Young contestants participate in a hometown pageant
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

NEW ROYALTY- Claire Volk, 19, won the Miss Moorpark 2007 title during the annual pageant at the Moorpark High School Performing Arts Center last Saturday.

Some contestants started out shy and barely able to speak in front of an audience when they signed on for the pageant about two months ago. But when they took the stage at the Moorpark High School Performing Arts Center last Saturday, all of the Miss Moorpark and Miss Teen Moorpark participants demonstrated poise and talent.

Claire Volk, 19, won the Miss Moorpark title and Kendall Fisher, 16, was named Miss Teen Moorpark.

All the girls showed a great deal of potential, according to Jackie Youngern, executive director for the Miss Moorpark organization.

"They are competing as individuals against a series of standards, so they are not compared to one another," she said.

Contestants were judged by six community members who came from different backgrounds, each offering their own specialties and strengths and each viewing the girls from a different perspective, Youngern said.

MARTIAL ARTIST- Moorpark High freshman Chaya Turrow, left, won the teen talent competition and was first runner-up in the Teen Court. She is working toward her second degree black belt in tang soo do.

Parents and friends were also on hand to cheer the dynamic young women they sponsored as well as those who were sponsored by local business owners. The girls demonstrated talent in a variety of areas, including martial arts, music, poetry, dance and monologue.

Miss Teen Moorpark contestants are scored on community service, academic achievement, interviews both on and off the stage, talent, poise, and presentation of their evening gown.

The older Miss Moorpark group is judged on all the above criteria except academic achievement.

Whether contestants are quiet or enthusiastic, they must be wellrounded and able to radiate a love of the community, organizers said.

Volk attends Moorpark College and aspires to own an environmentally friendly café with two close friends. She spends a lot of time doing community service and she loves Moorpark, Youngern said.

All photos by SYLVIE BELMOND/Acorn Newspapers PERFORMER- Mesa Verde Middle School student Megan Bryan, 13, exhibits her comedic monologue and artistic skills during the talent competition. She won the top teen interview and was second runner up at the pageant.

Fisher won the Miss Teen Moorpark crown because she, too, is communityservice oriented and relates well to other teens. She's a student at Moorpark High School and hopes to attend UC Berkeley or UCLA to major in medicine.

President of the junior class, Fisher plays volleyball and participates in the Relay for Life. She's also active in the National Honor Society, the Spanish Club and Teens for Humanity at Moorpark High School.

Both winners are already scheduled to participate in community events.

Most of the other contestants won awards in individual categories and they're encouraged to continue participating in community service so they can compete again next year.

Seven young women participated in the Miss Moorpark Teen contest and five in the Miss Moorpark contest.