2 crowns for Queen City: Miss Montana, Miss Montana Outstanding Teen call Helena home

• MARGA LINCOLN Independent Record
• Updated 13 hrs ago
• 0

They come as a well-matched winning pair.

The new Miss Montana, Lauren Scofield, and the new Miss Montana’s Outstanding Teen, Faith Johnson, have a lot in common.

First off they both live in Helena.

Both were contestant number 7 in their respective competitions in Glendive, June 9-11.

Both are honing their talent performances and athletic fitness for national Miss America-sponsored competitions in coming months.

Johnson leaves for Orlando July 29 to compete in Miss America’s Outstanding Teen contest, while Scofield vies for the Miss America crown in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Sept. 11.

Academic scholarships were a major motivator for each to compete in the Miss America-sponsored competitions, they say.

In fact, the Miss America Organization claims to be the largest provider of scholarship assistance to young women in the United States.

Scofield, 22, a May graduate from Carroll College with a biochemistry-molecular biology major, plans to go to medical school after serving as Miss Montana. She wants to be an OB-GYN doctor.

So far, she’s gained about $8,000 in scholarship funding from the Miss Montana competition to put toward that goal, as well as additional scholarship money she can win at the national competition.

Johnson, 16, is a junior at St. Andrew’s.

Johnson got an added personal nudge from Grandstreet Theatre education director Marianne Adams to try out for Miss Montana’s Outstanding Teen.

So far, Johnson’s earned about $1,250 in scholarship funds.

Scofield, a Havre native, got the bug to compete as a child -- her aunt was Miss Montana in 1986.

There’s more than meets the eye, say Johnson and Scofield, of what it takes to win.

Johnson was among 10 girls competing for the teen award, while Scofield was one of 11 for Miss Montana.

“Our crowns have four points,” said Scofield. “They stand for style, scholarship, service and success. ... Those are goals I strive for in my life.”

“Mhm,” agreed Johnson.

The first part of their competitions was an off-stage interview.

This was followed by on-stage competitions in talent, fitness and evening wear, as well as responding to a question.

Scofield, a pianist, played Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata,” for her talent performance.

Johnson sang “I’m Not Alone” from “Carrie the Musical” for the teen competition. “I went on stage in a big poofy dress that went down to my knees and wore some high top Converse to show my personality.”

Scofield, who has taken a year off before entering med school, plans as Miss Montana to be out visiting Montana schools, where she will be promoting her platform, “Planting the Seeds of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math).”

“I envision it being a bin of fun science activities that can be tailored to any age, depending on how much ... technical science I talk about,” she said.

“I’ll take activities, but you’re also a motivational speaker. ... I just want to encourage creative thinking so every student gains something from it.”

“One of my goals is to be on college campuses, too,” Scofield added. She wants to encourage girls to run for Miss Montana. “It’s an amazing opportunity of how much you can can gain (in scholarships) just by entering.”

Johnson and Scofield are planning to appear together at parades and other public events, and Johnson also has some individual visits planned this summer.

“I’ll be speaking about my own platform,” said Johnson, “which is fostering creativity. ... Showing young people how to be unique and be themselves through theater. It’s very fitting because I’ve been in Grandstreet for 12 years, so Grandstreet planted the seed for theater and being myself.”

“Both our platforms are really personal to us but also something that can be shared,” said Scofield.

“Our main message is be yourself and always stay true to yourself,” said Johnson.

http://helenair.com/news/local/crowns-for-queen-city-miss-montana-miss-montana-outstanding-teen/article_92257f51-65d2-50c2-91a9-f346dc8c7cae.html