Pageant Press: Miss Ohio has greater goals

Miss Ohio has greater goals

By Lou Whitmire

Mansfield News Journal

MANSFIELD -- Miss Ohio 2006 Melanie Murphy wants to be the next Miss America.

She just returned to Ohio from Los Angeles where she met the other 51 contestants destined for the Miss America stage in January.

In town Wednesday for a mock interview to prepare for Miss America judges, the 20-year-old discovered common ground with the other Miss America hopefuls. "We were able to bond," she said.

The 2007 Miss America Pageant will take place at the Aladdin Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on Jan. 29.

While in Los Angeles, Murphy and the other contestants filmed a two-hour special. The week-long CMT filming showed the contestants as they met and interacted. The special will be part of CMT's expanded programming that will complement the live 2007 Miss America Pageant and will be shown on CMT and its sister networks, VH1, MTV and Logo.

Murphy, a Cleveland Cavaliers dancer from Brook Park, said contestants traveled to Hollywood and met former Miss Americas Lee Merriweather and Phyllis George.

"We actually have a reality show of which I can't say anything. It's all hush-hush," Murphy said. "We went through pageant school. So this is all taped, all of our conversations, all our private interviews, things we were feeling, behind the scenes stuff. It's going to be really exciting that way, so America will be able to relate to not just their state girl but maybe falling in love with another girl as well."

Her favorite part of the competition is talent.

"It's the phase of competition where you get to be yourself, do what you love what you do, what your strength is, have fun and show your personality, which is great," she said.

During her interview at the Eric and Teri Tinsman house on W. Second St., Murphy answered questions about current events and her platform.

She also talked about volunteerism.

Originally published September 14, 2006