Fifteen well-deserving contestants

vied recently for the much-coveted title of Ms. Southland 2001.

The final contestants were

Ira "Mimmie" Cawthon, 80; Blanche Mowell, 85; Alice Brouilette,

81; Anna Mascara, 88; Lottie Abbott, 70; Nettie Knight, 103 (now 104);

Ester Noriega, 88; Lula Hunter, 70; Gladys Morgan, 79; Sara Turner, 84;

Mary Grant, 74; Lucille Johnson, 89; Nadine Treantafilos, 79; and Rose

Field, 79.

Judge Chris Edwards was the

emcee for the event, introducing guests, recognizing volunteers and querying

the contestants. Edwards may have missed his true calling in life based

on comments from contestants, the audience and staff. He joked, cajoled

the ladies into singing and sharing, and quickly relaxed them as they

performed and answered questions in front of the standing-room-only audience.

He kept the crowd laughing and made the job of the six judges easier by

bringing the best out of the nervous contestants.

For many of the contestants,

the pageant is the first time they have been in front of an audience,

participated in a pageant or spoken to a large crowd.

The warmth of the crowd, the

support of family members and Edwards' ability to put them at ease all

contributed to a touching and enjoyable time for all attendees and contestants.

Participants in the contest

hail from all over the world. The state of Washington, Puerto Rico, Georgia,

Kentucky, New York and Rhode Island were all represented.

Noriega sang a beautiful rendition

of "Amazing Grace" in Spanish, Anna Mascara entertained with

a few lines of "You've Got the Cutest Little Baby Face," and

others told of their favorite places, talked about family members, shared

some of their many accomplishments and a few even went head-to-head with

Edwards with a few humorous exchanges.

The outfits chosen by the ladies

were just one example of the importance placed upon the event by the contestants.

Beautiful dresses, jaunty hats and lovely scarves and jewelry were shown

off.

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