Shadé Cush to participate in National American Miss Pageant

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Shadé Cush, of Chittenango, N.Y., has entered a beauty pageant sponsored by National American Miss (NAM)

CAZENOVIA, NY (05/03/2011)(readMedia)-- Cazenovia College student, Shadé Cush, from Chittenango, N.Y., has entered a beauty pageant sponsored by National American Miss (NAM), a group dedicated to celebrating America's greatness and encouraging its future leaders. The pageant awards cash, scholarships and prizes that recognize and assist the development of young American women.

Cush, a rising sophomore majoring in business management, notes that this is her first attempt at this kind of pageant. "An opportunity like this only comes once in a lifetime," she says, "and I wanted to try something new. I hope to gain effective speaking and interview skills, more confidence, and meet new people."

She adds, "When I went to the open call and watched the other girls arrive, I was overwhelmed. Row by row we all were interviewed. It went by fast and then all I could think about was whether or not I had made a lasting impression. A couple days later I got a call from a NAM representative who told me that I had been selected as a state finalist. Mind you, this was on April Fools' Day. When I was convinced it wasn't a joke, reality sunk in and I burst out in tears of happiness."

"Contestants can choose the competitions they are most suited for," Cush says. "Some of them are most photogenic, top model, best spokesperson, talent. This pageant is about helping young girls develop an empowering poise and self-confidence," Cush says. "My mom has been behind me in this every step of the way – she believes in me. I am named after the singer, Sade, but my mom changed it up a bit by spelling it 'shadé, so people would know how to pronounce it. I found out when I was young that it means 'honor confers a crown.' That kind of describes our relationship."

NAM representatives say that raising money toward the entry fee helps participants to gain poise, self-confidence, and valuable communication skills that will give them a competitive edge to succeed in their future careers. In addition to her fundraising activities, Cush attended a recent prep session to prepare for the pageant in July, to be held in Rochester, N.Y.

"Sponsors," Cush says, "will have their names or business names featured in the program next to my photo. In addition they will also appear in a press release. I can have one sponsor or many, as long as I raise enough to cover my entry fee."

Photo: Shadé Cush – photo provided by Cush.

Cazenovia College, founded in 1824, is an independent, co-educational, baccalaureate college near Syracuse, N.Y., offering a comprehensive liberal arts education in an exceptional community environment, with academic and co-curricular programs devoted to developing leaders in their professional fields. Cazenovia, named one of "America's Best Colleges" by U.S. News & World Report, is also a national College of Distinction. For more information, visit www.cazenovia.edu.