Beth Kampa was named third-runner up in the Miss Jr. Teen Minneapolis competition June 15. She was awarded a trophy and a chance to compete in the national “Cities of America” competition held in Orlando, Fla. this December. The pageant will award over $60,000 in prizes and awards. All of this came about when Kampa received a letter encouraging her to apply for the competition. She was anonymously nominated for the title. Interested in the opportunity, Kampa filled out an application for the competition. She completed the first interview and was called back to be a contestant in the statewide competition. “Only 32 percent of the girls [in the initial competition] made it,” said Beth’s mother, Deb. Kampa then attended training and getting acquainted events. From, June14-15 she participated in the actual interview and stage performance competition. The majority of the coronation was based upon the interview. The pageant officials write, “Personality is the number one aspect that each contestant is judged on during the phases of the competition.” Participants were also judged on casual dress, pose, formal wear and public speaking. In the personal interview, judges asked Kampa questions about how school was going, what she liked to do in her spare time and who was the most important person in her life. “I said my brother,” recalled Kampa. “We have been through a lot together.” Kampa’s older brother, Dan, was born with a hole in his heart. He had two surgeries on his heart, one when he was 2 and again when he was 14. During the second surgery, Beth was 9. “I remember he couldn’t talk when he first came out of surgery,” Kampa said. “I was really scared and left the room crying.” She ran into her grandma’s arms for comfort. When she felt better, they went back into the room and saw her brother. “He wrote I love you [on a board],” Kampa remembered. “And I wrote I love you back.” The personal interview took place on Saturday, June 14. Each contestant then participated in the casual dress wear event. Dressed in a red and white checkered halter style dress, Kampa walked across the stage, pivoted and smiled at the judges. In the second modeling, participants were dressed in formal wear and had to answer the same on-stage question, “If you could be famous for one thing, what would it be? Why?” Kampa said she would want to be the world’s best mom because she would be loving and loved. When the top ten candidates were announced, Kampa was one of them. She said she was shocked at this point. “I felt like it was a dream. I thought I better pinch myself now.” The final ten candidates were given different final questions. Kampa was asked where she saw herself in ten years. She answered that she would be living in Minne-sota and married with four kids, since she is very family oriented. She also said that she wanted to be an RN since she enjoys helping people. Kampa was well-received by the judges. Among the 48 girls in her competition, Kampa was named third overall in the 13-15 year old category. “This was the largest category in the competition,” said Deb. Keeping a secret Up until talking with Tri-County, Kampa really hadn’t told anyone about her success in the event. Kampa’s grandparents were at the event, so they knew how well she did. Other family members and relatives were told, but that was about it. “We are very happy and proud of her,” said Deb. “From the time she stepped on the stage, she was very posed, very confident and very articulate. She was able to answer all of the questions in a sound manner. But above all, she was able to be herself and confident in who she was.” A little hesitation Deb had questions about the competition before allowing Beth to enter. She was comforted when she found out more about the program at the orientation meeting. “A woman who was Mrs. United States ran this program,” Deb said. “She presented a lot about being yourself. I felt that the message was really important for girls today to hear.” Deb also felt that her daughter learned life skills in the process. “She learned how to handle herself [in front of a crowd and onstage].” “I don’t think at her age, I would have been able to do this,” said Deb. On to Orlando? At this time, the family is not certain if Beth will enter in the national competition. The hardest part will be raising $2,000. For the initial competition, Kampa was sponsored by local companies including Gusto Graphics; Kimball Express-O; Kuechle Underground, Inc.; Hair-Do’s, Inc.; Keek Developers, Inc.; and the State Bank of Kimball. While the businesses were very supportive they were unable to give as much as businesses in larger cities. “If nationals is something she really wants to do, I hope she can raise the money,” said Deb. Kampa said she would love to participate in the national competition. If the funds are raised, “I would do about the same exact thing,” said Kampa. The only change would be participating in a dance routine with her age group. Beth is the daughter of Joe and Deb Kampa of Kimball. She will be a sophomore at KAHS next year. In her future, she would like to attend college out of state to pursue an RN degree.
