J unior Christian studies major Ashley Duvall from Arkadelphia was awarded the title of Ouachitonian Beauty on March 28. Duvall was selected for the honor by a panel of four judges who based their decision 70 percent on her interview and 30 percent on her poise and beauty.
The event was coordinated by Ouachitonian yearbook sponsor Dr. Deborah Root with assistance from Dr. Keldon Henley, vice president for student services and dean of students; Nathan Shelburne, director of student development and campus activities; and Avery Shelburne, an OBU admissions counselor.
The Ouachitonian Beauty competition was started in 1962 and has undergone many changes since then.
“When I was editor of the Ouachitonian in 1981, we had a pageant in Mitchell Hall, and the contestants modeled evening gowns and sportswear,” Root said. “They were also featured in a slide presentation with responses to various questions. The format eventually changed to where the contestants were judged in a private interview and photogenic quality only.”
For several years, the competition was run by the Blue Key National Honor Fraternity, which is no longer in existence, and the proceeds went toward outfitting Miss OBU for the Miss Arkansas pageant. After the dissolution of Blue Key, Henley began working with the Ouachitonian staff to keep the contest going.
“It is scaled back this year, but we will evaluate the process soon and make plans on how to best continue the competition,” Root said.
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