Intelligent, articulate, charismatic, caring, talented and ambitious.  These are just a few of the many characteristic expectations of the two Miss Southlake Pageant crown holders.  In its fourth year, the Miss Southlake and Miss Teen Southlake pageant has become a prominent local competition engaging many multi-faceted young women from around North Texas.  The Miss Southlake competition represents one of over 30 similar, state-wide preliminary events sanctioned under the umbrella of the Miss America Organization.

Since crowning its first winner in 1921, The Miss America Organization has become one of the nation's leading achievement programs and the world's largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women. Last year, the Miss America Organization and its state and local organizations made available more than $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance to promising young women across the country.

This year seven contestants vied for the crown at the Carroll Senior High School Auditorium.  The theme “Glitz Glamour and Hairspray” paid homage to the popular John Waters' film and outstanding Broadway musical.  In Hairspray; music, singing and dancing were passions of all contestants on the “Corny Collins Show”.  At the Miss Southlake competition there was no difference and an evening of just that was set off in style by Fort Worth’s own Michael Hix (he has performed with Sugar Ray, All American Rejects, Loverboy and Cher).  During the opening dance number “It’s Hairspray” Hix played the role of dance show host Corny Collins to the pageant girls 60’s style dancers.

After the opening fanfare the Mistress of Ceremonies, Tara Watson (Miss Texas 2000) took the contestants and the audience through an evening which showcased the physical and spiritual beauty of fourteen of the areas most promising young women.

Each year there is but one goal for the over 12,000 contestants who participate within the Miss America system.  That goal is to win the local preliminary en route to the state title and ultimately be amongst the final 52 contestants for the coveted title of “Miss America”. 

Besides the talent and beauty portions of the competition each contestant must choose a platform- an issue of importance for herself and society.  Upon earning the title of Miss Teen or Miss Southlake, the crown holder pledges her commitment to the positions of her platform and to serving it with pride during her year.  In all, Miss America contestants perform a total of over a half million hours of community service each year for worthwhile causes ranging from literacy and self esteem to a multitude of medical awareness campaigns. 

Those close to the organization, the contestants and the young girls who look up to them know the role of Miss Southlake is more than just a title or a crown.  The obligations that come with the title do require a serious commitment for the entire year.

Ashley Melnick (18) is a graduate of Southlake Carroll High School who spent much of her early years in the North East.  Growing up in the Delaware and then Philadelphia areas she became part of the pageant circuit in addition to taking classical piano and vocal lessons.  With the early realization that “her favorite part of pageant competition was the talent portion” she decided to focus more on her music.  As a young girl she excelled musically in the public eye, becoming a regular on the Philadelphia based “Al Albert’s Children’s Showcase” in addition to singing national anthems for numerous sporting events. 

Her early successes in pageant talent competitions gave her the confidence to begin to really focus more on her music and for a time focus less on pageants.  Oddly enough it was a talent competition that sent Ashley back to the pageants of her youth. 

After hours of waiting in line in nearby San Antonio at an open casting call for the hit television show American Idol she was given her chance to shine.  Her audition with an underling producer from the Fox rating’s killer quickly dismissed her as “too pageanty”. 

Showing great resolve, Ashley took her criticisms and turned them into strengths.  Where many would have folded up their dreams and gone on with their education Ashley kept on moving forward, enlisting a fitness trainer and a separate “communications coach” to help prepare her again for the world of sashes and sachets.

Once again on the pageant scene her vocal abilities promptly re-took center stage with her striking rendition of Linda Eder’s “Bridge Over Troubled Waters”.  This young singer and songwriter has already recorded music that can be heard from her myspace.com page or purchased online at www.itsaboutmusic.com . 

Even though she spent the bulk of her youth in the Northeast, Ashley came to Texas as fast as she could and know considers herself a “Dallas girl”.  She enjoys spending her free time shopping with friends. 

Obviously, this Dallas girl also has substance as she currently is a freshman at the BelmontUniversity in Tennessee.  With a major in music business and a minor in vocal performance she seems to strike a mature balance of pragmatism while continuing to reach for the stars.  If the dreams of performing fall short she will be more than ready to maintain her love for music while pursuing a career in entertainment law.

Whether her future career unfolds in music or law is yet to be determined.  However, for the coming year fulfilling her duties as Miss Southlake Ashley will be focusing her attention and ours to Autism Awareness.  She chose this as her platform to honor her 23 year old brother Ryan who is autistic.  Ashley is proud of her brother and was excited to share that both of them were graduates of Carroll’s class of 2007.

According to the Autism Society of America, over 1.5 million Americans and their families suffer from this disease.  With the sincerity and compassion of someone who is directly touched with this affliction every day of her life, Ashley makes an even stronger statement, “Almost everyone is affected by Autism in one way or another.  Either you have it, know someone who has it or just happen to be in the same classroom or playground with an Autistic child.”

Ashley has realistic goals for her year long platform.  She says, “I do not expect to come up with a cure for Autism, but I do want to increase awareness of it.”  To do so she has centered her platform of awareness on three distinct actions; Education on Autism, networking with other affected individuals and families and lastly, to increase the community’s involvement with hopes to add to the level of resources available for all who are touched by Autism.

Carroll’s class of 2007 has already become directly familiar with Autism as Ryan was fully integrated amongst his fellow CISD students for him and his sister’s Senior year.  Ashley credits CISD for doing so and acknowledges that it was beneficial for her brother’s schooling, but maybe more importantly, it taught all Carroll Dragons how to interact with someone of Ryan’s abilitities.

From Delaware, to Philadelphia and now Texas Ashley seems to find a way to reach out and touch her community.  There is no doubt she is well on her way to a bright future as 2008’s Miss Southlake and beyond.  

2008 Miss Teen Southlake- Heather Henrichson

Heather Henrichson (16), daughter of Shannon and Harlan Henrichson of Tyler Texas is the new Miss Teen Southlake.  Currently, Heather is enrolled as a Junior at the BrookhillSchool in Bullard, Texas.  As an AP student she is focused on her education and hopes to pursue a degree in Communications from BaylorUniversity. 

This pageant princess is also a drama queen who has performed in seven school musicals to date.  Heather’s first appearance on stage was at the age of 10 where she performed as part of the choir in the musical 31/2 Musketeers.  Over the years Heather has grown up and so has her talent as a singer and actor.  Starring as the sharp shooting Annie Oakley in her school’s performance of Annie Get Your Gun Heather was able to really stretch her skills while playing a character that was a “bit different from [her] personality.”

Heather used the years of stage experience to her advantage as she belted out the vocal number “Think of Me” from the Broadway and now local favorite, Phantom of the Opera.  Performing a well known piece in competition comes with much added pressure, yet Heather rose to the occasion earning vital points during the talent competition while expressing a sense of confidence well beyond her years.

Some will say that her confidence in part, comes from her worldly experiences traveling to such places as Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Paris this coming spring.  Heather loves to travel and has already visited six countries through annual educational trips sponsored by her school.  For Heather, the travel allows her “to relate to many different lifestyles and people” who live them. 

Heather’s penchant for travel and strong belief in her platform of S.T.A.R.T (Stand Tall and Resist Temptation) will help her endure hours behind the wheel as she commutes to and from Tyler to be a part of local engagements here in Southlake. 

S.T.A.R.T is a simple lesson steeped in the “golden rule”; treat others as you would like to be treated.  Like Ashley, Heather wants to use her own personal experiences to encourage other young children to “stand tall” in the face of ridicule.  As a young girl Heather herself routinely faced hurtful actions from her peers regarding her weight.  “Resisting temptation” quite simply means that people should think twice before making rude or inappropriate comments about others.  In her own words Heather says, “we should focus on building people up, not tearing them down.”

Heather looks forward to sharing this message with hundreds of children not only in Southlake, but in her hometown of Tyler as well.  We look forward to her message gaining momentum across the state.

History of the Miss Southlake Scholarship Organization

The Miss Southlake Scholarship Organization (MSSO) was originated through the bond between a former Southlake pageant contestant and her choreographer.  Born and raised in Southlake, Heather Edwards Bruce spent a formidable portion of her youth competing within the pageant system.  Over seven years of competition pageants and performance became an exciting and fulfilling part of her life.  In fact, the pageant life had such a positive effect on her that she wanted to bring the experience to others.

One of the mentors during Heather’s pageant years was a local dancer and choreographer by the name of Dana Bailey.  The immeasurable hours they worked together helped build the foundation of a strong friendship that still stands today.  A friendship so strong, that when Dana approached Heather about starting a local pageant for Southlake…there was little hesitation.  Heather says, “I competed in many pageants but I never had the opportunity to represent my home town.  The Miss Southlake Organization allows us to express our love for Southlake and for mentoring young women.  They are the reasons why Dana and I work so hard for this organization.”

Since they teamed up in 2004 Miss Southlake and Miss Teen Southlake officially became a franchise under the umbrella of the Miss America system.  From then on it has become a family affair.  Dana’s father, Van Jones and his wife Sharron McCalley (a former Miss Texas) have become very involved in supporting of the MSSO as well.  At times they even offer their home for networking and fundraising events.

From the top of the ladder in Mayor Andy Wambsganns to those who climb ladders like Fire Chief Robert Finn the city also takes the event seriously, lending themselves to help judge the overall winners.  In addition to city officials the 14 person judging crew has a wealth of experience from prestigious pageant winners, professional performance coaches and models to local business owners.

Bringing together all of these talented individuals from both sides of the stage in itself is an awesome feat.  But ask Heather Bruce and the Miss Southlake Organization who is the most important part of the evening and they’ll tell you, “it wouldn’t be possible without the support of our sponsors.” 

The Miss Southlake and Miss Teen Southlake competition is all about providing opportunities for all of the girls.  Heather Bruce explains, “the Miss Southlake pageant is one of a few in the state to offer scholarships not just for the winners but also for the runner ups.  Many other pageants only give flowers, but we are fortunate to have generous sponsors who have been nothing but fabulous this year!” 

With a total of well over $25,000 worth of college scholarships and services ranging from hair care, evening wear and photography the Miss Southlake Sponsors should be proud of their combined value of their offerings.  Out of all of the many sponsors no one was more generous than diamond sponsors Pieter Andries and his wife Marilyn.  Not only did Pieter Andries purchase a full page advertisement in the commemorative program, but the prestigious Southlake jeweler took their giving two steps further by presenting a pair of pearl stud earrings to each contestant and a stunning pearl necklace to Miss Southlake and Miss Teen Southlake. 

While presenting his wares to the contestants Pieter summed up the sentiments of the evening perfectly when he said to each young woman, “no matter what happens this evening you are all winners.”