March 28, 2024

Miss Iowa USA, Miss Iowa Teen USA pageants returning to Newton

Competition is part of Miss Universe scholarship program

The Iowa component of one of the world’s largest scholarship competitions is returning to Newton again next month.

The 2014 Miss Iowa USA and Miss Iowa Teen USA pageants, part of the Miss Universe Organization, will take place the weekend of Oct. 12 and 13 at Newton Senior High School. With more contestants expected than in previous years, the event, which has now called Newton home for the past two years, will draw approximately 1,000 people for its third year.

“Women from opposite ends of Iowa will join together in Newton this fall to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” pageant co-director Denise Wallace said. “We are thrilled to be bringing back such a high-profile and internationally recognized event back to the community of Newton.”

Wallace’s organization, Future Productions, is the licensed producer of the state event. She has been working closely with Newton Senior High School, the Newton Convention & Visitors Bureau, as well local hotels and restaurants to ensure visitors will have a pleasant stay.

“We’re excited to once again bring back and welcome the pageant organizers, participants and their friends and family to Newton,” NCVB Executive Director Linda Bacon said. “We now know from the last two years the flood of excitement and entertainment the pageant brings to the community, and you can’t help but get caught up in its wake.”

The Miss Iowa USA and Miss Iowa Teen USA pageants are the official state preliminary pageants to the national Miss USA and Miss Teen USA programs. The newly crowned winners will receive thousands of dollars in college scholarships, prizes and awards.

“The newly crowned Miss Iowa USA will advance to compete in the nationally televised Miss USA Pageant live on NBC next spring,” Wallace said. “Most importantly, (Miss Iowa USA and Miss Iowa Teen USA) will serve as representatives for young women in Iowa by forging alliances with charitable organizations and civic groups.”

Miss USA also represents the United States in the Miss Universe competition, which is televised in more than 190 countries by NBC-Universal Television.

The October pageant will consist of three equally scored areas of competition: evening gown, swimwear and interview. To be eligible, unmarried young women 14 to 26 years of age must be residents of Iowa.

Current titleholders Miss Iowa USA Richelle Orr of Hampton and Miss Iowa Teen USA Morgan Kofoid of Leon will be on hand to crown the new winners. Tickets will be available to the public for purchase for both the preliminary show and finals show closer to the pageant dates.

“The community of Newton has been extremely welcoming of an event that recognizes young women and we invite all residents to join us for this exciting event,” Wallace said.

For more information on the Miss Iowa USA and Miss Iowa Teen USA pageants, or to apply to be a contestant, contact Future Productions at (651) 222-9650 or info@futureproductions.net, or visit www.missiowausa.com or www.missiowateenusa.com.