Anjelica Francisco is no stranger to pageants.
After six years of evening wear, interview judging and showcasing her talent, Francisco, nabbed second runner-up in the 2012 Miss Ohio Scholarship Program, along with $4,500 in scholarships.
Francisco, a 2006 graduate of Ross Beatty Junior/Senior High School and daughter to the school’s Assistant Principal Hiawatha Francisco, began competing in pageants in 2007, when she was named Miss Cass-St. Joseph. She originally hailed from Cincinnati, Ohio, and, after attending college at Eastern Michigan University, she decided to move back home. From there, she continued to enter into pageantry that offered scholarship opportunities. This year being her last to compete in the Miss Ohio pageant, Francisco, 24, was glad to end her run on a high note.
“I’ve been competing for a while now, and I was really excited to get going with the pageant,” Francisco said.
The first area of judging for competitors proved to be beneficial and successful for Francisco. Through a 10-minute, press-conference style interview segment, she wowed the judges with her answers pertaining to anything from personal hobbies to politics. The segment awarded her a $500 scholarship.
“I wasn’t really nervous,” Francisco said. “When I first started, I would usually get pretty nervous, but, this time around, I was just excited to get in there.”
The next areas of competition took place on the stage in front of an audience of family, friends and spectators. Francisco competed in swimsuit, evening wear, an on-stage question and performed her talent as a vocalist.
“My family was there for the competition,” Francisco said. “It was really good to have them there, and my dad has always been really enthusiastic and supportive of the pageant world.”
Entering into Miss Ohio as Miss Greater Butler County, Francisco was named second runner-up and awarded $4,000 in scholarships.
Francisco said she plans to take her scholarships and apply them to getting a master’s degree in social work.
“I’ll be applying this fall and deciding where I’d like to go,” Francisco said.
She also credits her family for her success because they’ve been supportive of her choices.
“They always cheer me on,” Francisco said. “More than anything, they like to see me do what I love to do, whether it’s a pageant or not.”