Presenting Washington's Junior Miss

Moses Lake's own Tanae Bergeson takes state title

MOSES LAKE — There was a moment Saturday when 18-year-old Tanae Bergeson wasn't sure of her chances to be named the 2006 Washington Junior Miss.

As the top 10 finalists were being announced at Pullman's Gladish Community Center for the 48th annual Washington Junior Miss program, nine names had been read and the Moses Lake native had yet to hear her name announced.

"They named the ninth person and I thought that was it," Bergeson said.

Then came the moment Bergeson had been waiting for.

"I just let out a little breath and smiled," she said.

Bergeson competed against 28 other high school senior girls over the weekend, wrapping up a week of all-day practices and preliminary competitions.

The state competition is a preliminary to the America Junior Miss program, the nation's oldest and largest scholarship program for high school senior girls.

Candidates are judged in the categories of interview, talent, fitness, self expression and scholastic achievement.

More than $17,000 in college scholarships were awarded over the weekend.

Of that, Bergeson received a $4,500 scholarship with her title. In addition, she was awarded $300 scholarships in the scholastic and fitness judging categories, and a $300 award in the talent category for her stylized clogging dance routine.

Bergeson will now go on to compete this summer in the America's Junior Miss national finals in Mobile, Ala.

"When Saturday came I was nervous, but I just wanted to do my best and have fun," Bergeson said.

"She just had so much energy, the crowd loved her," said Jeni Chandler, co-chair for the Moses Lake Junior Miss program.

The first runner-up was Holly Dennis of Federal Way with Brooke Didier from Connell North Franklin taking second runner-up.

Quincy's own Chelsea Dannen placed as the third runner up and took home a $700 scholarship. Dannen also received $300 awards in the self-expression, fitness and scholastic judging categories. A $200 spirit award was also given to her.

Other scholarships given to Basin contestants included Ritzville's Ana Maier who received a $300 award in the self-expression category.

Between performing a physical fitness routine, dancing and answering judges questions, finals night was the culmination of months of preparation.

Before being named Moses Lake's Junior Miss last spring, Bergeson had practiced for her talent routine which she performed again Saturday evening.

In December, Bergeson began more intense practices to perfect her clogging, one of the strongest points of her performance in Pullman over the weekend.

The days leading up to finals night were filled with all-day practices. None of the contestants were allowed to talk to family and friends.

Bergeson described the past week as a time when she had to step out of her comfort zone and find camaraderie in the friendships made with other contestants and her host family.

"Instead of focusing on yourself, you got to focus on someone else," Bergeson said of being with the other contestants outside of rehearsals.

Now that Bergeson has returned home after being gone for a week, she looks back on the Junior Miss experience as one that has made her a more independent person and appreciative of her hometown.

The lake, warm weather and the convenience of having an airport for travel are a few of Bergeson's favorite things about Moses Lake; characteristics of her town which she shared with fraternal organizations in Pullman at luncheons during preliminary week.

When not studying for school Bergeson can be found practicing her dance moves, going to drill team practice and occasionally snow boarding.

"You're teaching others, but you're learning a lot yourself," Bergeson said of teaching dance, another of her pastimes.

Bergeson plans on attending Brigham Young University after graduating from Moses Lake High School where she will study dance and possibly computer graphic design.

Having represented Moses Lake as the 2005 Junior Miss and now as a representative at the state level, Bergeson awaits with great anticipation to compete at the national level later this year.

"I have to remember all I can do is try my best and do well down there," Bergeson said.