Pageant names winner

Skeptics might say that chivalry is dead, but Saturday evening at the Miss Hispanic OSU Pageant in the Student Union Little Theater there were sufficient displays of romance to prove otherwise.

Themed "Noche Romantica" (Romantic Evening), the 2010 Miss Hispanic OSU Pageant showcased fashion, culture, intellect, musical entertainment and dashingly attractive contestants all before crowning Denysse Chavez, a merchandising freshman, this year's Miss Hispanic OSU.

The other two contestants were first runner-up Michelle Martell, a marketing sophomore, and Stephanie Nava, an interior design freshman.
The Hispanic Student Association sponsored event marked its tenth year in existence on OSU's campus this spring.

According to HAS senior academic adviser Brenda Morales, the genesis of Miss Hispanic OSU was influenced by a determination to offer students a medium for expressing their Hispanic backgrounds.

"Ten years ago, in 2001, the HAS decided to give Hispanic students a chance to show their culture," Morales said.

Although specifically aimed at acknowledging the myriad of Hispanic cultures represented on campus, this event is similar in structure to other campus events.

"We're kind of like Miss OSU in that we accept everybody," Morales said.

The Miss Hispanic OSU competition differs from traditional beauty pageants, according to Morales, as there are no swimsuit or talent competitions.

"It's literally about culture," Morales said, "not everybody has to be Hispanic either. It's being able to represent who they (contestants) are and their culture."

Affairs like this one often bring together not only the local Hispanic population, but also non-Hispanic minority cultures from around the Stillwater area.

Valerie Redman, Miss American Indian OSU, recognizes the role events like Miss Hispanic OSU have in the student body.

"It gives (OSU students) opportunities just to see other cultures," said Redman.

Spanish lecturer Matthew O'Neil, one of the judges for the competition, also sees the pageant as a positive for OSU.

"I think it's a really good opportunity to get different parts of Hispanic society together on campus that don't always run into each other," O'Neill said.

The difficulty in selecting a winner is something the judges are forced to deal with.
"It's really hard to say you're a 5 and you're a 4 because they've put their fair share of work in," O'Neill said.

All three contestants receive scholarships varying in amount, but only Chavez will be able to address her platform issue of teenage pregnancy as Miss Hispanic OSU.