By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
BENTON HARBOR - Once upon a time it was enough to be beautiful.
Their looks was about all the audience knew about the Miss Blossomtime contestants.
Now they must be witty enough to take to the Mendel Center Mainstage and parry with Lainie Lu Howard Von Behren, who held the title in 1988, and radio personality Pat Moody popping questions such as, "What does nobody know about you?" It's been a rough few days for Miss Benton Harbor Ashley Hampton, for she is allergic to flowers.
It makes the judging process more complex and institutionalized stalling.
Two roving reporters, former royalty, roamed the house to fill the lengthy gaps with impromptu interviews with everyone from official photographer Dennis Hafer to those seated in the balcony and reporters in the orchestra pit. They led cheer-offs, posed for pictures and brought the audience glimpses from backstage.
The two dozen community queens are inspired by everybody from Barbie to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
They have been Red Cross founder Clara Barton for Halloween.
They are well-traveled globetrotters, like Katie Novotny, who traveled to Ireland, Wales and Paris. She coaches third and fourth graders in basketball when she's home in South Haven.
Miss Stevensville Drew Aiken would settle for being President of the United States. She will major in political science at Michigan State University. As a young girl, the thought of living in the White House and "bossing millions of people around" appealed to her.
As her political consciousness has expanded, she's involved in CROP Walks, food and blood drives and March of Dimes because of the good things she can see coming out of them.
Two summers ago the petite Drew survived Tennessee whitewater rafting and her encounter with the sometimes-fatal "meat grinder" of jagged rocks.
Miss Buchanan Chelsea Ghatoaura is learning to play guitar. She plans to major in broadcasting at Central Michigan University and work in television news. Actually, she wants to be the next Katie Couric.
Miss Watervliet Kourtney Marvin also wants to go into broadcasting.
Miss Bridgman Abbey Nemitz, one of several future teachers, is already closer to that goal through a cadet program at her high school. Mornings she helps teach a third grade class.
Miss Baroda Carrie Krotzer not only got to march in the World War II parade in Washington with the Lakeshore Marching Band, but she wore her grandfather's medal. Next year she will attend Eastern Michigan University to study psychology and child development - a career choice sparked, she admitted, by the FBI profiler Jodie Foster portrayed in "Silence of the Lambs."
Miss Bloomingdale Kelly Kline related her 13th birthday - St. Patrick's Day in Germany's biggest bar. She considers herself a "goofball," which she defined by making a face with her tongue sticking out.
Miss Berrien Springs Jessica Gilbert said her aunt, a pharmacist, influenced her to attend Ferris State University for the pharmacology program.
Miss Galien Paige Olney devotes much of her time to dance, but she wants to be a veterinarian. She has been accepted at St. Mary's College for her undergraduate studies, then will transfer to Michigan State University for veterinary school. She has been involved in a program, "Dance for Joy," which works with youngsters. One girl "wanted to grow up to be me."
Asked if she was a "card shark," Miss Cassopolis Ashley Solloway nodded affirmatively, but added that she prefers "Go Fish" to Texas Hold 'em.
There were so many lighted "8" signs held aloft by Cassopolis fans it looked like some sort of NASCAR rally from stage.
Ashley told about her memorable trip to Mexico last summer with her Spanish teacher to meet a student they adopted. The Ross Beatty High School junior wants to be an anesthesiologist.
Miss Hartford Venessa Garcia wants to be a social worker.
Miss Eau Claire-Sodus Anna Glassman recounted her most memorable experience, portraying Santa Claus in fourth grade while singing Willie Nelson songs with backup reindeer.
Another future teacher, Miss Gobles Erin Killeen, was inspired by watching her sister's transformation from dyslexia to the honor roll. Nobody knows they raise cows at her house, she guessed.
Miss Mattawan Jessica Chopp, an accomplished second baseman in softball, was always getting hit by pitches, so she sees herself shifting gears into nursing.
Miss New Buffalo Nika Corwin, a 17-year-old junior, wants to study business management to open her own salon/spa. She enjoyed the hot weather when she visited the Philippines.
Miss Niles-Brandywine Lacey Wiemuth, a 17-year-old 12th grader at Niles Senior High, performed at the Orange Bowl Jan. 4 on ABC while the celebrities were singing the halftime show. Nobody knows "queens sweat, too," she said under the hot spotlight.
She wants to attend Lake Michigan College for one year, then transfer to a larger college or university to become a dental hygienist. She also wants to continue pursuing cheerleading and gymnastics so that someday she can open her own gym.
Miss Paw Paw Danielle Small, 19, a freshman at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, wants to become a nurse, then a doctor specializing in anesthesiology and a California resident. She's also a pushover for animal rescue and has six cats.
Miss St. Joseph Meenakshi Davuluri will attend the University of Michigan and medical school. She told about participating in the model United Nations, a club where "countries" attend a spring conference in Battle Creek.