In a dazzling display of elegance and charm, Isabella Nolen was crowned Most Beautiful in the Student Activities Association’s 73rd annual Parade of Beauties pageant on Saturday, March 2.

Nolen is a freshman biological sciences major on the pre-dental track. Sponsored by Kappa Kappa Gamma, she was selected as the winner among 67 contestants with various levels of pageant experience.

“I’m feeling electrified,” Nolen said. “I’ve been shaking ever since they called my name. I froze, and all I remember is walking down and thanking all of my beautiful sisters for being so kind and generous to me and helping me be the best I can be.”

A native of Germantown, Tenn., Nolen’s journey to the crown has been nothing short of remarkable.

“From my first pageant being on a scooter and winning most beautiful in eighth grade to now, I’ve grown so confident in my skin and my hair from starting pageantry,” Nolen said. “I feel like everyone should feel the exact same way whenever they go into it.”

After the preliminary evening gown portion of the pageant, 27 contestants were selected to advance instead of the typical 25 due to a tie. These contestants repeated the evening gown competition and answered an onstage question. Then interviews were conducted in private by a panel of five judges, which counted as 20% of each contestant’s overall score. The evening gown competition, evaluating presence, poise, personality, fitness and beauty, made up the remaining 80%.

At the end of the competition, McKinley Farese, Connor Dowdell, Julieanna Jackson, Caroline Milroy, Celeste Lay, Zoe Bigham, Brie Lafont, Mary Ashley Lindley, Kirby-Anne Christiansen and Jacqueline Pratt were announced as the top 10, with Nolen being crowned Most Beautiful.

Executive Director for Parade of Beauties Jordain Lang explained that the SAA hopes to create an inclusive environment on campus through the pageant.

“In the past, you had to be a part of a sorority, and there were a lot of obstacles to jump through in order to compete, which is why I think participation was limited in the past,” Lang said. “I think the reason it’s grown today is that there are no restrictions on who can compete … the opportunity is open to everyone who wants to participate.”

Parade of Beauties pageant Co-Directors Carrol Trent Imbler and Haley Cote described the pageant as an empowering experience for women on campus. Imbler shed light on how she believes pageant culture is changing.

“There’s always that stigma around pageants, but I think a lot of our pageant systems are evolving and are modernizing and really embracing what it means to be a 21st-century woman,” Imbler said.

Pageants have long been criticized for objectifying women, but Cote emphasized that the mission of Parade of Beauties is to unite and empower them.

“I think the forefront of their mission is to just bring all these different groups together. People that are in Greek life, people that aren’t in Greek life, people that are new to campus and are just looking for ways to get plugged in and find friends,” Cote said.

Sophomore political science major and Parade of Beauties contestant Lila Hill shared that this year’s Parade of Beauties was her first pageant experience.

“I just thought, ‘Sign up and give it a go’ … you miss a hundred percent of the shots you don’t take,” Hill said.

Junior business management major Caroline Milroy, a contestant sponsored by the Associated Student Body, also enjoyed participating in the beauty review.

“I have had so much fun being able to make so many new friends and working with SAA. It’s been such a joy to have the opportunity to compete for a second year in a row,” Milroy said.

Judge De Stegel shared that he has been judging pageants for five years, but this year was his first time judging Parade of Beauties.

“Obviously all of them are beautiful. But the top 25 question portion is so important, because they get to tell us about their personality and who they are,” Stegel said.

Nolen is currently a title holder for Miss Madison USA, and she plans to compete in this year’s Miss Mississippi USA pageant.

“Pageantry is not just about beauty and gowns, it’s about who you are inside and out,” Nolen said. “You are judged on your character, not just your looks.