I remember playing “dress up” when I was a little girl. My twin sister Gloria, younger sister Dannie and I would get out our mother’s things. She had given us some old dresses, suits, hats, jewelry and shoes to play with. We would put on her high heels, gloves, hats, lipstick, earrings and various pieces of other jewelry and spend hours playing “grown up.” It was fun to pretend that we were someone else.

Once a year the Miss America Pageant was broadcast on TV. It was hosted by Bert Parks. We’d gather in front of the TV in the living room and watch it from beginning to end, our eyes glued to the set. We would ooh and aah at all the pretty dresses the girls wore. We loved watching every part of the pageant, the talent contest, the beautiful dresses and the questions they had to answer. All of it built up to the grand finale where the winner was announced and crowned Miss America. With great excitement, we anticipated the big moment when the lucky girl would be chosen, given the crown and a dozen red roses. Then the promenade with Bert Parks’ singing, “Here she comes.... Miss America!” When the show was over we would run to get our play clothes out of the closet and act like we were those glamorous girls in our elaborate long dresses. We would pretend that we were from different states and try to act and talk and walk like the real contestants. Our little pageant was just as grand to us as what we had just seen on TV.

Each year, the phenomeNEWS staff has a Christmas party. In the past we have shared nice dinners at fancy restaurants, gone to see the Rockettes perform at the Fox Theatre, taken a limo to Star Clipper Dinner Train and other fun things. This year was like no other, it was entirely different. Cindy announced that we would all be involved in a murder mystery at a local hotel. Each person received a piece of paper describing the role they were to play. This sheet included how they were to dress and act. We would all be playing interactive parts in a murder scene. This was called Killing for the Crown and the scenario was Beauty Queens vying for the title of Miss America. This was the pre-pageant dinner the night before the event. Someone would be the murderer and someone would be the murdered. No one would know until we got to the hotel who this would be. Everyone would have a chance to solve the crime by putting clues together. There were judges who could be bribed by the girls wanting to be the next reigning Miss America. Many of the players in this mystery had motives for the murder including the reigning Miss America. With the Miss America crown on the line, everyone seemed desperate to gain the competitive edge on their rivals... and for one guest that meant murder.

We were presented with envelopes and then read the information silently about who we were to play that night. We were told not to tell anyone who we were to play that night and instructed to dress the part so that we could get into character. We had a couple of weeks to gather our outfits and costumes. I received the role of the reigning Miss America. I was shocked. I had in mind what I wanted to wear. I began roaming the secondhand stores for something special to wear. It had to be long and brightly colored. I ended up buying a beautiful hot pink satin long gown with pink lace. I bought some costume jewelry and wore long white gloves and satin heels that complimented the dress. And, to add to the effect, I brought along a dozen long-stemmed red roses. Everyone arrived that evening to a reserved room at the hotel. Everyone dressed their part. We kept commenting to each other how great we all looked as fabulous (and cheesy) Beauty Queens. The coronation march was playing as we entered the room and champagne was served by a waiter. We mingled and tried to pick up clues from the others. We all kept up with our accents and laughed while this was going on. All of the contestants except for the judges wore tiaras and sashes representing their state. We had a fabulous buffet meal at star-studded decorated tables, all the while keeping in character. Everyone received an “Oscar” that night and had a crack at solving the crime. At the end I got to promenade around the room with my roses in my arms like the “Queen” that I was!

Years before I had only imagined this. Now it became a reality for me, if only for one evening. What fun we all had playing our glamorous roles.

At the end of the evening, I never had to give up the crown, so I guess that still makes me Miss America!

I never actually wanted to be Miss America but to be playful in that role just like I had done as a child was really fun! Sometimes it’s just about having fun!

Wishing you lots of fun in 2007!

When you wish upon a star
makes no difference who you are
Anything your heart desires
will come to you ...

Gerri Magee is director of advertising and public relations and assistant to the editor of phenomeNEWS. She continues to share her thoughts “On The Path” in this column. She can be reached at gerri@phenomenews.com.