The Contraband

Issue date: 10/2/06 Section: News

Tara Reid and Amber Ware

As you read this, Amber Ware's plane has already landed in Hawaii. Amber is not taking a vacation; she is in Hawaii to compete in the National Miss Hawaiian Tropic pageant. Many students may not know this business-marketing major because this is her first semester at McNeese, but for those who frequent the rec. complex, they have more than likely seen her on the elliptical machines as she trains for nationals. In addition, to working out, Amber is creating two costumes to wear in the pageant, and "of course tanning."
Although she has competed in festival pageants since she was a baby, Miss Louisiana Hawaiian Tropic is Amber's first state title. Thus far Amber has won over 1,800 dollars in prize money as well as her all-expense-paid trip to Hawaii. The Miss Louisiana Hawaiian Tropic pageant was held not too long ago at LaBurge Del Lac casino. In the pageant, Amber completed a photo shoot, and then went up against women from all over the state in a sports wear and swim suit competition. While Amber enjoys the limelight, she dislikes the prep work, "I have danced and done pageants all my life, so I love being on stage; but I hate getting dressed up, the hair and makeup are a pain. If I could get away with ole natural in pageants I would."
Amber won the state title while in her first semester at LSU, but this DeQuincy native transferred to McNeese to be closer to home. Thus far, Amber stated that enjoys McNeese, "but I'm still just trying to make myself go to class."
The National Miss Hawaiian Tropic pageant will be from September 25 through October 1, and will air on ESPN in spring/summer of 2007. Amber will be competing with women from all fifty states in swim suit, evening gown, TV interview, and two costume competitions. But what if the unthinkable happens and Amber falls in the middle of the stage? To that she replies, "I am a humorous person, so I would probably get up laughing and blow it off!"
If she makes it to the top five, Amber will qualify for the international competition in Las Vegas. Despite the multitude of things that she could become stressed over, Amber says she is worried about two things: "the long flight from Houston to Hawaii and all the tall skinny model type girls I will be competing against that have done this before."
If Amber wins nationals, she would become a professional Hawaiian Tropic model, something which she feels would change her whole life. "It would mean that school and work would come to a hold for a little while. I have never had a desire to be a model, but if they think I am good enough and the money is great, I think I would have fun."
Look for news on Amber's performance in the national pageant in a later issue.

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