Miss Florida pageant coming back in St. Pete

Published: July 7, 2013

BY SARA DRUMM

Tribune correspondent

Forty-seven Miss Florida Scholarship Pageant contestants arrived in St. Petersburg Saturday to begin a week of competition for a slew of scholarships and the opportunity to compete in the Miss America pageant as Miss Florida.

This is the ninth year - and seventh consecutive - that the competition will be held at The Mahaffey Theater downtown. The pageant keeps coming back because the city is supportive and there are many attractions nearby, said Mary Sullivan, the executive director of the Miss Florida Pageant.

"Downtown St. Petersburg has, over the years, gotten a lot more entertaining," she said. "It's just a really good family atmosphere that our families can come and enjoy."

The pageant gives the city a boost by bringing in contestants and their friends, family and sponsors during what is traditionally a slow week for tourism in July, said Robert Danielson, the city's communications manager.

While the contestants spend most of their time in rehearsals and competition, others who come for the pageant visit local shops, restaurants and attractions. And the contestants explore the city at night.

The Miss Florida Pageant accounts for about 1,300 hotel stays during the year, including the pageant week and an orientation weekend, said David Downing, deputy director of Visit St. Pete/Clearwater. The pageant gives the area one more draw to promote.

"It's a nice bonus and one more thing to advertise about the destination," he said. "We're happy to have them."

Contestants receive college scholarships for winning individual competitions, such as the swimwear or talent contests, or for work outside the pageant, including community service and scholastic achievement. The Miss Florida title also includes a scholarship.

The preliminaries attract roughly 600 audience members, and about 1,400 attend the finals, Sullivan said.

Beyond the pageant, contestants take part in events around town. They greeted fans at the Tampa Bay Rays game on Saturday; and the reigning Miss Florida, Laura McKeeman, who won the crown last year as Miss Pinellas County, threw out the first pitch.

The preliminary rounds are Tuesday through Thursday, leading up to the final competition. The preliminary rounds for the Miss Florida's Outstanding Teen Pageant are Friday, and the final competition is also July 13.

For 22-year-old Allison Martin, the reigning Miss St. Petersburg making a fourth bid for the Miss Florida crown, competing close to home is especially significant. Martin grew up in Dover and lives in Tampa, -- contestants don't have to be from the area they represent. So others in the pageant sometimes ask her where to go for good food and fun.

"I love that it's close because it's really helpful whenever you have your friends and family there," she said. "Representing St. Petersburg in St. Petersburg is a big deal too, so hopefully that's an advantage."

sdrumm@tampatrib.com

Twitter: @saradrumm

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