Maine’s entry to the Miss America Pageant was a USM student this year. Elizabeth Edgecomb, a 20-year-old music major won a talent award for her passionate rendition of Chopin’s “Fantasie Impromptu,” but did not advance to the semi-finals. Edgecomb has been playing piano for 17 years. She hopes to teach music in public schools.
Being a contestant in the country’s most famous beauty pageant proved to be a busy task for Edgecomb. There were parades, the festivals and golf tournaments to attend. She also went to New York and Philadelphia for clothing she would wear in the competition. But her efforts paid off with almost $10,000 in scholarship money when all was said and done.
Edgecomb was named Ms. Maine at the state pageant in Biddeford last May. Since then, she has been constantly on the move until two weeks ago when she was eliminated at the Miss America contest in Atlantic City. In addition to event appearances, she worked her regular job as a representative for Oakhurst Dairy.
Though she did not place in the contest, she has made a feast of personal accomplishments along the way. She received a number of flower bouquets and stuffed animals, which she donated to local nursing homes and hospitals. She played piano at Melmark, a home for the mentally and physically handicapped, in mid-July. Governor Baldacci read a statement to her at the State House, where she was invited to play piano.
Edgecomb’s roommate, Heather Garnett, says she feels proud that Maine was so well-represented by Edgecomb. “It’s good to see someone so down-to-earth represent the state of Maine. She’s so fun and energetic. It’s nice to know that at a beauty pageant they’re levelheaded and not just out to be beauty queens, but out to get scholarships” said Garnett.
Edgecomb said her mother is one of her primary influences.
“She is a really strong, independent woman. She works hard to do whatever she throws herself into,” she said. She also mentioned her teacher, Denise Nelson, who introduced her to a lot of different piano-playing styles. She said that without Dr. Laura Kargul at USM, she would not have won the talent award at the Miss America Pageant. She also gave thanks to Anastasia Antonacos, who introduced her to Chopin’s “Fantasie Impromptu.”
Edgecomb grew up on a potato farm with three brothers. The four siblings span five years, and are very tightly knit.
“It wasn’t easy,” said Edgecomb. She said that her brothers were extremely hard workers that she always tried to keep up with.
Jason Cooke can be contacted at [email protected]