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Sisters Win Honors At Beauty Pageant

Cheryl Bentley/SUNCOAST NEWS

Sisters Keisha, left, and Michaela Abelgas enjoy the trophies they won at the National American Miss Florida Pageant in Orlando on June 27. Both girls earned spots in the national competition in California in November.

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By Cheryl  Bentley | The Suncoast News

Published: July 8, 2008

Updated:

Even at 6 months, Michaela Abelgas loved the limelight.

That's when she started modeling in the Philippines. "She was the first baby model in one of the biggest photo studios in the Philippines," her proud dad, Ryan Abelgas, said.

From modeling, Michaela, now 12, branched into participating in numerous children's pageants in the Philippines.

That early experience stood her in good stead at this year's National American Miss Florida Preteen Pageant in Orlando. On June 28, competing against 170 girls in her age group, Michaela was named first runner-up and bagged cash and trophy prizes for best in casual wear modeling, best actress, and best in speaking. She was also runner-up for Miss Photogenic.

Not to be outdone, in the division for younger contestants, her 9-year-old sister Keisha beat out 131 other girls and was crowned National American Miss Florida Junior Preteen. She won a scholarship to John Robert Powers Modeling School and a $1,000 cash award.

On to nationals

Both girls will compete in their divisions in the National All American Miss Pageant in November in Anaheim, Calif.

This school year Michaela will be in the seventh grade at River Ridge Middle School, and Keisha in the fourth grade at Deer Park Elementary School.

Sitting in their New Port Richey home and punctuating their conversation with smiles and giggles, the girls appeared relaxed with a stranger. Their dad's advice on maintaining eye contact when dealing with judges appeared to have hit home. They look adults in the eye when speaking.

That would have pleased pageant judges. According to the National American Web site, only about a third of the total score is based on appearance. Just as important are communication skills and a talk contestants give to introduce themselves. Judges also consider community involvement.

With the honesty of the young, Keisha said her win was no surprise. "I knew I was going to be in the top five. The judges always told me I did a good job when I passed them."

The pageant became a family affair with Ryan and wife Katherine coaching the girls in communication skills and the other Abelgas child, Red, 11, escorting his sisters during their formal-wear walks.

Not to be left out, the Philippines contingent of the family also got into the act. Finding nothing in the bay area suitable for Keisha's long gown, her parents had the family seamstress in the Philippines make what Keisha called her "pink and 'poufy'" dress. Keisha chose pink because it is her favorite color and wanted it "poufy" because Michaela's dress also had a full, extended skirt.

Grandmother Belona Abelgas flew in from the Philippines to bring the gown and also to attend the pageant.

Favorite color: red

For Michaela's gown in her favorite color red, the family visited a dozen bridal shops and ended up buying one in Seminole.

Pageants are part of Filipino culture, according to Ryan. "Even small towns and cities have them," he said. "They are very prestigious."

The pageant bug had already bitten his daughters when the family moved to New Port Richey from the Philippines in 2005. "When we came here, they were already asking if they could do pageants," Abelgas remembered.

The parents chose the National American contest because they liked the rule that prohibited contestants from wearing makeup. "We want to preserve their youth," Abelgas said. They were also drawn to the parts of the contest that would help their daughters become poised and confident, such as having individual interviews with nine judges.

The sisters evidently sailed through that.

Mature poise

Michaela handled a question from a woman judge about what she would show a tourist with the aplomb of an adult. "I told her about theme parks and beaches, and I told her the best thing our state could offer was its people," she remembered.

She also wasn't afraid to show a little humor. When asked to name three things she would bring on a trip by another woman judge, one of Michaela's choices was her hair brush. "I told her it was a girl thing," she said.

Her parents have no regrets about having to pay $340 per child for the girls to enter the contest. "The experience and exposure they got, the confidence they gained, the friendships they got from the other girls, we feel it was worth it," Abelgas said.

Cheryl Bentley can be reached at 727-815-1069 or cbentley@suncoastnews.com.

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