To the editor:
For our daughter's birthday this year, she chose to go to the Miss Utah Pageant. She is only 12 years old but we were happy she showed an interest, thinking it would encourage her to strive to be her very best.We were sadly disappointed with the caliber of the pageant and amazed at the unprofessional way it was handled.
Before anyone had welcomed the audience and while people were still visiting, someone began to pray, unannounced. I felt this was extremely disrespectful.
To say we were disappointed in the set would be an understatement. It didn't even measure up to most LDS road shows I've seen. I would think a production on a state level would at the very least be semiprofessional.
The first nights of the pageant, the master of ceremonies couldn't even talk, which only added to the hilarity of the event. And to top it off, there were young boys who couldn't have been any older than my daughter running the lights. I don't know who was running the sound system but how the girls know how loud to talk from one night to the next was definitely a problem.
We also wondered where the former Miss Utahs were until the final night; they had them stand in the audience - definitely very tacky.
The only redeeming quality of the week was the contestants themselves. They were beautiful and the talent was outstanding. Certainly most of it was better than what we see at the Miss America Pageant. The girls should be applauded and deserve a pageant that is at least as good as they are.
D. Wynn
Salt Lake City