Fifteen to compete in Saturday's Fashionetta pageant

Fifteen teens will be formally introduced to the Greenville Community on Saturday as the Fashionetta Scholarship Pageant is held on the campus of East Carolina University. The pageant, for girls in grades seven to nine, will begin at 7 p.m. in Hendrix Theater. It is sponsored by the Iota Kappa Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

Miss Fashionetta 2006 Catherine Grace Wills, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Willis, will crown this year's winner.

The Fashionetta 2008 contestants are: Emanee Benson, Briana Best, Jessika Bowden, Samone Carmon, Ayana Davis, Bridget Demery, Victoria Green, Briana Howard, Shakyra Howard, Briana Lakish, Alston Peterson, Imani Rainey, Niya Reeves, Nailah Turnage and Tiara White.

The biennial event is designed to help teenage girls develop character and prepare financially for college.

Activities began in August with a mother-daughter tea, a Sunday social, an arts and crafts workshop, an academic enrichment activity and a service project at the local food bank. Fashionetta participants also make an appearance in the Greenville Christmas parade, make scrapbook presentations and hold a talent show and dance as well as a family worship service.

The theme for the pageant is "Through the Looking Glass: Envisioning Our Future." The program will include a dance routine for contestants, an escort step routine, the cotillion, the waltz with junior and senior marshals and the grand march.

The event is chaired by Regina Garcia, Cheri White and Jennifer Congleton. Sharon Mallette is chapter president.