It was last Saturday, February 19, that the annual Miss Boston Pageant was held at the Omni Parker House in downtown Boston. Acton resident Sara Carlisle had entered the competition with no expectations, only for the 23 year-old to find herself coming home crowned Miss Boston 2011.
what she was thinking pre-pageant. Then read on for a post-pageant Q&A session with Sara Carlisle, Miss Boston 2011.
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What was competing like at this year’s Miss Boston Pageant?
“It was all such a blur. Once the show started, I was just running so fast to change as quickly as I could and ripping earrings out.”
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How did the Egyptian Belly Dance end up going?
“I actually ended up winning the talent segment of the pageant, which I was so excited to win. I’m obviously excited to have won Miss Boston, but if I didn’t win Miss Boston and just won the talent part of the show, I would have been just as excited because my belly dance instructor was in the audience and I feel like I made her proud. I was so excited to win this because Egyptian Belly Dancing is totally hit or miss; either people get or they think it is weird. “
What was most surprising to you that day?
“There was a Miss Congeniality award, where all the girls competing vote for who their favorite person is, and I won the award. It was very sweet and so touching and I am so glad that the girls liked me. “
What prizes came along with winning Miss Boston?
“I won $2,500 from the John Robert Powers modeling agency. I won a $1,500 scholarship. Also, since I won the talent segment and Miss Congeniality, I won an additional amount of scholarship money. It is phenomenal because the scholarship money will go toward my student loans and future classes I will take. I also won a $100 gift certificate to Whole Foods and I also won a free laser teeth-whitening treatment. I am very excited to have won a six-month membership to the Boston Sports Club, too.”
Have you received a lot of recent attention since winning Miss Boston?
“I’ve had all these requests for appearances and interviews. I have an interview with Stuff magazine and I am also going on my friend's radio show. So many different opportunities are opening just within this first week that I can’t imagine what will be happening down the road.”
What’s next?
“I am really just excited to start teaching kids about Humane Education. My believe is that if you can teach kids how to treat animals well, it is just a short step to teaching them how to treat their peers well. These days, with bullying being a huge problem, I feel aggressive tendencies are on the rise with our youth and I think it is really important to be able to teach kids empathy and how to be nice to the planet and each other.”
Do you have to retire your crown to the winner next year?
“I get to keep it forever! I would be so upset if I had to give it away after my year.”
Have you taken the crown off since being crowned Miss Boston?
“(Laughs) I’m basically sleeping with it on. No, I’m just kidding. It is very surprising because it is such a pretty crown but my God, it is very hard to put on and take off. It requires like 10 bobby pins and several snap clips; I have to get someone to help me take it off.”