By Eileen Oldfield
Nicolle Dzuba wore jeans and sneakers to her interview for the 2008 Pre-Teen Trenton Beauty Pageant, held by Nationals Inc., but the fifth-grader told her mother, Lucia, that she wasn’t worried about the casual attire.
”She told me, if they are going to like me, they’re going to like me for who I am,” Ms. Dzuba said.
”I want to show girls that think they can’t do this that they can,” Nicolle said. “If I can do it, anybody can.”
Her relaxed attitude netted the Roosevelt School student a spot in the upcoming Trenton pageant, a chance for $20,000 in scholarship money, and, if she wins the Trenton pageant, a chance to compete in the 2009 Cities of America National Pageant Competition.
Despite her laid-back attitude at the initial interview, Nicolle said her reaction when she heard about being selected was the exact opposite.
”I screamed,” Nicolle said. “I was really happy and excited to make it to the next level.”
According to Ms. Dzuba, Nicolle learned about the preliminary interviews through a mailed flier, and scheduled an interview for the pageant. Though it could be a long shot, Nicolle saw it as a chance to learn about performing for a crowd and meet new friends.
”I’m a little nervous and excited at the same time,” Nicolle said. “I’m scared that I might not do the right thing, or if they tell me to do something in a certain way, that I won’t be able to do it.”
”They’re learning how to be a lady,” Ms. Dzuba said.
Before Nicolle competes in the ages 10-12 portion of the Oct. 19 competition at Bordentown Regional High School, she will need to find sponsors for the event. Money from the sponsorships will allow her to receive the necessary training for the pageant and attend rehearsals, and will go toward prizes for the participants. Nicolle started her training sessions on Oct. 4.
Potential sponsors can e-mail Ms. Dzuba at [email protected], or contact Nicolle’s pageant organizer, Patty Neidert, at 1-800-569-2487.

