Potomac Falls Senior Crowned Miss Loudoun County

By Scott Den Herder

Monday, April 14, 2008

Whitney Cavin, a senior at Potomac Falls High School, was crowned Miss Loudoun County on Saturday as part of the 52nd annual pageant hosted by the Purcellville Lions Club.

"Beauty is inside. You can be the most beautiful person alive but if you don't have inner beauty, then it doesn't matter," Cavin said after winning the crown. She will represent the county throughout the year at parades and celebrations, as well as at community service events.

Cavin, who said she entered the contest "for fun," beat out 19 other contestants in front of a crowd of about 200 spectators. The event was held at Loudoun Valley High School.

The contestants were judged in four categories: community service and academic achievement; facial beauty; figure, fitness and how they looked in their gowns; and poise and how they answered questions. Each category was worth 25 percent of their score.

Cavin was the only contestant who scored perfectly in the community service and academic achievement category of the competition.

"When she was interviewed, she enjoyed what she did, she enjoyed giving back," said Helen Carlson, one of the judges. "You could see it in her face."

Here is what two of this year's judges had to say about what they were looking for in contestants.

Former Washington Redskin Mike Nelms on confidence:

"I think beauty means confidence. There is beauty in someone being confident with themselves, comfortable with themselves… that's beauty. God gives everyone something. Everyone has something that they can complain about and something they could boast about – and it depends on which one you concentrate most on.

"Along with the aesthetics, along with what we consider to be attractive, I go by how they project. Some people are physically gorgeous and they radiate. And other times you may classify this person as being average, but because of they way they carry themselves, they pump it up.

"Inside you may just be jumping up and down. It's just like a guy who defuses bombs; don't shake and don't tremble," he said.

Deandra Cunningham, Mrs. Loudoun County USA, on spirit and a sincere smile:

"For me, it's the total package. Is this somebody that really has goals, sets their sights high, (has) initiative, (is) lovely and their smile is lovely in the sense that I can feel the real person? It's not about being Cindy Crawford or genetics, per se. It's more about the spirit.

"They're nervous. There is going to be a little bit of that. Nobody smiles for 10 minutes constantly. But when I see them, when they look me in the eye and I see that genuine smile pop just a little bit, I know that I can connect with them in the community, which is extremely important in a pageant queen," she said.

The event raised money for the Purcellville Lions Club.

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