There will be 53 sets of proud parents watching their daughters compete for Miss America this Saturday, but there’s one mom with an extra sparkle in her eye. Rebecca King Dreman will be the first Miss America winner to watch her own daughter compete for the crown.
Miss Colorado, Diana Dreman, will compete not only for the title of Miss America, but for the legacy her mom began 38 years ago. In 1974, “a King became a queen” when Rebecca was crowned. In 2012, she’s dreaming of a repeat.
“It’s very surprising [to be the first],” said Rebecca. “We may have watched every pageant together as she grew up, but Diana was definitely not bred to be a ‘pageant girl.’”
In fact, this will only be Diana’s fourth pageant ever. The Dreman women may have the distinction of being the first mother-daughter Miss America competitors, but the similarities end there. In 1974, the pageant was held in Atlantic City; it’s moved to Las Vegas since then. Rebecca’s talent was singing, while Diana’s is musical theater dance.
“When I won Miss America, there were no points given for interview,” Rebecca said. “Now, it’s 30 percent of the total score for preliminary competition. We talk more than anything else that we do, more so than wearing a swimsuit and an evening gown.”
Speaking of swimsuits, that, too, has changed.
“In the 1970s, we wore one-piece swimsuits, of course,” Rebecca said. “They brought us all out in a line, we faced forward, did a quarter-turn sideways, and to the back before we faced the judges. Now, the suits are sponsored, and the girls wear two-piece suits.”
The fashions and hairdos have changed, but some things do remain the same. The preliminary competition lasts about a week to 10 days before the final, live telecast, and the winner is bestowed a college scholarship. Last year’s winner was awarded $50,000 for school.
“The scholarship is just as important now as it was for me back then. It’s about opportunity,” said Rebecca.
An opportunity she’s hoping daughter Diana will have the chance to have for herself.
The 91st Miss America Pageant will air Saturday, January 14 on ABC. To vote for Diana, or your favorite contestant, visit the Miss America website.
Source:
Personal Interview