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Citrus County Fair

Trio's work pays off in a glamorous night

Nell Mayberry, Louellen Davis and Ann Gibbs coordinate the annual Miss Citrus and Miss Teen Citrus events for the fair.

By PAULETTE LASH RITCHIE
Published March 15, 2007

INVERNESS - The whole event appears almost effortless: the glitter, the girls gliding across the stage with judges seated before them, the light-hearted banter of the emcee.

But three women put in months of effort before the big night of the Miss Teen Citrus County and Miss Citrus County pageants .

Nell Mayberry, Louellen Davis and Ann Gibbs make the sparkling night possible for contestants and the spectators. The coordinators have a plethora of jobs to do. Some of the girls have never worn high heels. Crowns have to be purchased. Judges must be solicited, housed and fed. Then there are the practices.

"We start with orientation in November," Mayberry said. Come January, practices are 6:30 to 8 p.m. every Thursday, quite a commitment for a busy teen.

The pageant begins in November for the contestants. But the work for the coordinators starts in August, Mayberry said.

The three women divide jobs among themselves. Davis does the script; she and Gibbs do the decorations. Gibbs helps with the pageant book. Mayberry secures the judges. They are from out of town and are certified through the Miss Florida program.

She also sets up the interview room and helps in the dressing room. "It is done very professionally," Mayberry said. "We do it right."

The coordinators don't always work alone. Contestants like to return to help out.

Community members pitch in too. Property appraiser Melanie Hensley is assisting with the current pageant.

This year there are 10 Miss Teen Citrus County contestants, but there are only two for the Miss Citrus County competition.

Mayberry tried to explain why the number was so low for Miss Citrus. There were five at the orientation, but two dropped out and one didn't have her sponsor fee. Also, Mayberry suggested, many have so many extracurricular activities it can be hard for them to commit to practice one night a week.

Some don't like to appear in bathing suits, she said. They do have the option of sportswear, but that is not usually selected.

With only two in the Miss Citrus competition, Mayberry said, "We had to make a tough decision," whether to even hold the contest. They sat down with the two young women and their choice was to have a winner "for the scholarship money," Mayberry said.

Some girls have come and gone to college on Citrus County scholarships, Mayberry said. But there is more to the pageant than the scholarships. "They make lasting friendships with us and each other," Mayberry said. "It makes your heart feel good to know you've helped someone go to school."

So, what else compels these women to volunteer year after year at the county pageants? "I love it. All of us do, or we wouldn't do it," Mayberry said. "It makes you feel young to be around young people."

. The winners

[Last modified March 15, 2007, 06:35:42]