Beauty queens to grace Route 66

BARSTOW • Barstow’s Miss Route 66 Pageant and Main Street USA car show have always been inseparable.

This year, even though the pageant is being held this weekend — two weeks before Main Street USA — the crown-winners will still be a fixture among the car show’s axles and chrome.

About 25 contestants, participating in 13 divisions ranging from baby to classic, have signed up to participate in this year’s pageant Saturday, said Director Kris Watson. Some are coming from places outside the Barstow area like Fontana and there has been interest from people living in Arizona. Only a handful of the candidates so far are from Barstow.

The women who come away with a crown and a sash will be at the car show Sept. 11 to help sell raffle tickets to raise money for the Route 66 Mother Road Museum in Barstow. The title-holders will also help hand out awards at the show.

“It’s good to hold (the pageant) in advance that way the girls can help out with the car show,” Watson said. “We got the title-holders in advance, which makes it a lot easier.”

The Miss Route 66 Pageant is known as a walk-in pageant. Many contestants wait until the day of the pageant and register at the door, Watson said.

Instead of evening gowns and bathing suits, the dress is casual, or sportswear, but with a red-white-and-blue theme. There is a talent portion with two winners crowned. Contestants can also participate in a costume contest, donning dress representing Route 66 in its heyday.

The Miss Route 66 title also carries a community service stipulation with it, said Watson, who also directs the Miss Barstow Pageant. Even though it’s not as intense as the local pageant, Miss Route 66 has to represent the pageant in her own community. Some make appearances at car shows or races. Others will do things like sing the national anthem at the county fair.

“Some girls work the titles heavily and some girls are just as happy with doing one or two events,” she said. “(Miss Route 66) gives them a venue to perform community service and support local activities where they live.”

The Miss Route 66 Pageant will be held at the Ramada Inn this year. Entry forms are available at the Route 66 museums in Barstow and Victorville, the Barstow Area Chamber of Commerce and Curves for Women. It costs $125 to register at the door.

Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4123 or jcejnar@desertdispatch.com

If you go:
What: Miss Route 66 Pageant
Where: Ramada Inn, 1511 East Main Street
When: 9 a.m. Saturday; registration starts at 8:30 a.m.
Cost to attend: $5
Cost to participate: $125 to register at the door