magnumohio:

Alexandra (pageant founder), Alexis, LaShonda, and Molly, Miss Model contestants. Cleveland, Ohio.

Twenty-two-year-old Alexandra Russo is the founder and director of the Miss Model Pageant. Alexandra says she first had the idea for her pageant when she was 11 years old. “The show is centered around women, success, being comfortable with yourself, fulfilling your dreams, and using entertainment to communicate a positive message,” Alexandra says. Contestants compete in two divisions, 13-20 years old and 21-and-over, and seven titles are up for grabs: Miss Model, Miss Modelette, Miss Model Princess, Miss Modelette Princess, Miss Role Model, Miss White Knight, and Miss Purple Dragon.

The pageant is in its fifth year, and the pink banner that Alexandra has designed for the show features a unicorn and the words “Be The Girl” and “How Big Will Your Dreams Get?”

“The pageant mascot is Mist the Unicorn,” Alexandra says. “He represents unity and diversity. There are also four other mascots. Fitz the Fairy represents having fun and making friends; Splash the Swan is about finding inner beauty; Croak the Frog encourages the contestants to be independent and autonomous; and Gem the Genie symbolizes motivation, success, and ambition.”

This year’s pageant is scheduled for June 24th at the Earth Night Club in Cleveland. Alexandra is still trying to line up contestants, and has 11 confirmations so far. “I’m just hoping to get a little bit bigger each year,” she said. “Last year we had 10 contestants, but only nine actually showed up.”

(Source: lbmdispatch)