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Published on 08/14/1995 All articles from this issue

Miss Petite and Miss Little Greater San Jose benefit from pageant competition

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By Jennifer Bixler / Town Crier Staff Writer

One interprets the "Forest Gump Suite" in elegant ballet movements and one sings the "Trolley Song" from "Meet me in St. Louis," but both are role models and leaders for young ladies in Los Altos area.

Two Los Altos residents Ashley Barrett, 9, and Melissa Middleton, 12, were crowned in the 1995 Little Miss Greater San Jose Pageant earlier this year. Barrett is Miss Petite San Jose and Middleton is Little Miss Greater San Jose.

Both gained interest in the pageant through a local dance company, Dance Attack!

The Little Miss Greater San Jose Pageant consisted of a talent, small interview and party dress segments of competition.

Unlike the Greater Miss San Jose Pageant and Miss California Pageant, the Little Miss Greater San Jose Pageant does not have a swimsuit competition for the young girls. The Little Miss Great San Jose Pageant emphasizes education and being an example for young girls ages 8-13.

Barrett performed the "Trolley Song" for her talent portion of the competition. "It's more fun to sing and a lot of people I was competing against were better dancers," Barrett said.

Barrett, in addition of being chosen Miss Petite San Jose, was also named Miss Photogenic. "I didn't want to win as much. I just thought it was a good experience. And it was fun," Barrett said.

Middleton not only performed a ballet solo for the pageant, but choreographed the 2 1/2-minute ballet presentation to the theme of "Forest Gump" the "Forest Gump Suite."

"It was a story I could completely explain. People are just like Forest Gump in many ways," Middleton said. "The feather was always near him. The ups and downs (of the feather), and you find your way out.

"In the pageant you are competing to the best of your ability," Middleton said. "You're competing against yourself."