Fair pageant
Seeking "good girls who want to volunteer"


ALTAMONT — "We’re not a beauty pageant; we’re a personality pageant," says Bobbi-Jean Jeune, coordinator for the Miss Altamont Fair pageant.

Each year, contestants compete for the crown before a crowd at the Altamont Fair. But, says Jeune, that is just the tip of the royal iceberg.

The pageant winners from last August participated in a variety of events throughout the year. This month, for example, they celebrated the Fourth of July on the USS Slater.
"They participated in the raising of the colors and Lindsey led the pledge," said Jeune. Her daughter, Lindsey Jeune, is Young Miss Altamont Fair.

Bobbi-Jeune volunteers her time because she believes it helps promote the Altamont Fair in a positive way. She has fond memories, going back to her childhood, of the fair, which serves Albany, Schenectady, and Greene counties.
"It’s good for the fair," she said of the pageant promotion. "A lot of people have forgotten what the fair is about — it’s about families not midway rides" Generations of families used to show their animals together and participate in 4-H events. Everything’s becoming more showy," she said, with a wistful tone in her voice.

She highlighted some of the pageant princesses activities to illustrate substance over showiness.

Aside from participating in parades — riding in a float for a Christmas parade in Schenectady and marching in four parades for Memorial Day — the girls will read stories shortly at the Berne library and they made Easter baskets for children in St. Peter’s Hospital.
"We didn’t want kids in the hospital wondering why the Easter Bunny didn’t find them," said Jeune.
She went on, "We’re trying to get more girls involved who want to do nice things for the community."
Explaining why she considers it a "personality pageant," Jeune said that 60 percent of the points to win come from an interview, 20 percent come from the on-stage modeling of an evening gown, and another 20 percent from modeling sportswear.
"This isn’t a body-image kind of pageant," said Jeune. "I’m looking for good girls who want to volunteer."
Larry and Shirley Fronk, the pageant directors, said, "If you are interested in becoming the next Miss Altamont Fair, we have an age group for you."

The earliest category for competition begins at age 5 while the most senior category, for Ms. Altamont Fair, has no upper age limit.

Contestants must apply before Aug. 6 and may stop by the fair office for applications or visit www.AltamontFair.com, or call the fair office at 861-6671.