For many of us, pageants may embody a very particular set of ideas. They conjure up images of stylized costumes, glamorous evening gowns, and interview questions about how to make the world a better place. This winter, a different take on the concept will be premiering in the South Sound. It was born of hope and struggle, a love of these competitions and what they represent, and a desire to subvert some of the expectations around them.
Miss Christmas PNW premieres in December, bringing together a diverse roster of contestants for an event that combines friendly competition with a hearty dose of holiday spirit. Beyond the razzle and dazzle of the event (or, perhaps, the tinsel and bright lights), there is also a focus on another iconic element of the season: helping others.
Miss Christmas PNW Grows From Tragedy
The event’s producer, Narriana Silva, knows a thing or two about the world of pageants. As Miss Washington North America 2024, she has long navigated the ins and outs of an often challenging industry. But the inspiration to start Miss Christmas came from deeply personal origins. As she puts it, “This event was born from both heartache and hope.”
After a brutal period of time when she lost eight family members, she felt compelled to create something new that would spread hope and encouragement, while also bringing some sparkle back to the holiday season.
Among the many things that she took away from her time in the world of pageants was a deep love of mentorship and the communal spirit of the event itself. This inspired Silva to create Miss Christmas PNW, “Not just as a competition, but as a community celebration of resilience, inclusivity and giving back.”
A New Kind Of Pageant With Miss Christmas PNW
Silva had already gained her fair share of experience in the pageant world, competing in and judging for Ms. America, Ms. World, and Ms. USA contests. While she loved the mentorship and lessons in networking and self-confidence, she had also found some of the parameters to be restrictive. Along with exacting physical standards, many of these events come with strict personal rules, barring mothers, married women and divorced women from participating.
Miss Christmas is designed to push back against these traditional metrics, while also embracing the positive and transformative qualities of competition. There are 17 contestants in this inaugural event – ten in the teen category, and seven in the “miss” category. They hail from all over the state, and their ranks include mothers, people with disabilities and former foster kids.
Some have been in competitions before, while others are experiencing this world for the first time. They are all brought together not merely by a desire to participate in a pageant, but also by an interest in helping others.
There are four components to the event, each offering a different chance to shine. First, the impact essay, where contestants explain what they are already doing or plan to do to make a difference in their communities. There is also an introductory session where they can share more about their individual hobbies and passions. The last two sections capture the event’s unique blend of festivities and flair: a holiday wear competition (focusing on creative costumes), and an evening gown section (to give each of them what Silva calls a “Cinderella moment”).
Miss Christmas PNW is Rooted in Service
The commitment to others starts at the ground level. The pageant’s main community partner, The Wishing Well Foundation, provides youths in foster care with necessary resources and access to unique opportunities.
Although admission is free, guests are encouraged to bring donations of food, toys, and clothing. This ethic also extends to the participants. Each competitor is asked to bring at least five items to donate, and the person who brings the most will get extra points in the overall competition.
“I love the idea of charity,” Silva explained, adding that she hopes to highlight and partner with a different organization each year.
Attending Miss Christmas PNW: All You Need To Know
The pageant will take place on December 5 at the Monarch Theatre, located at 5000 67th Avenue West, University Place. Admission is free, but all guests are asked to bring at least one item to donate. Stay tuned to the Facebook and Instagram pages to keep up to date.
While Silva is excited for the upcoming pageant, she is also looking forward to many more to come. She hopes that Miss Christmas will become a recurring annual event and become another beloved tradition in the holiday season.
And of course, she is always focused on supporting the participants themselves, whether helping find the perfect outfit in a thrift store or coaching them through the nuances of public performance.
“It’s been such a privilege to help them find their voices,” Silva said.
