Sparkly dresses, big hair, 4 inch heels, and talks of "world peace" all stir up thoughts of Miss America and beauty pageants. As a pageant contestant myself, I adamantly feel that we need to establish a viewpoint in society that looks past the superficial stigma associated with pageants and their contestants.

DOVER — On Sunday, Peggy Carter of Dover received a very special birthday present a day early. Her daughter Caroline was crowned Miss Winnipesaukee at a scholarship pageant at Gunstock Ski Lodge in Gilford

On Sunday, July 12, the crowns were placed on the new Miss Winnipesaukee and Miss Weirs Beach, who will go onto serve their communities and compete for Miss New Hampshire. Eight women participated in a series of competitions which make up the pageant.

DOVER — Lissa Silk of Dover has won the title of Miss Winnipesaukee 2010 and a $4,000 scholarship. In addition she won $50 for winning overall talent dancing ballet en pointe to "Hold Your Dreams" from the Fame 2009 soundtrack.

Monday, July 13, 2009 (Gilford) Tiaras, sashes, and titles were the dream of the 11 contestants who took the stage at Gunstock on Sunday night as part of the Miss Winnipesaukee & Miss Weirs Beach Scholarship Program, which is a preliminary to the Miss New Hampshire Competition.

Although the title of Miss New Hampshire may sound overwhelming to some, Emily Hughes is adjusting to it very well. "This is my fifth year in the program, so I've had time to prepare for the responsibilities that come with the title," she said. Emily, 22, of Gilmanton, took home the title of Miss New Hampshire this Saturday at a pageant held at Pinkerton Academy, beating out 17 other local pageant winners from around New Hampshire. Emily has been competing for this title for five years now, and has spent her time going to appearances, practicing public speaking and rehearsing dance moves for her talent competition.

Gilford - An honors graduate from the University of New Hampshire was crowned as the 81st Miss Winnipesaukee Saturday night at the Gunstock Ski Area. Emily Hughes, 22, of Gilmanton, who will return to UNH this fall to work on her master's degree in early childhood education, won a $10,000 scholarship in the site's oldest pageant. The recipient of the 2003 Meg Geraghty Community Service Award, Hughes has been active in charity fund-raising. Her talent performance was a tap dance.

GILFORD - A 19-year-old award-winning soccer player from Pembroke was crowned as Miss Winnipesaukee Saturday night at the Gunstock Ski Area. Justine Barker, who will be a sophomore at New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord this fall, was chosen from a field of 12 contestants in the state's oldest pageant, which dates back to 1925.

As I travel on this road called "Life", I am constantly writing new chapters along the way. The chapters are never the same, nor are they totally different. They consist of the formative experiences that make up the sum total of my life, making me the person I am today and the person I am becoming.