What is the most important thing to any pageant contestant? Is it the perfect gown, just the right pair of shoes, a brilliant smile, or a witty interview response? Nope, it’s hairspray, and the 24th annual Miss American Coed National Pageant had plenty of it! Taking a cue from Hollywood’s summer blockbuster Hairspray, 2007’s pageant production theme included custom-designed outfits resembling those worn by Tracy and Edna Turnblad in the movie. “Welcome to the ’60s” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” songs from the Hairspray soundtrack, provided the music and inspiration for the dance numbers used by the older three age divisions, Junior Teens, Teens and Coeds, to open the exciting Optional Contest Pageants for each age division.

Meanwhile, contestants in the younger three divisions, Princess, Sweetheart and Preteen, looked adorable in their pink Hairspray dance costumes, while performing to “Mama I’m a Big Girl Now” and “Cooties,” also from the movie soundtrack. The Optional Contest Pageants provided an additional opportunity for the Top 5 finalists in the optional Speech, Talent, Model, Cheerleading, and Actress competitions to perform for a packed audience.

A Well-oiled Machine
An exciting crowning ceremony for the American Coed Victory queens concluded the Optional Contest Pageants for each age division. During the pageant, awards were also presented to winners in the Academic Achievement, Volunteer Service, Best Scrapbook, and the Thanksgiving-themed Family Art Contest.

Fluid and smooth is how one might describe the running of this year’s American Coed National Pageant. Girls and their families traveled from all over the United States, from as far away as Alaska and Hawaii to spend Thanksgiving week as a part of the American Coed family and to compete for hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash awards, scholarships, and prizes. For the 14th year at the Hilton at the Walt Disney World Resort in beautiful Lake Buena Vista, Florida, American Coed nationals stayed true to tradition but also experienced many exciting firsts.

For the complete behind-the-scenes story and all the details on this and other exciting competitive events from across America, as well as a wealth of advice to improve your chances of victory, be sure to Order Pageantry today.