The day began with a lunch for the judges in the elegant dinning area of the Alpine Country Club. I was the first judge to arrive (I was there early). When all the judges arrived, clear and thorough instructions of the judging criteria were given to the panel of judges by the judges coordinator, Ray Paolo. I found the other judges serving on the panel to be some pretty neat people with accomplished backgrounds. When the first part of the judging, took place, the interview portion, the panel of judges asked thoughtful questions to better get to know the Contestants. I found all the beautiful ladies to be well informed, intelligent, poised and ready to answer questions off the cuff.
The show began later that day with a stage and ballroom that was lit with beautiful white swags illuminated with soft colored lighting and flowers. The ballroom was literally transformed into a place so elegant that every Contestant must have felt regal walking on that stage.
Elaine Paolo was on hand to make sure she and Melissa took care of every detail necessary for the Pageant.
Melissa Paolo emceed the show in a way that showcased every one of the the beautiful ladies and she engaged the audience to show their full support and enthusiasm.
It was a flawless production…the winners were announced.
Below is a photo (Photo credit: Catherine Fiehn Photography)of the winners and judges.