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W. Springfield native places 2nd runner-up

Alicia Zitka, of West Springfield and winner of the local Miss Western Massachusetts pageant, is shown here in her head shot for the Miss Massachusetts pageant.
By Katelyn Gendron-List, Staff Writer

WEST SPRINGFIELD The Miss Massachusetts Pageant is one of not only beauty but also intelligence and confidence, but after being called last in the top 10 and the top 5 at this year's pageant, an unassuming Alicia Zitka, of West Springfield did not believe that she ever would have finished as well as second runner-up.

"I wasn't expecting to win," Zitka said. "This was my first time at Miss Massachusetts and it's kind of crazy because here I am competing with all of the veterans who all know what they're doing."

Zitka stated that she was so surprised to have done so well because she has only been competing in pageants for the past two years. She began competing last year when she entered the Miss Western Massachusetts and finished first runner-up, only to take the title the following year. As the winner of the local pageant Miss Western Massachusetts, this allowed Zitka to compete in Miss Massachusetts state pageant.

"She was a very strong contestant last year and she just missed it," Nicole Pajer, pageant director for Miss Western Massachusetts said. "She definitely matured over the past year and she went from being a very strong contestant to an outstanding contestant."

According to Pajer, much of Zitka's success this year can be attributed to the dedication that she put into her platform: "the importance of self-esteem in today's youth."

"Having a year to work on her platform really made her a better spokesperson, which is what I think the judges saw this year," Pajer said. "Sometimes it just takes time to work on the platform. The year gave time for Alicia to discover who she is and how she can really get out there and make a difference, and that's what I think propelled her into the title this year and second runner-up at the state title."

Zitka stated that her platform is something that she firmly believes in and is committed to promoting. She went on by saying that she believes that a healthy self-esteem can greatly reduce some of America's problems such as drug use, violence, and self-image distortion.

"I picked this platform because I was trying to look at the bigger picture," Zitka said. "People think that feeling good about themselves is just that, but feeling good effects many areas of peoples lives."

In addition to a platform all contestants must prepare for their interview, talent, eveningwear, onstage question and swimsuit portions of the competition. According to Zitka, the largest portion of their overall score rests in the performance of their talent, which is 35%, followed by the interview at 25%, the swimsuit at 20%, eveningwear at 15%, and the onstage question at 5%.

"The interview was the most difficult part for me because I'm so used to performing on stage as a dancer but when you put me up on stage in front of a panel of five or six judges I start to get nervous," Zitka said.

She went on to state that the judges asked her a variety of questions during her interviews such as her opinion on gay marriage, how many boyfriends she has had, which character she is most like on the popular HBO television series "Sex and the City," in addition to questions about her platform.

But when it came time for Zitka to perform her talent that is when she said that she felt the most at ease.

"I was a competitive dancer for a long time and I've always loved to perform in front of people," Zitka said. "So that's one of the reasons why I decided to participate in the Miss America organization in the first place so that I could perform my dancing talent."

She also stated that she performed a contemporary lyrical piece, a slow dance blend of ballet and jazz.

Zitka went on to state that another reason why she decided to participate in these pageants was for the scholarship opportunities. According to Pajer, all winnings are given to the contestants in the form of academic scholarships and are sent directly to their academic institutions.

As far as the swimsuit portion of the competition was concerned, Zitka was completely surprised to have been the preliminary winner.

"Swimsuit is more about confidence than rather than what you look like in the swimsuit," Zitka said. "It takes a lot of confidence to walk across that stage in a swimsuit and high heels."

Regardless of her nerves during the competition Zitka had plenty of support in the audience to help her relax. According to Zitka her parents as well as her grandparents were in attendance to help cheer her on all weekend.

"We're very proud of her and it was a great pageant," Edward Zitka, Sr., Alicia Zitka's grandfather said. "It was a terrific experience. She was gorgeous and I think that she should have won."

The winner of this year's Miss Massachusetts Pageant, which is the preliminary to the Miss America Pageant was Valerie Amaral, Miss North Shore, followed by the first runner-up Nickie Nicholson, Miss Greater Holyoke, and then Zitka as second runner-up, according to Pajer.

"We had two ladies in the top five at Miss Massachusetts: Miss Greater Holyoke and Miss Western Massachusetts," Pajer said. "To have such a strong showing in Miss Massachusetts is really great for the program in general."

When asked what her plans are now that the pageant is over, Zitka stated that she has recently moved back home after graduating this May from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Communications, and is now looking into the entertainment industry.

"I am still undecided as to whether I am going to compete next year because I don't know where I am going to be in a year," Zitka said. "I am really interested in the entertainment industry and later on in life I want to be a broadcast journalist."

Whether Zitka competes or not next year she offered advice to those looking to compete in either Miss Western Massachusetts or Miss Massachusetts next year.

"I would just tell them to focus completely on yourself and your platform," Zitka said. "And do what's best for you and don't listen to anyone else because you are donating a year of your time to something that is dear to you. Have fun and don't get too stressed."

For more information on the Miss Western Massachusetts Pageant as well as the scholarship opportunities associated with the competition contact Nicole Pajer at nicolepajer@hotmail.com.