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Allison Blais crowned Miss Hampton Beach 2006
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| By Aubry Bracco |
| Beach News Staff Writer |
| HAMPTON BEACH | It was the perfect day at the beach for Allison Blais of Pittsfield, New Hampshire. |
| On Sunday, July 30, after an afternoon of swimsuits, evening gowns and interviews, Blais - a rising senior at Bishop Brady High School in Concord - was crowned Miss Hampton Beach 2006. |
| Hundreds of beach-goers gathered at the Seashell stage for the 60th Miss Hampton Beach Pageant, which also showcased dance routines by Dance Visions Network of Manchester, vocal performances by Victoria Whalen and Pageant Director Stephanie Lussier and a farewell from Miss Hampton Beach 2005, Alexandra Harrington. |
| Twenty-seven young women turned out for this year's contest with hopes of capturing the crown. Lussier, a former Miss Hampton Beach herself, was impressed by the record number of contestants in the competition; last year, a total of 22 contestants battled for the pageant title. |
| "I've never seen so many girls [in the competition]," Lussier told the audience. "You should see the dressing rooms." |
| After a dance number and brief introduction, the pageant kicked off with the swimsuit competition. As the judges evaluated each contestant's physical fitness, Pageant Host Melissa Theriault reintroduced the women, providing brief biographies which included each competitor's hometown and hobbies. |
| To the delight of the audience, a mix-up midway through the contestant lineup forced pageant directors to restart the swimsuit competition. |
| "There is something every year," Lussier said of the mix-up. "It's a show and it is what it is." |
| Following another dance performance and meet-and-greet with the judges, contestants put on their best dresses for the eveningwear competition. Each competitor was accompanied by a male escort as she strut her stuff across the Seashell. |
| In addition to the swimsuit and eveningwear competitions, each contestant was judged on first impression, opinion response, personality and knowledge of Hampton Beach during a five-minute interview prior to the pageant. |
| With the three main phases of the competition complete, the 27 contestants gathered onstage for the announcement of the five finalists - Allison Blais, Dena Cashin, Erica Millett, Courtney Sanders and Amanda Wright. |
| Following the announcement, each contestant engaged in a one-question interview with Theriault. Despite the pressure, the contestants nailed their interviews, answering questions about their love of the Seacoast and their plans should they be crowned Miss Hampton Beach 2006. |
| As judges tallied the scores and made their final decisions, the reigning pageant winner, Alexandra Harrington, bid the audience farewell, thanked everyone for their support and wished the new Miss Hampton Beach luck. |
| "I hope you learn and grow as much as I have and have the time of your life," Harrington said. |
| To the tune of "Home," performed by Stephanie Lussier, the 27 contestants gathered onstage once again for the announcement of the preliminary winners and Miss Congeniality and the crowning of Miss Hampton Beach. |
| After Dena Cashen snagged the titles of Miss Congeniality and first-runner up, Allison Blais received her sash, crown and time to shine. |
| "There are so many amazing girls, I don't know how the judges picked somebody," Blais said. Of the previous Miss Hampton Beach, Blais said "I hope to be able to meet her standards." |
| Though Blais is a seasoned pageant competitor (she will give up the title of Miss Rochester Fair National Teenager in September), she is also in touch with her rural, New Hampshire side. The teen shows dairy goats during the summer months with her 4-H program. |
| "I'm ecstatic," said Sharon Blais, Allison's mother. "She is definitely a local girl." |
| For more information on next year's pageant call Stephanie Lussier at (603)-512-5257 or email her at princess50@yahoo.com. |
