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AROUND THE QUADS
Faced with the challenge of paying off her student loans, Christine Dunphy '01 is taking a novel approach: She's trying to become Miss America. "I was looking on the Internet for scholarships and found the Miss America site. It's the largest scholarship program in the world," says Dunphy, who majored in English and creative writing at the College and is now paying the bills by teaching sixth graders in Brooklyn, writing, going on acting auditions and serving as a part-time financial rep for New York Life. The Miss America pageant awards more than $40 million in prize money and scholarships annually. "For this reason alone, it is much more than a starry-eyed girl's fantasy role — it is a feminist's dream," maintains Dunphy, who emphasizes that the most important part of the pageant is the interview, a 10-minute session before a panel of questioners. Each contestant must choose a "platform issue," a cause to which she has contributed time and effort and that she believes in, write an essay and answer questions about it. Dunphy, who also competed in the pageant a year ago, chose as her platform issue for that contest the prevention and awareness of sexual assault, the subject of a book she wrote in Columbia's creative writing program. Contestants also are judged based on a talent of their choice and on the poise they exhibit answering questions throughout the pageant. Dunphy, who has completed a novel entitled The Hand You Hold that she hopes to have published, was the editor of her high school newspaper in Holbrook, N.Y., on Long Island. In her senior year of high school, she was a finalist in the Junior Miss New York scholarship pageant. She makes a point of saying the Miss America pageant should not be confused with Miss USA or Miss Universe, which she describes as "beauty pageants based on looks," even though Miss America, like the others, does include swimsuit and evening wear competitions. "People don't know what it takes to go through all the steps to compete for Miss America," she says. "The judges focus on contestants' accomplishments in and out of the classroom. All women involved are not only students but also leaders in their communities. "In other words, Miss America is no bimbo. She is well-spoken, well-informed and works actively to improve society." Right now, Dunphy is competing for the title of Miss New York City, which will be determined in February. If she is successful, she would advance to the Miss New York State competition in June, then the Miss America pageant in September. Win or lose, Dunphy says she's gained by participating in the pageants. "I've met some very accomplished young women and I've made lifelong friends," she says.
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