By Denise Richardson
Staff Writer
January 26, 2008 09:15 am LAS VEGAS _ Clara Bow, Edie Sedgwick, Twiggy, Goldie Hawn, Britney Spears, Paris Hilton. They have been described as "it girls," and Lauren Nelson, Miss America 2007, has taken the modern-day title. "Miss America still is a very important icon in our country,'' said Donna Axum Whitworth, Miss America 1964 from Arkansas and a pageant board director, during a media conference this week. But the definition of "it girl" is under review for many, including Miss New York, as the Miss America Organization strives to be relevant and identify women who can be the voice of the organization. The 2008 Miss America Pageant will be telecast at 8 p.m. Saturday on The Learning Channel, which is channel 58 in the Oneonta area. Miss New York Elisabeth Baldanza, of East Meredith, competed in preliminary events this week in Las Vegas. Last year, The Learning Channel and the Miss America Organization reached a multiyear, multimillion dollar partnership to promote the pageant program. For the first time, the 52 competitors participated in a reality-show series, which has been airing this month. The goal was to prepare the women for "a renewed, modern competition that will redefine what it takes to be Miss America, a relatable and individual it girl' who can connect with today's modern woman,'' according to media releases from the pageant organization. Baldanza has expressed support for the pageant organization but this week said "it girl'' needs redefining in connection with Miss America. The scope of the "it girl" definition was raised this week during Miss America pageant activities in Las Vegas. The stage for the three preliminary competitions and the finale Saturday is at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino, where celebrities appear in photos at every turn. The first it girl' Webster's New Millennium Dictionary of English defines "it girl'' as a young woman who has achieved celebrity status because of her social activities and lifestyle. As a usage example: Paris Hilton is today's "it girl." The dictionary's etymological reference was to Clara Bow, an actress in the 1927 black-and-white movie It.'' Bow was "The It' Girl,'' the first true movie sex symbol and the hottest star of the Jazz Age, according to the website of Film Forum, a movie house in New York City. F. Scott Fitzgerald hailed her as "someone to stir every pulse in the nation." Miss America evolves The Miss America pageant was founded in 1921 as a gimmick to extend the tourist season in Atlantic City. Since the era of the pageant's beginning, life in the United States for women has changed significantly. Women gained the right to vote, more women went to work and more entered professional fields, and this year, a woman is seeking the Democratic Party presidential nomination. The Miss America Organization evolved into one that promotes education, talents and healthy lifestyles for young women. It provides scholarships for contest winners and has partnered with Children's Miracle Network to further its commitment to community service. The 2008 pageant will award more than $340,000 in scholarships and in 2007 raised more than $1 million for the Miracle Network, pageant officials said. Miss America 2007 Lauren Nelson was described by some former winners as an "it girl" during a media conference at Planet Hollywood on Thursday. The tall blonde was described as having the attention-holding "it factor'' of "you can't take your eyes off her.'' However, appearance alone doesn't translate into an "it'' presence, they said. "It's what you develop in your brain and in your soul and in your psyche,'' Axum Whitworth said. A few contestants were asked in competition about how to overcome the effect of celebrities who become poor role models through drunken driving and poor behavior. "Celebrities aren't always the best role models, especially right now,'' said Kathleen Piccirillo, a modeling coach and a certified Miss America judge. Miss America has always been an "it girl," but the status is different than celebrities followed by the paparazzi, she said. Piccirillo, who has been involved with the Miss America pageant activities for more than 30 years, said she encouraged Baldanza to compete. Baldanza has the intelligence, talent, beauty and demonstrated commitment to the issue of personal worth to be successful in competitions, Piccirillo said, and is a phenomenal representative for New York state. "She has done a beautiful job,'' Piccirillo said Friday while at the pageant trade show. Baldanza said she would like to see the term redefined without the emphasis on being a socializing party girl valued for sex appeal. "When I hear the term it girl,' I can't help but have a negative image,'' Baldanza said in an interview this week in Las Vegas. For the pageant's use, she said, a redefinition would describe an it girl' as a young woman intellectually driven and dedicated to others and to community-service cause. Rebecca King Dreman, Miss America 1974 (Colorado) said during the media conference that the organization has been "a little ahead of its time.'' And the focus on scholarship will remain, she said. "How more relevant can that be than to support young women's education?'' Dreman said. Sam Haskell, chairman of the Miss America Organization Board of Directors, said during Thursday night's preliminary competition that the pageant judges have an awesome job to pick the next Miss America. "Many little girls grow up dreaming of being Miss America,'' he said. Piccirillo said the organization's directors may change the program with the times, "but they'll never be able to remove the nostalgia associated with that crown.'' http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/showbiz/2008/01/25/meade.miss.america.pageant.crazy.cnn
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Meade said her experiences as a former Miss Ohio gives her insight into how long and hard contestants have worked. When she gives contestants marks, she said, she feels guilty no matter what the score.
For a report by Meade, visit
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