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| Hardy resident is first Franklin County woman to wear state crown |
Chinah Helmandollar |
Friday, February 5, 2010
Chinah Helmandollar of Hardy has been named the new Miss Virginia 2009, following Saturday night's Miss America Pageant, where Caressa Cameron was crowned Miss America 2010.
Helmandollar, 23, who was a finalist in the Miss Virginia Pageant, will assume the title immediately, according to Toni McLawhorn, Miss Virginia Board pageant administrator.
As a result of Cameron's victory in the national pageant, someone had to be selected to take over the title of Miss Virginia, said J.T. Foley, director of the Greater Miss Franklin County Pageant Committee.
"In an unusual twist of fate, the four runners-up to Cameron at the 2009 Miss Virginia Pageant had already won local titles that will send them to the 2010 Miss Virginia Pageant this June," he explained. "Rather than dropping out of school and giving up the titles that will allow them to compete in the next Miss Virginia Pageant, each of the 2009 runners-up turned down the opportunity to finish out the remaining six-month reign of Miss Virginia."
Helmandollar placed sixth and was next in line for the title, which was offered to her on Monday afternoon, Foley said.
Helmandollar, a graduate of Franklin County High School and James Madison University, has competed twice in the Miss Virginia Pageant, most recently as Smith Mountain Lake in 2009 and Miss Greater Franklin County in 2008.
"Although she was fourth runner-up and preliminary swimsuit winner in her first year competing, she had decided that she was ready to pursue her career and not compete for a third local title that would have sent her back to the Miss Virginia Pageant this summer," Foley said. "Now, she gains the title without having to compete in any additional pageants."
Helmandollar is the daughter of Jan Helmandollar of Hardy and Ben Helmandollar of Salem. She received her bachelor's degree in theatre from James Madison University in May 2009.
She was the first Miss Greater Franklin County to place in the top 5 at the Miss Virginia Pageant and to win the preliminary Physical Fitness in Swimsuit award.
Helmandollar is the first Franklin County resident to serve as Miss Virginia and will relinquish her title on June 26 in a live statewide television broadcast of the state pageant.
Her first scheduled appearance will be Saturday night at the Miss Greater Springfield Pageant in Northern Virginia.
Helmandollar will visit Franklin County High School on March 16. She will present her "Right Decisions Right Now" speech at a student assembly in the auditorium.
Caressa Cameron is the third Miss Virginia to win the title of Miss America since the pageant began in 1921 in Atlantic City. The previous winners were Kylene Barker of Galax in 1979, and Nicole Johnson of Virginia Beach in 1999. Cameron received a $50,000 scholarship as a result of her win. She is a mass communications major at VCU.
For more information, visit the Miss Virginia website at www.missva.com. |
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