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Nantucket has a new Junior Miss
McDonough-Thayer was an active participant in the program, bringing what she's been learning at the Hartt School of Music, where she is a freshman, back to the Nantucket stage for a vocal performance. In between the various components of the show, she also shared her thoughts and experiences from her year as Nantucket's Junior Miss.
New York standup comedian Sherry Davey, who has also appeared on Comedy Central's "Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn" and "Premium Blend," emceed the night, interspersing sassy comedy with notes on the program and brief descriptions on the evolution of women's rights. Conceived by directors Chris and Linda Meredith, it was a pitch-perfect theme for candidates who are "both benefactors and the leading edge" of the women's movement, keepers of the flame of progress. The theme was naturally evident during the Self-Expression answer given by Sarah Nabulsi. The question asked contestants which woman - past or present - they each most admired and wished to emulate. Nabulsi's answer was her late Palestinian-born grandmother, who raised over 10 children in a refugee camp and never even attended high school. "She had traditional Muslim beliefs, but she was independent," said Nabulsi, who won a $500 scholarship for her Be Your Best Self essay. "She was strong. She protected her children in the midst of war." For every serious moment, there was also a humorous one; if there were any misconceptions that the Nantucket Junior Miss scholarship program was anything like a stuffy pageant, candidate Taryn Dilworth outsmarted it by sitting down at the piano to play a serious classical selection in a powdered wig and tux with tails. On the other hand, if there had been any doubt that the night was more than a glorified talent competition, one needed look no further than the amazing poise with which Jaime Trimble worked the stage, appearing shimmering, sharp and sophisticated in her tasteful gown. It was an accomplished group of young women, and their talents were variegated. Butterflies were to be expected; broken bones were not. Phoebe McKee, who also won the Interview portion of the competition, played the piano with a thumb she'd broken only days beforehand while playing Field Hockey. Each contestant had her own mountain to climb in getting to the night's competition - for contestant Adrienne Costakes, it was a literal one. For her talent, Costakes performed an African dance inspired by a recent to trip to Africa, during which she climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. (Yes, that Mt. Kilimanjaro.) But it was the relaxed competence, academic performance, articulation and - as stated before - inspired guitar playing of Kerry Fee that took the grand prize, and a few others. Her total scholarship winnings were $8,900 of the maximum $12,100 available to any one candidate. Backstage after the show, a glowing Fee (who said she was "shocked" at her win) fielded hugs and interviews - and even filmed a spot for Plum TV in her sash. She spoke of the large accomplishment just completed by the candidates, many of whom have known each other since kindergarten. "Everyone had their own schedules while putting this together. We were all busy with Nantucket Golf Club Scholarship applications and college applications. But everyone put their all into it, because we really wanted it to be great," said Fee, who is waiting to hear back on several early-action college applications. (Berklee College of Music is her first choice.) As is always said, "there can only be one winner" - but it is a testament to the diversity and quality of the young women on Nantucket that each candidate really did have a moment that was hers alone, an indication of where she has been and also where she is going. No one who left the NHS auditorium on Saturday night would be able to deny that the women's movement is still moving. I
THE RESULTS |
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