Holly Russell, 23, a West Chester University business management and dance major, was involved in the Miss Philadelphia Organization’s beauty pageant held on March 18, at Drexel University. She was the Non-Finalist Talent winner for her skillful baton twirling, winning a $500 prize. The Coatesville native started twirling at the age of three, but only started competing in pageants in 2005. She got involved because she “wanted to show her talent off more.” She also stated that the pageant “was really well ran and the 16 contestants got along really well.”
This pageant is a preliminary pageant for Miss Pennsylvania and Miss America.
The committe running the pageant consisted of seven people, including the 2000 winner, Kate Wilson.
The pageant judges included Philadelphia Eagles running back Ryan Moats, Former Mayoral candidate Marty Weinberg, Comcast Newsmakers anchor Jill Horner and NBC 10 Traffic Reporter John Ogden.
The program was sponsored by Commerce Bank, Vintage Sales Stables and Drexel University.