Page 37 - Sun Rays_February 2016

and an evening dress, and it took a little FEBRUARY 2016 SUNRAYS | 35
bit of time away from school.” MJ laughs
as she recalls her 19-year-old self. “I was
a good girl. I just never thought of not
asking her.” With her mother’s approval,
MJ entered the competition.

Though she never found out who
nominated her, they had spotted the right
girl: first-time pageant contestant Mary
Jane Doar was crowned Miss Macon
1954. Pictures show her beaming as her
name is announced, looking stunned to
be holding the winner’s elaborate rose
bouquet. MJ still seems surprised today.
“This was the first and only contest I had
ever been in in my life. It was just one of
those things that happened.”

As Miss Macon, MJ received a
scholarship prize and participated in a
host of public engagements. “They had
me do of photos for the newspapers and
I rode in a few parades,” says MJ, who
has maintained an extensive scrapbook
of her pageant experiences.

MJ notes that, at the time, winning
pageants brought more than personal
glory – contests put on by the Miss
America Organization supported civic
efforts in your community.

“It may be different now,” says MJ, “but
at that time, the winners helped bring
money back into the community. The
Jaycees ran the contest in every town
and state, and they would receive money
for the event, so you wanted to do well
for your town. There was no entry fee,
and it wasn’t about being a princess – it
was about being the best representative
for your home.”

Less than a month later, MJ made her
way to Columbus to represent Macon
in the Miss Georgia Pageant. With
18 contestants and the possibility
of representing Georgia in the Miss
America Pageant, the three-day long
contest was a significant change from
MJ’s previous experience. Many of the
participants had much more competition
experience than MJ, and some were even
on their second try for the Miss Georgia

Continued on the next page

Top: As Miss Georgia, MJ made
numerous public appeareances in fairs,
parades and at charitable events.

Bottom: On the cover of The Atlanta
Journal and Constitution.

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