10 from Southeastern MA to vie for Miss Massachusetts title

WORCESTER — Ten young women from Southeastern Massachusetts, half of them with SouthCoast ties, are among the 20 contestants competing in the 80th Anniversary Miss Massachusetts Scholarship Competition, June 28 and 29 in Worcester.

The competition begins at 7 p.m. each night at the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts. Organizers said this is the 11th year that the pageant has taken place in Worcester; it was previously been held in Attleboro, Fall River and New Bedford.

The two-day competition features Miss Massachusetts 2018 Gabriela Taveras of Lawrence. Twenty young women from across the Commonwealth will compete for scholarship money and the opportunity to represent Massachusetts at the 99th Annual Miss America Pageant at a date and location to be announced.

This year, the Miss America telecast will be broadcast on the NBC Television Network. At Miss America last September, Taveras finished as the 4th Runner-up to Miss America Nia Franklin of New York. She was awarded a $10,000 scholarship as 4th RU, was a STEM winner of $5000, a Preliminary On-Stage Interview Winner of $1000 and was the Online People’s Choice Winner of an additional $5000 scholarship, according to a news release.

Again this year at the state competition, supporters can help select the Eleventh Finalist for Saturday’s show with the Online Voting. For a minimum vote of $1, fans can visit the Miss Massachusetts website and cast their vote for the contestant of their choice who they would like to see as the 11th finalist, the release said. Each dollar that is donated counts as one vote. Online voting is now taking place and will end at 10 p.m. on Friday, June 28. For more details, visit www.missmass.org and click on the Online Voting link.

Tickets are available for the Preliminary Show on Friday June 28; and for the Final Competition on Saturday June 29 and may be purchased online at www.thehanovertheatre.org or by calling the box office at 508-831-0800 or 1‑877‑571-SHOW (7469).

The contestants with ties to this region, according to bio information provided by Miss Massachusetts, are as follows:

Alexis Ferreira is Miss Bristol County 2019. A resident of Acushnet, Alexis is a 22-year old 2018 graduate of Bridgewater State University where she received a degree in Psychology. She is also a 2014 graduate of Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School. Alexis is the daughter of Jennifer and Kevin Thomas of Acushnet. Talent: Irish Step Dance Social Impact Initiative: The Boys and Girls Club.

Megan Sylvia is Miss Collegiate Area 2019. A senior at Bridgewater State University, Megan is pursing a degree in Criminal Justice. She is a 2016 graduate of Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School and is the 21-year old daughter of Karen Treadup of New Bedford. Talent: Vocal Social Impact Initiative: Learning Begins with Literacy

Meighread Dandeneau is Miss New Bedford 2019. Meighread a 21-year old recent graduate Fitchburg State University where she received her degree in Communications Media with Concentrations in Professional Communication and Theater. She is a resident of Fairhaven and graduated in 2016 from Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School. She is the daughter of Lynne-Marie and James Dandeneau of Fairhaven. Talent: Musical Theatre Vocal Social Impact Initiative: Strength Over Silence: Putting an End to Sexual Abuse

Olivia Marques is Miss Quequechan 2019. Olivia is a senior at Bridgewater State University where she is pursuing a degree in Theatre Education/Secondary Education. She is a 2016 graduate of New Bedford High School. Olivia is the 21 year old daughter of John and Joanne Marques of New Bedford. Talent: Vocal Social Impact Initiative: Have a Heart, Lend a Hand: Encouraging Children to Volunteer

Emily Yeo is Miss Freetown 2019. Currently a senior at Dean College studying Dance Emily is a 2016 graduate of Greater West Bridgewater High School. A West Bridgewater resident, she is the 21- year old daughter of Warren and Collette Yeo, also of West Bridgewater. Talent: Tap Dance Social Impact Initiative: R.O.A.D. to Better Health

Meghan Rubadou is Miss Blackstone Valley 2019. A 2015 graduate of Taunton High School, she is a 2019 graduate of Boston University where she majored in Art for Education and Child Life. She is the 22-year old daughter of Brenda and Lawrence Rubadou of East Taunton. Talent: Vocal Social Impact Initiative: A Creative Cure: Combating Stress with Art

Molly Caron is Miss Boston 2019. Molly, a 24-year old 2017 graduate of Emerson College received a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing Communication. She is a resident of Boston and also graduated in 2013 from Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School. Molly is the daughter of David and Laura Caron of Raynham. Talent: Vocal Social Impact Initiative: You Can Make an imPACT: Concussion Awareness

Christine Lattouf is Miss Middlesex County 2019. A resident of Boston, Christine is a 23-year old graduate of the University of Massachusetts Boston with a bachelor’s degree in Biology. She graduated in 2013 from Norton High School. Christine is the daughter of Pascale and George Lattouf of Norton. Talent: Vocal Social Impact Initiative: Humility for Humanity: Advocating for Refuge and Recover

Lyndsey Kate Littlefield is Miss Taunton 2019. Lyndsey is a 2015 graduate of Bristol-Plymouth Technical Regional High School from the Dental Assisting program. She is a senior at Bridgewater State University pursuing a degree in Biology. She is the 22-year old daughter of David and Michelle Littlefield of East Taunton. Talent: Lyrical Dance Social Impact Initiative: Girls Inc: “Be Strong, Smart and Bold”

Renée Banks is Worcester County 2019. Renée is a 22-year old recent graduate of Regis College where she received her degree in Nursing. She is also a 2015 graduate of West Bridgewater Middle- Senior High School. Renée is the daughter of Sheri and Lee Anderson of West Bridgewater. Talent: Tap Dance Social Impact Initiative: Melanoma Awareness: Educate. Demonstrate. Terminate.

For more information, visit www.missmass.org.