Windham teen places in Miss Maine Teen pageant by Leah Hoenen

Weeks of hard work and preparation paid off for Celine Baker when she was named second runner up in the Miss Maine’s Outstanding Teen pageant, the first pageant she has ever competed in.
Celine, who will be a Windham High School freshman in the fall, spent five days in Brunswick last month, rehearsing with other contestants. The finalists were named June 22.

After rehearsals, contestants gathered together for some extra practice, Celine said. “We quizzed each other on our interview questions, all kinds of stuff to help us get prepared,” she said. “It was nice to get to know the girls and use tips of what they said to you to get prepared.”

Coached by Windham High School graduate Marybeth Noonan and voice teacher Janelle LoSciuto, Celine also attended some of the Miss Maine pageant workshops, designed to help contestants become more familiar with the pageant process and prepare them for the big night.

In addition to the group dance routine, Celine performed the song “I Could Have Danced All Night” from My Fair Lady.

When Celine, whose platform was anti-bullying, asked what she would do if she witnessed bullying, but was afraid to intervene and become the new target, she said she would go to a trusted adult. “You don’t want to put yourself in the position of being a victim. An adult has more authority to handle the situation,” she said, recalling her answer.

Miss Maine’s Outstanding Teen pageant began in 2005. Celine was the youngest contestant to place in the top five in the pageant’s history. The recipient of a plaque and a $300 scholarship, she also walked away with new friends and the memories of an outstanding experience.

“This definitely is rewarding. I took a lot away from it,” said Celine. “For me, it wasn’t about winning the crown and the title. I learned and met new friends with similar interests. And, I would definitely recommend this pageant to anyone who is thinking about participating in one. It’s a rewarding experience and not the type of glitz pageant everyone thinks it’s going to be. It’s so much more than that.”

Celine plans to compete in next year’s Miss Maine’s Outstanding Teen Pageant and will compete in the Miss Maine High School Pageant in Saco August 17.