Arts & Entertainment
Deborah Fishbeck Is Crowned Miss Greenbelt
The Roosevelt High School junior had asked parents for years to compete in the pageant.
On Sunday, 23 girls ranging in ages from 7 to 18 competed in the Little, Junior and Miss Greenbelt pageant during the 56th Annual Greenbelt Labor Day Festival.
Deborah Fishbeck, a 16-year-old junior in the Science and Technology Program at Eleanor Roosevelt High School, was crowned Miss Greenbelt 2010.
"I have been asking my parents for like 10 years to do the pageant, and they finally let me. It was definitely worth it," Fishbeck said. "I am honored to win Miss Greenbelt. I told myself I wouldn't cry, but I totally cried."
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Fishbeck also won awards for Most Photogenic, Miss Congeniality and Top Scholar. [See a photo gallery of the event.]
In the Junior Miss Greenbelt category, Victoria Kerdock was crowned. Kerdock, 13, is an eighth-grade student at Holy Redeemer School.
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"I did the pageant because it gets me more involved and teaches me to speak better. I have met so many friends and new people," Kerdock said.
Juliana Clarkson, 9, fourth-grade student at School of the Incarnation, was crowned Little Miss Greenbelt.
"I think the pageants help make me a nicer person, learn things better with all the coaching and have better listening skills," Clarkson said about how the pageant will help prepare her for future challenges.
The focus of the Miss Greenbelt pageant organization is to teach girls poise and self confidence and to work in a team environment.
According to executive director Natasha Jewell, the pageant is a good way to introduce girls to volunteer work.
"I believe in volunteering, and it is important to give back to the community," she said. "It is just a fun summer activity as well."
Contestant Danielle Dernoga participated in the pageant last year and felt it was a good learning experience.
"Most people think of pageants as a beauty competition, but they are focused on academics and public speaking. I think it will help with college and job interviews; I think that's how I got a job this year actually," said Dernoga, 17.
Dernoga is enrolled in the Science and Technology program at Eleanor Roosevelt High School and is working at Delias this summer.
When asked about this year's pageant, Jewell said "She [Fishbeck] and all the other girls are wonderful. We had a great group of contestants and parents to work with this year."