ALEXIS FORES
Special to The Leader
Whether it is Miss America or Miss Universe, pageants seem to have existed in American society for years. For five years now, the Delta Chi Fraternity will be hosting its very own pageant on the SUNY Fredonia campus Nov. 11.
The Miss Delta Chi pageant is an annual event and one of Delta Chi’s largest, most successful fundraisers. The process of creating an event this big began months ago.
“The one who started the event was Nate Zager. He graduated two years ago, and he created a procedure guide which is in a binder,” said Benjamin Soto, project coordinator. “Basically it talks about what you do with two months of prep work before the event, even one month beforehand, and it has a timeframe of when you should start doing things. It’s a headache; the event hasn’t even happened yet, and I’m already going crazy trying to keep it organized.”
The event is a campus-wide pageant open to all fee-paying students at Fredonia for only five dollars at the ticket office. This year’s event will be opened with a presentation from Blue Ice Step Team.
“We have a special little surprise with step dancing this year,” said Andrew Vertucci, 2013 Miss Delta Chi Host. “It’s getting other groups on campus involved that we never dealt with before. A lot of the people in Blue Ice are new this year so they get a chance to perform on stage.”
Unlike other pageants, the setup of how each contestant presents herself is somewhat different.
“It starts off with a bunch of contestants who start out the first part with introduction. They basically say where they’re from, their age and then they give a little bit information or fun fact about themselves. We follow that with a talent, and the talent is pretty much anything,” said Soto. “We’ve seen a wide variety of things; it’s pretty much something that can get the crowd to laugh. After that, we have a question-and-answer section in formal attire where they would answer three questions and that’s followed by a speech on a cancer they chose because the entire event is all for cancer. Our proceeds go to the Jimmy V. Foundation.”
Local community leaders will help in the process of determining this year’s Miss Delta Chi Sweetheart — the winner – and who will be handed the prizes for second and third place.
Although Miss Delta Chi is a smaller, local pageant, similar competitions still can get negative responses from the general public. However, some past winners of Miss Delta Chi believe that this pageant is different than most pageants.
“I understand that beauty pageants get negative responses. What sets this pageant apart from others that I have competed in is the fact that it is not a business,” said Kimberly Molfetto, Miss Delta Chi 2011 and 2013 Miss Delta Chi judge. “There is a wholesome, philanthropic purpose driving the event, whereas professional pageants focus on building up the individual in what could be seen in a vain way. Of course it is up to the contestants to ultimately compete for the right reasons, whether it be personal growth, or to win a scholarship for her academics. All of the winners of Miss Delta Chi have been leaders on our campus, intelligent women and talented in a particular hobby. I think having the Miss Delta Chi Pageant applauds these well-rounded women for their commitment to a cause and to have a moment to shine.”
Although the event’s main purpose is to try to raise money for cancer research, Miss Delta Chi believes in promoting more than that.
“We try to promote more of individualism. It’s okay to be yourself; it’s ok to have your unique talent or skills,” said Soto. “The people who you wouldn’t believe played an instrument would be the ones who come out and play one of the coolest instruments you’ve ever seen. It’s a cool thing because you get to know people much better and puts them out there too.”
“It showcases singers — it showcases anyone — who wouldn’t have the opportunity to do something at this school,” said Vertucci. “Say they’re not a music major but like to sing and want to sing. It gives them the opportunity to showcase themselves.”
If you’re interested in attending the upcoming Miss Delta Chi event to see the 14 contestants perform their individual, unique talents, the event this year will be held on Nov. 11, at 6:00 p.m. in G103c of the Williams Center.