New pageant seeks to empower teens, women

The inaugural competition, created by Ms. Elko County Pageant and Leadership Program Director Ruby B. Sutton of RSB Legacies, seeks to celebrate and empower girls and women between 13 and 30 years old.

“This is an occasion to celebrate who you are, live out your purpose, as well as celebrate community and femininity,” Sutton said. “Regardless of walking away with the crown and title, there are opportunities to win awards and prizes, network, learn new skills, improve your presentation skills, discover your purpose and make new friends.”

Sutton has vast experience in pageants. A former Miss Sierra Leone, Miss Earth Maryland, Miss World Maryland and Miss World America, she was crowned Miss Elko in 2018 to represent the area at the Miss Nevada USA pageant.

She said her passion for empowering girls and women prompted her “to create a platform to showcase the beauty and talents of the women and girls in our community.”

The format of the pageant has a few major differences from other similarly named contests. First, entrants are called “delegates” instead of contestants. Second, it focuses on talent, poise and public speaking.

Third, it retains the traditional evening gown competition but removes the swimsuit and other physical measurement requirements common to other pageants.

Sutton explained that eliminating more physical-based competitions within the overall contest might encourage participants to enter without fear of being judged solely on their body type. “Beauty comes in different shapes and sizes,” she said.

“Taking away the swimsuit portion minimizes fears of those who may be interested but have body insecurities,” she said. “I want the focus to be on the entire package of the ladies and not just the physical.

“There are no height and weight requirements for this pageant because I want the beautiful, diverse bodies of Elko County girls and women displayed on that stage.”

Sutton said delegates who step out on the stage and express their talents, passions and personalities to the judges will have their inner beauty radiated for the audience and community to see.

“Whether they are full-figured or thin, tall or short, they are beautiful, and the emphasis shouldn’t be on what they look like,” she said.

A lack of opportunities for both young girls and married women prompted Sutton to create this new pageant with two age ranges — 13 to 17 years old for teen delegates who have not been married or have children.

“I have heard several parents of teens share their desire for more extracurricular opportunities for their girls, so I thought pageantry may be another avenue for our younger girls to make new friends, showcase their talents, build confidence, get exposure and learn new skills.”

Delegates will receive coaching from workshops led by Sutton and volunteers, ensuring they will “be confident and prepared for competition.”

Participants are encouraged to select a topic for their platform they feel passionate about and wear homecoming and prom dresses for the evening gown competition.

The rules state teen delegates must not be married or have children. The “Ms.” delegates can be of any marital status and may have children.

Sutton’s decision to expand the pageant for women 18 to 30 years old to include women of any marital status and who may have children was drawn from her own experiences.

“As someone who only competed in her 20s, it was heartbreaking that most of the pageants at the time had an age limit of 24-26,” she explained. “I wanted to compete more, but I aged out of some of these pageants. I want our Elko County women to have this opportunity to shine on stage even though they may be approaching their 30s.

“Our older ladies may be in different seasons of life — widowed, married, divorced, single, separated or parents,” Sutton said. “[This] is why it is Ms. to be inclusive and not Miss; I want them to have their moment to shine and be role models in our community.”

Winning delegates will receive a sash, crown and cash gifts bestowed by local sponsors. They will also become ambassadors for the program and the community “with many opportunities for their personal, professional and academic growth,” but will not compete in any other pageants or higher-level programs.

The organization is seeking sponsors for the pageant to cover expenses such as prizes, venue rental, catering for participants, volunteers and staff and workshops.

For more information or to apply as a delegate or sponsor for the 2024 pageant, email RBSLegacies@gmail.com.

Sutton, who competed under her maiden name, Ruby B. Johnson, is a mining engineer and publisher of STEMher Magazine.

In an interview with the Elko Daily Free Press six years ago, she explained her goal was to represent the mining industry and advocate for women who have careers based in STEM — science, technology, engineering and math.

She was born in Sierra Leone, west Africa, and was 12 years old when her family moved to Maryland.

She graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mining Engineering with a minor in Women’s Studies Leadership.

Sutton moved to Elko in 2016 as a mining engineer with the U.S. Forest Service, bringing her background in pageants with her, using her platform to represent the mining industry and STEM when she was crowned Miss Elko USA two years later.

In the Miss Nevada USA competition, Sutton was named “Miss Photogenic.”

Sutton said she has maintained her connection to pageants, judging local contests and maintaining relationships with local titleholders and directors.

She has also continued her platform to promote recruitment and retention of girls and women in STEM fields, serving as a two-time keynote speaker for Soroptimist International’s “Dream It, Be It” conference, and was recognized as a STEM Honoree by the Girl Scouts of Sierra Nevada in 2018