As her name was announced, Paige Knight, a sophomore studying biology from California, walked across the stage and was crowned Miss Hawaii Collegiate on Oct. 3 in Waikiki, Honolulu. Winning this title also means she will be representing as Miss Hawaii in nationals held in San Antonio next summer.
Knight said she felt confident she would do well in the pageant, but didn’t expect to win. What took her aback was as awards were being handed out, another girl kept getting most of them such as “Best Interview” and “Best Community Service” and Knight thought that she would win.
“She got the highest interview score, so I was hoping she would do well,” Knight said. “I didn’t expect to win but then when they called my name, I freaked out. It was definitely a good surprise.”
“Paige winning was the most suspenseful and most rewarding part of my day,” said Josh Wallace, a junior studying music from California. “Because homegirl wasn’t getting anything...And then they were like ‘and the winner is Paige Knight’... And there was screaming and yelling and I screamed the loudest as I could because that's why I came.”
Knight started to prepare for her pageant in January, going to orientation and meeting with the other contestants. In the following months she attended fundraisers, fashion shows, appearances, and rehearsals to prepare.
This pageant supports the BRAVE platform, which means “Building Respect and Values for Everyone.” Knight has been competing in pageants since 2012, competing in California in several state pageants, and says that the two pageants were very different.
“Every pageants system is different so it's a different experience wherever you go.” This pageant system did not require girls to grow up in their respective states, which allowed Knight to compete.
Knight said what she enjoys most about pageants were the friends she makes. “You form such good friendships with some of the coolest people ever.”
She said that most people think that pageant girls are mean and rude, but that is the farthest from the truth. Girls help each other out and are friendly to one another, Knight assured. “A lot of close friends are people I met through pageantry.”
Getting ready for nationals in San Antonio next summer, Knight said she was excited because her friends had competed in past years from various states. “They are amazing girls from all over the country and it looks like a cool experience.”
Now crowned Miss Hawaii, Knight gets benefits. “The main thing is going to nationals,” said Knight. “My entry fee is paid, as well as travel expenses and autograph cards.”
Sponsors also provide gift certificates toward clothing stores for competition attire, a scholarship toward Argosy University, membership to a rock climbing gym, and 1,000 dollars in cash that Knight says will go straight “to rent and food.”
Her roommates also helped her prepare for her pageant. “We helped her practice interview questions and gave her input on outfits,” said Charlotte Burchell, a sophomore studying hospitality and tourism management from England. Abbie Costanza, a sophomore studying elementary education from Arizona, added, “We helped her with her walks and watched them.”
Before the pageants, she went to an interview where the judges asked her questions. Her favorite question was why it was important for her to attend college, “It's a time where you can learn a lot about yourself and the world, and gain a lot of knowledge for class. It's beneficial for everyone whether you go into medical school or construction. College can benefit you in some way.”
This pageant went through Miss High School America, which Knight chose because it focused on education. “It places a lot of importance on getting education, and that’s something I firmly believe in.”
Allie Anglen, a sophomore studying psychology from Arizona said, “Paige works super hard in school, and is also talented in it.”
Pageants also help Knight build her confidence. “It takes a lot of self confidence to get up on stage in front of people if you don’t believe in yourself, and you speak onstage in front of hundreds of people... it's very much about empowering women and empowering other people to go for their goals.”
Knight said that pageants help her discover who she is. “Definitely a really good way to learn about yourself,” said Knight about pageants. “It teaches you a lot about who you are, especially through the interview process.”
“She has the best of both worlds,” said Burchell. “She’s a genius and she does pageantry, and she works hard for both... this gives her so many more opportunities and she deserves it.”