In honor of the NAACP turning 104 this year, the the Ypsilanti Willow Run Branch is hosting the first annual Miss/Ms./Mrs. Washtenaw County Pageant on July 20.
The event will feature the Trinidad Tripoli Steel Band and will begin at 5 p.m. in the Ypsilanti Marriott Hotel, 1275 S. Huron St.
“The community needs something enlightening — something that’s happening,” NAACP Ypsilanti Willow Run Branch President Shoshana DeMaria said. “We decided we wanted to do something broad that would include families and youth and we wanted to do something entertaining.”
Women on the education as well as labor & industry committees for the NAACP came together to create an event that would act as a celebration of the organization and get the whole community involved, DeMaria said.
“We want to bring awareness to the NAACP,” DeMaria said. “We want everyone in the community to be involved, whether it is in a serious event or a joyful event. We opened the pageant to different age groups to get everyone involved.”
Contestants will be judged on personality, attitude, intelligence, talent and congeniality, DeMaria said.
The application deadline to participate in the pageant is 5 p.m. Tuesday. There will be a contestants meeting on Friday and all participants will debut in a Fourth of July Parade.
Contestants of all ages are welcome as long as they attend school, live or work in Washtenaw County. Participants will be divided in to age groups, which will determine the cost of registration.
- Ages 12 to 15: $20
- Ages 16 to 19: $25
- Ages 20 to 24: $30
- Ages 25 and up: $35
For registration and ticket information visit the NAACP Ypsilanti Willow Run website.
Chelsea Hoedl is an intern reporter for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at choedl@mlive.com.