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10/12/2017
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By Julie Perine on December 09, 2017
As a pageant judge, Bridgeport’s Angela Patsy has an impressive track record. Two years ago, she was among judges of the Miss District of Columbia USA Pageant, playing a role in crowning Miss DC USA Deshauna Barber and first-runner-up, Kara McCullough, who went on to win the Miss USA Pageant in 2016 and 2017, respectively, both placing in the top 10 of the Miss Universe Pageant.
Patsy is once again DC-bound, serving as a judge for the Miss DC USA and Miss DC Teen USA pageants, to be held Dec. 15-16 at the nation’s capital city.
Having also judged the Miss Indiana, Miss Virginia and Miss World Perfect Teen and Junior Teen pageants, Patsy said she has a passion for pageantry; one that delves deeper than the obvious.
“I just want to help the right person make it into finals and watch that person progress,” she said. “It’s about watching these girls grow into the women they are.”
Many have much to offer, whether it be a cause for which to advocate or a profession that could change the world.
“These girls are just so smart,” Patsy said. “Some people think pageants are stupid and that it’s all about beauty and finding the sexiest, prettiest girl. Well, yes, they have to be pretty and sexy, but also smart.”
Patsy has watched many young girls gain confidence and develop stage presence which sees them well beyond their pageantry years.
“Once they’ve gone through and interviewed a few times, they can go anyplace and get a job – whether that job is Miss West Virginia or a job working for a firm here in Bridgeport,” she said.
This will be Patsy’s second time judging Miss DC. As is protocol, she took a year off – sitting out in 2016 - but was invited back this year by the state pageant director.
She shared what she looks for in a contestant.
“You definitely want to look for someone facially beautiful, but also for stage presence; poise and the connection you make with them,” she said. “That’s the biggest fallback of some of these girls. They don’t connect with the audience or the judges. They have to have that personality to be able to capture the judges’ attention and keep their attention throughout the pageant – whether it’s on stage or in the interview room.”
The two-day pageant will kick off with registration and orientation.
“That’s when the state director gives them their contestant numbers and lineup and gives them the whole overview of what’s going to happen throughout the weekend,” Patsy said. “They tell the girls what judges will be looking for and that sort of thing.”
Then, they go into rehearsals, rehearsing all day before breaking up into interview sessions. A private interview will be conducted with each Miss and Teen contestant.
“Only the judges and the tabulator, along with the state director, will sit in on the interviews,” Patsy said.
A judges’ preview follows, during which time each Miss contestant will appear in swimsuit.
“Then, they go into preliminary competition with swimsuits and evening gowns, after which they name the top 10 or 15, depending on how many contestants there are,” Patsy said. “Once they name the top contestants, they go into re-competing in swimsuit (Miss contestants) or fitness wear (Teen contestants) and evening gown, then the top five are selected. All of that is on stage. The only thing the audience doesn’t see that the judges see are private interviews and swimsuit previews.”
The top five in each category will answer an on-stage question.
“In some states, like West Virginia, there’s a fish bowl question, each contestant picking a question and the emcee reads it and they answer,” Patsy said. “But in DC, each contestant selects a judge and he or she ask whatever question they choose.”
Coming up with questions is challenging, because the contestants are so intelligent, said Patsy, who strives to ask something that will highlight the girls’ skills, interests and opinions in a positive way.
“I always want to make sure I ask them a strong enough question,” she said. “Last year’s winner, for example, was literally a scientist. It’s pretty amazing how intelligent these women are. They are amazing.”
Typically, there are five judges in a state pageant.
The owner of Oliverio’s Prom and Bridal Boutique, Patsy dresses many girls for West Virginia pageants, so she never serves as judge for our state pageant.
“I only judge pageants that I have no relationship with any of the contestants,” she said.
But it is preliminary relationships with potential contestants that has developed the passion she has for pageantry.
“I just love watching someone walk in to the store and not know anything about a pageant and they say they want to do a pageant and ask if I can help them find a dress,” Patsy said. “Then we get a conversation going and I help them with interview skills, going along with them through their journey.”
Patsy is also the official gown sponsor for the Miss Iceland Pageant and served as auditor last year.
Patsy’s daughter Samantha, now 22, has grown up in the industry. She now serves as professional make-up artist and will be doing the makeup for McCullough at next weekend’s pageant as he passes on her crown. Read a feature about Samantha Patsy later this week on Connect-Bridgeport.
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