The modern beauty pageant’s origin is traceable to the Atlantic City’s Inter-City Beauty Contest in 1921. Tupelo High School’s CTE teachers continued the tradition with their annual Miss Industry Pageant.
Each participant has been a part of a CTE program. All of the girls had to first put on their blue and gold attire and introduce themselves and what they want to do after graduation. They then came out and showcased their fancy dresses.

Mrs. Bankhead, a CTE teacher, was the guest singer, and sang while the judges tabulated the scores.

The Miss Industry Pageant made the young women who participated feel beautiful and more confident. Mariana Meza, 10th grade, was crowned winner. Meza did a few pageants during kindergarten, but this is only the second year that she participated in the CTE pageant.
“I am definitely going to be doing more pageants soon.” Meza said
Meza made many new friends who ran on stage to congratulate her for winning.
“When they called my number, my heart stopped. I didn’t think it was real,I was so happy and had so many emotions going on all at once,” Meza said.
Doing this pageant gave Meza a boost of confidence that she didn’t really have before.
“I’ve never really been a girly-girl. I’m more of a tomboy when it comes to me in general, but this pageant was a good big step,” Meza said.
The pageant brought the girls together as one. “Everyone involved in the pageant were really open-armed, and if you needed anything, they were there for you,” Meza said.

“The whole process of this pageant was enjoyable for everyone, getting to practice with a pageant coach, getting THE Dress ,getting hair, nails and makeup done, making memories with old and new friends.” Alexandria Melton, 11th grade, said.
Furthermore,“If anyone wanted to do the pageant, but were unsure. I would tell them to do it. It was so much fun, and they will feel absolutely amazing and more confident than ever,” Meza said.
As the author, and someone who was also in the pageant, this whole experience was the best thing for my confidence.

It got me out of the hole I was hiding in and made me do things I never thought I would do in a million years. I made so many new friends, I also spoke on stage in front of a bunch of people, and I made it across the stage without falling, since my dress was long and I had on 5 inch heels. The Miss Industry pageant really helped me not only in life, but also in school. I am looking forward to doing it again next year.