ming suit portion is no longer tant, you have to focus on your ‘They were there, decked out the direction of Elk City icon, arship money that I earned to a part of the pageant, it is not self-improvement and your in their Harley Davidson gear, the late Juanita Wham. Wham go to Oklahoma City Univer- lost on Powell that those origi- goals. The program continues to support her. Her dad was a herself dedicated countless sity. My mother had already nal contestants paved the way Harley guy, and that had been to expand. The talent program hours to the Miss Elk City Pag- been driving me once a week to. for other women to have that her life's experience. It is open is no longer only art perfor- eant. have voice lessons from OCU’s freedom. to every kind of woman from mances like vocals or instru- “Many people may not real- legendary Florence Birdwell. “This pageant is there for ments. This last year’s winner every walk of life.” ize this, but Miss Queen of the Birdwell then taught me again young women at the perfect is a scientist and did a science For more information, visit West is the longest-running while I attended OCU,” Powell time in their lives to focus on experiment as her talent. Miss www.MissElkCity.com. pageant in the state of Okla- said. homa,” Powell gushed. “There’s In 1980, Powell was crowned Susan Powell a long legacy of successful Miss Oklahoma City. women who got their profes- ‘This time, fate would have By Shonda Little sional start on that stage. her also hailed as Miss Okla- Although we will be holding homa. ‘The Miss Elk City and Queen this at the Kelli O'Hara Au- Later that year, with the of the West Pageants will be ditorium, I'm honored that eyes of the world upon her, held at 7 p.m. on Saturday, the stage I walked across now Powell's Elk City fans cheered Nov. 20, at the Kelli O’Hara bears my name and is still in from home as she was crowned. Center for Performing Arts in use. Kelli is one of many ex- Miss America. Elk City. amples of the great talent Although that victory Miss Elk City is open to that has come out of Beckham launched her into a year of ser- young women residing in County. And although many of vice and a global career, Powell Elk City or within a 45-mile our contestants and winners acknowledges that her Elk City radius, including all of Beck- have not made a professional roots propelled her. ham and Roger Mills counties, career in performance arts, “It feels good to be able to Cordell, Leedey and Sentinel. countless have made profes- come back and help support Miss Queen of the West is sional careers in other areas. this pageant that did so much open statewide. ‘The Miss America Pageant sys- for me,” Powell explained. ‘Although locals and pageant tem is, first and foremost, a “This truly is where it all start- fans have long flocked to the scholarship program. There are ed. And, as excited as I am to annual extravaganza, organiz- thousands of female doctors, emcee and perform for our ers note that 2021 is unique. lawyers, accountants, teachers hometown crowd, I am most After all, it will be celebrat- and a litany of other careers excited to meet the young ing his 60th annual event. who got their start within the women who will be competing. In honor of that rare pageant system. I can think 1 know that I will be meeting achievement, former Miss of several runners-up in their many future Elk City success America Susan Powell will local and state pageants who stories. I have stayed involved serve as emcee and give a spe- used that scholarship money with Miss America all these cial performance. as their start to go to medical years. I have served as emcee That is only befitting con- school.” for the Miss America Pageant t sidering that Powell herself Powell credits the pageant and been a judge for Miss New served as Miss Elk City in board, in particular Ronda York and other pageants. So ECHS Varsity Academic Team! They competed at the District meet in Chickasha this 1977. Mikles, for orchestrating this Tm always humbled by the fact week and won all three of their matches against Clinton, Anadarko and Chickasha. The ‘The Elk City native, daugh- year's celebration. that I am meeting our future team will compete at Regionals in Bridge Creek in November. ter of Wendall and Vinita Pow- “This is going to be a special leaders.” Pictured front (I-r): Coach Stephanie Mosqueda, Jocelyn Pranabdev, Alivia Jeter, Mad- ell, has headlined some of the year,” Powell said. “I am not the In Powell’s eyes and many die Benton, back (1-r): Shane Wu, Mason Friesen, Bailey Carpenter and Aiden Freeman. world’s most famous venues. only person being honored. We others, the Miss America pro- Courtesy photo. A darling of the vocal world, will be honoring several of the gram has been a beacon of she has performed globally. women who came before us female empowerment and ad- But, long before the Seattle and kept this going” vancement. She has studied its Opera, bright lights of Broad- After Powell was crowned origins to a time when young way and her television show, Miss Elk City in 1977, she women were jailed for wear- Main IV your cheam inom Draggin’ Main IV in Chey- enne was held this past a) mealligyle weekend. Advertising Di- rector, Neva Pyatt and hus- band Joe got in the festive mood with their 1976 at- tire. Neva was wearing an outfit that belonged to her mom and Joe was wearing a liesure suit of which be- longed to Neva’s dad. They won second place along with the Spirit award. Staff photo courtesy of Neva Py- att. We now offer: Fixed Rate Conventional, Lozms; Mocltier intone KOEmns; Refinances and Home) Equity Loans! 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