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By Naomi Creason, Sentinel Reporter, September 4, 2007

Last updated: Tuesday, September 4, 2007 10:56 AM EDT

Brooke Bailey spent most of her summer the same as any other.

She worked at KinderCare Learning Center in Carlisle for a few extra dollars, but mostly for the experience in child care, and took a vacation to Florida in August.

The only difference this year is that the Kutztown University student has also been spending time preparing for the Miss Pennsylvania USA Pageant.

Even though pageants may seem to require a childhood background in modeling or years of experience on the stage, Bailey's entry was a bit of a fluke.

“My one friend did it last year, so I decided to see what would happen if I entered,” says Bailey, 20, of Carlisle. “I thought it would be fun to see how far I could go.”

The entry itself seemed simple to Bailey: Go to the Web site, print out the application, fill it out and send a picture. She didn't really anticipate it going much further than that. At least, until she got a phone call.

“I was nervous when they called,” she says. “They do this interview over the phone. They asked me three words to describe myself, what hobbies I had, what high school I went to and what activities I was involved in. I think I said ‘responsible, kind' and I don't remember the last one - may be it was ‘organized.' I was so nervous.”

Regardless of how Bailey felt about her interview, she was chosen to take part in the Miss Pennsylvania Pageant in November and possibly go on to the Miss USA pageant in 2008.

Getting ready has not been necessarily easy for Bailey. The pageant is still a couple of months away, and like any normal procrastinating college student, she hasn't quite gotten around to doing many of the preparations. However, both she and her mother, Bobbie Bailey, worked during the summer to make sure the costs of going to the pageant wouldn't be too high.

Sponsorships for the pageant are a necessity. Every contestant must raise almost $1,000 for her own lodging and fees for the pageant, such as gifts, transportation expenses to Pittsburgh and pageant production costs.

“I don't even remember how many flyers I handed out, but when we got back, there was only a handful of responses,” Brooke Bailey says. “The only thing that was hard so far was getting the sponsors.”

“You have to go out and ask for sponsors,” her mother adds. “It took a whole day to look for sponsors.”

The two eventually got a few Carlisle organizations. Brooke Bailey's co-workers at KinderCare and a few family members helped pay for some of the costs. However, they are still on the lookout for more sponsors.

Money is the first thing contestants worry about, but Bailey knows that she'll have to work on other preparations before the pageant arrives.

Along with other contestants, Bailey will be going to three seminars in Philadelphia that will help them work on the interview session as well as go over guidelines and restrictions for the three outfits. In the Miss Pennsylvania Pageant, she has to wear a formal gown, a swimsuit and a professional suit for the interview.

Bailey already has two of the three - the formal wear from her trip to King of Prussia Mall and the swimsuit, selected during her vacation to Florida.

“We ordered the swimsuit,” Bobbie Bailey says. “There's a place in Florida that actually makes pageant swimsuits and fits her there.”

The fitting had Brooke Bailey a little worried when the owner talked of her other clients.

“When I got my swimsuit, the woman said she had always wanted to participate, but the girls who shopped there were all catty to each other. I guess I'll find out,” she says.

While Bailey did have to call to make sure her swimsuit fit regulations, the only part of the outfit she is really worried about are the shoes.

“I have to walk in 4 1/4 inch heels,” she says, obviously not too happy about the prospect. “I really need to practice walking in those.”

Brooke is just thankful that the high heels will not make an appearance at the final pageant dance, something she is already not looking forward to, admitting that dancing is not one of her talents.

Unlike the Miss USA Pageant, the Pennsylvania Pageant does not require a talent, and Bailey is still unsure of what that would be if she makes it through.

“If I had a talent, I guess it would be singing,” she says. “I was in choir from fourth to 12th grade, though I should probably get my teacher to help me. I also played the clarinet, too.”

Although the only stage experience she's had was her middle school musicals, Bailey is confident that everything will work out.

“I'm nervous,” she says. “I've never done this before. But when I'm out there, I think I'll be OK.”