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Bluffton, Ind.
July 7, 2005

By Sarah Pulliam
Glittering gowns, professional business suits and coordinated dance outfits left Danielle Long and Tiffany Gentis exhausted after a weekend in Indianapolis.
The Wells County residents spent Independence Day weekend competing in Indiana’s National American Miss pageant.
Long, who will be a Norwell senior in the fall, won second runner-up in the optional photogenic competition where she had submitted a picture.
“I felt pretty good about it,” she said. “I’m sure if I had more preparation and experience I would’ve done better but I’m satisfied with how I did.”
Gentis, an upcoming senior at Southern Wells, said even though she didn’t win anything, she had a fun time and made many friends.
A panel of judges scored the 106 contestants in formal wear, personal introduction, interview and community involvement.
Casandra Vakarias, 17, from Hobart, Ind. won the event and will compete in the national pageant.
The pageant took place in Indianapolis’ downtown Mariott Hotel. The hotel elevators smelled of hairspray and perfume as the competitors scurried to their next event.
The teens arrived Saturday for orientation and competed in the formal wear competition Sunday evening.
The competitors walked on the stage with their escort before walking in a circle to display poise and posture while the emcee introduced them.
Long wore her spaghetti-strapped, yellow prom dress with sequins covering the bodice while Gentis wore her strapless baby blue, prom dress that was decorated with beeds. Both dresses were fitted at the bodice and widened below the waist.
“I was kind of scared that I was going to step on my dress but everything went fine,” Gentis said.
Monday morning, the contestants dressed in business suits and gave a personal introduction saying their name, where they were from and their career aspirations.
Following in her grandmother’s footsteps in a medical career, Long would like to work with premature babies in neonatal nursing. She is looking at attending Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne or Purdue University.
After reading her grandmother’s John Grisham novels, Gentis became interested in law. She hopes to study criminal law at Indiana University at Bloomington in hopes of becoming a prosecuting attorney some day.
“I would like to see people put where they belong rather than on the streets,” Long said.
In the afternoon, competitors met with judges for a personal interview.
The evening ended the event with a grand finale. The teens dressed in coordinated pink T-shirts, necklaces, bracelets and socks for the dance routine before rushing to change into their formal dresses.
Both Wells County representatives competed in the optional photogenic contest. Long entered in the optional acting and spokesmodel contests where she gave a speech on friendship. Gentis sung in the optional talent competition.
The two ladies were opposites in both personalities and physical features.
Soft-spoken but friendly Long described herself as a loner. Her petite figure, subtle makeup and curly, thick brown hair was a stark contrast to Gentis.
Gentis’ taller physique, silver nailpolish, glitter lip gloss and straight, highlighted brown hair hinted a more outgoing personality.
Long is daughter of Bluffton resident Theresa Town and Allen County resident Jim Long.
Pursuing her interest in acting, Long will play Shelby in Norwell’s “Steel Magnolias” in the fall.
“It just gives me that rush,” she said. “You get to be something you’re not. It’s the best feeling.”
Long also participates in Campus Life at Norwell and works at Coventry pizza.
Gentis’ parents are Warren residents Tracy and Rhonda Gentis.
Gentis keeps busy participating in show choir cheerleading and FFA. She also works at East of Chicago pizza.
Long and Gentis both said they hope to compete in more pageants including the Miss Wells County in the future.
“It was really fun being up there on stage,” Long said. “I’d do it again in a heart beat.”
Wells County businesses financially aided the two ladies competing in the pageant.
Long was sponsored by Body Solutions, Youth for Christ and Troxel Equipment
Gentis was sponsored by MarkleBank, Gentis Contracting and Same Day Trucking.