Marblehead’s Nigro Shines in Miss Boston Pageant
By Caitlin Rung
Boston.com
Marblehead resident Michelle Nigro, 20, was recently awarded second runner-up in the Miss Boston Pageant 2011.
The Miss Boston Pageant, which was held on Feb. 20 at the Omni Parker House in Boston, featured 13 of Boston’s most dynamic young women competing for over $17,000 in scholarships and prizes. Eligible women were between the ages of 17 and 24, who live, work full time or attend school full-time in Massachusetts, are at least a high school senior, a US citizen, and able to meet the time commitment and responsibilities set forth by the Miss Boston Scholarship Organization.
Contestants competed in five phases of competition, including talent, interview, physical fitness, evening gown, and on-stage interview. In addition to placing second runner-up, Nigro won the swimsuit portion called ‘Lifestyle and Fitness’ and the Interview portion called ‘Walk, Talk and Win.’
Nigro’s success is in no doubt due to her wealth of experience. The former Miss North Shore Outstanding Teen has been performing in competitions since she was 10 years old.
“I thought it was a lot of fun and loved getting to make up a dance to perform and wear a pretty dress,” Nigro said. “Now that I’m older I’ve also realized it is gratifying to be able to represent a platform I’m passionate about as well.”
During the competition, each contestant discussed her chosen platform, a social or community issue of concern to herself and society at large. Nigro built awareness about the Young Survival Coalition, an international organization that addresses issues unique to young women and breast cancer. She has planned and implemented six fund-raising and awareness events for the YSC in the Boston area since February 2010.
While she performs community service and works to prepare for pageants, Nigro is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism with minors in marketing communications, public relations, and advertising as a junior at Emerson College. She hopes to one day become a news anchor. She has also studied ballet, tap, jazz, and hip-hop for 17 years, and performed a jazz dance routine for the talent portion of the pageant.
Nigro is currently a New England Patriots Cheerleader, an employee of Benevento Insurance Agency, and is a former field hockey instructor.
Despite her many achievements, Nigro remains humble during the pageants.
“All of the girls in Miss Boston were wonderful. Everyone had gorgeous gowns and great talents,” she said. “They were not only beautiful, but also very well-spoken, intelligent, talented, and extremely nice. It was a pleasure meeting them all and I made some great new friends.”
The winner of Miss Boston, Sara Carlisle of Acton, was awarded over $5,000 in scholarships and prizes to fund her graduate school education.
The Miss Boston Pageant is an official Miss America preliminary and each year the woman crowned has the opportunity to compete for the title of Miss Massachusetts in Worcester.
“I am definitely happy I did the pageant. It was a good opportunity to work on my public speaking and interview skills,” Nigro said. “I’m relieved that my hard work paid off and it was a great experience. Currently my main focus is Patriots Cheerleader Auditions that are coming up again next month, which I’m really excited for!”
