Don’t be surprised if Newton seems a tad more, well, glamorous this weekend — it’s merely the result of 68 young ladies from across the state flocking to Newton to compete in the Miss Iowa USA and Miss Teen Iowa USA pageants, which kick off tomorrow at 8 p.m in the Newton Senior High School Auditorium.

For the second year running, Newton will play host to contestants and their familes as they vie for a spot in the national Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants, which will take place next summer. 

When searching for a new town to host the pageants two years ago, Denise Wallace, Executive State Director of Future Productions — the company that produces the pageants as well as several others in surrounding states — found an ideal mix of the various factors desired in a host city right here in Newton.