Bell will now ring at the PA pageant
By STACIE MORGAN
Sentinel reporter
7/4/03
LEWISTOWN - Alison Kemerer Irwin, Miss Greater Juniata Valley 2003,
has relinquished her crown.
She willingly gave it up, turning in her official resignation to John
Metzger, executive director of the Miss Central Pennsylvania pageant, on
Thursday.
Chosen to take Irwin's place as Miss Greater Juniata Valley, was
Darcie Faye Bell of East Brady, the fifth highest ranking contestant in
the Miss Central Pennsylvania Scholarship Pageant in February at
Lewistown High School.
Metzger surprised those in attendance at a news conference on Monday,
when he made the announcement that Irwin might not be going to the state
pageant.
Instead of fulfilling her responsibilities as Miss Greater Juniata
Valley, Irwin chose to sign a contract with the television network CBS
to be one of the houseguests on the reality show "Big Brother 4"
scheduled to air Tuesday, July 8.
Participating in the show conflicts with the pageant contract signed
by Irwin, stating that she will not participate in any activity or
business which interferes with her duties as a title holder during the
year of her reign, said Metzger.
Metzger's hands were tied most of Thursday, while he waited anxiously
for Irwin's resignation - and finally went through the "Big Brother
4" legal department for assistance.
Only then was Metzger able to contact Bell to confirm her
participation in the state pageant. A special crowning ceremony will
take place this Saturday evening in Metzger's back yard.
Metzger was relieved he did not have to proceed with costly legal
action to get Irwin to relinquish the crown.
Apparently because of the stipulations of her CBS contract and the
nature of the television show, Irwin was not available for comment
Thursday.
As the new Miss Greater Juniata Valley, Bell, a 21-year-old graduate
of the University of Pittsburgh, will be joining Linsey Leska, Miss
Central Pennsylvania, when she leaves Sunday to participate as a
contestant in the Miss Pennsylvania Scholarship Pageant in Nazareth.
The first and second runnersup in the Central Pennsylvania pageant
have since won other scholarship titles and, therefore, are not
available to step in. First runnerup Dana Anderson won Miss Lehigh
Valley and second runnerup Linda Luong won Miss Moraine State.
But Bell, like Leska, is no newcomer when it comes to the statewide
pageant. This year's trip to Nazareth and the pageant will be Bell's
third.
"I'm really honored to even be considered for the position," she said
in a telephone interview Thursday with The Sentinel. "Actually, it's
better I didn't know until this late. I haven't had time to get nervous.
There's no pressure."
Although there is still much to do to get ready for the state
pageant, Bell said she's been pleased with Metzger's help "with all the
paperwork." While Leska has had time to prepare outfits and practice her
singing, Bell said she will sing the same song - "Love is where you
find it" - she performed for the Central Pennsylvania Scholarship
Pageant in February in Lewistown.
Like Leska, singing has been a part of Bell's life since she was
young. She has incorporated her love of music, which she says "comes
from her heart," into her platform of keeping music in the public
schools. "I've been able to accomplish a lot of things in my life
through music," said Bell, who plans on continuing her education at
Slippery Rock University with degrees in music education and music
therapy.
Although the title of Miss Greater Juniata Valley has fallen
unexpectedly into her lap, Bell seems to have handled the responsibility
with aplomb. "I'm just going to do the best that I can," she amiably
said.
Another Acosta competes
LEWISTOWN - Also participating in the Miss Pennsylvania Pageant
will be Lewistown resident Christina Acosta.
In fact, she will be a roommate with the newly crowned Miss Greater
Juniata Valley Darcie Faye Bell.
Acosta will wear the crown of Miss Allegheny Valley.
A vocalist, she follows in the footsteps of her sisters.
Raysa Acosta was Miss Tri-County - the predecessor of Miss
Central Pennsylvania and Miss Greater Juniata Valley - in 1986.
Mayra Acosta returned to perform in the local pageant in 1999,
wearing the Miss Pennsylvania crown she won in 1998 as Miss Southwestern
Pennsylvania. She also went on to participant in the 1998 Miss America
Pageant.
They are the daughters of Dr. and Mrs. Jose Acosta of Lewistown.
The Miss Pennsylvania Pageant starts Thursday-Friday, July 10-11,
with preliminary competitions and concludes on Saturday, July 12, at
Nazareth Area High School with the pageant.
Ticket information: (610) 252-3361.