Miss South Gate Pageant Struggles to Gain Contestants

The Miss South Gate pageant is once again struggling to get an adequate number of contestants, a problem that has forced the rescheduling of the event from Feb. 12 to early March.

“Our November deadline has long passed and we are still recruiting,” said Catalina Salazar, executive director of the , which sponsors the event each year.

“Unfortunately, we at this point only have five paid applicants,” she said.

Teens and women ages 16 to 24 who live or attend school in South Gate are eligible to enter; the contestant fee is $25.

Chamber officials pushed back the pageant date mostly to accommodate the training that contestants must go through. Workshops on how to do the pageant walks, public speaking and group choreography are necessary for a successful pageant.

“It is a full pageant, so they need to rehearse,” said Salazar. The exact date in March has yet to be set.

It wasn't always a struggle to get contestants to compete for the Miss South Gate title.

Only recently has the pageant seen its participant numbers drop to about a dozen or so. Some of the contests prior to 2006 attracted more than 20 contestants.

“It has changed a lot since my day,” said Lindsay Marcia Cox, coordinator and choreographer for the 2012 pageant and Miss South Gate 2007. “Competition was always tough.”

Marcia Cox competed twice and won the first runner-up princess position in 2005 before going on to capture the title in 2007. When she first tried out in 2005, interest in the pageant was high.

“When I first competed everyone wanted to be in the pageant,” recalled Marcia Cox. She competed against 21 others in 2005, but only 10 in 2007.

Pageant officials attribute a change in cultural values among teens and young women as the reason for the decline in interest in the pageant. Those familiar with recruiting participants believe this decline is a serious issue for the pageant's future if it proves to be a trend.

“Pageants are not put on the pedestal as they were once before,” said Jaime Garcia, who served as executive director of the South Gate Chamber of Commerce from 2008 to March of this year. “Last year, we had 12 [contestants] and it (the number) was difficult to get.”

Garcia compares the current decline in interest in pageants to a waning participation in the Boys Scouts.

“Back in the 50’s and 60's, [Boy Scouts] was seen as the thing boys had to do; now it is very few,” said Garcia. “It is one of those cultural changes.” 

The chamber has tried several approaches to get potential contestants interested in the 2012 pageant. One problem may be reaching teens and women who may want to enter.

“The communication isn’t getting to the right girls, and I believe they are out there,” said Salazar.

Announcements in the city newsletter, spreading the word through social media, and using current members of the South Gate court to get the word out have helped to promote interest in the event. But still it's been hard to recruit contestants.

“We had one of our princesses attend one of the CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) football games to attract the girls,” said Salazar. “That has to date been unsuccessful.”  

Despite their struggles, the organizers and former Miss South Gates believe that interest will rise when people find out about the positive experiences of past contestants.

“It is definitely very good for professional development,” said Stephany Gallegos, Miss South Gate 2011. 

Gallegos was not keen on public speaking prior to her winning the Miss South Gate title. However, her experience wearing the crown has led her to become good at addressing audiences. Public speaking is something that she thinks will be useful in her professional life as a school counselor.  

“Part of being a school counselor is the need to make presentations,” said Gallegos. “If anybody asks me to speak, I am going to be ready.”

Marcia Cox expressed similar thoughts on the pageant's value.

“Being in front of a big audience is easy for me,” said Marcia Cox. “I can now be in front of an entire audience and be very comfortable.”

Organizers say that teens and young women with public speaking skills are more likely to be sought in the professional world.

“It is a grooming year,” said Salazar. “It gives them an edge over your average citizen and resident."

Besides the Miss South Gate winner, four princesses are selected each year.

If you would like to participate in the Miss South Gate pageant, contact Catalina Salazar at csalazar@sgchamber.com.