PARSIPPANY — Parsippany resident Nikki-James Soto will compete in the Miss New Jersey Teen USA.The pageant is a three-day event, and will be held Friday, October 13; Saturday, October 14 and Sunday, October 15, 2017, at the Hilton, One Hilton Court.
Nikki-James Soto, 17, is competing in the upcoming pageant while attending the Morris County School of Technology with a dual enrollment at the County College of Morris. She is a member of the three honor societies: National Honor, National Technical Honor Society & National Art Society.
“What is closest to her heart is working with children and is excited to use this opportunity and platform to inspire young children, teenagers, and adults to strive to reach their dreams. She would like to be a role model and advocate for equality, love and positivity,” her mom Minerva Soto said.
After high school, Soto wants to work with special needs children, and is interested in speech pathology and sociology.
When she’s not participating in pageants, Soto volunteers at the Parsippany PAL as a Peer Mentor, at her local church, at Homeless Solutions in Morristown and at Diamond Dance Studio.
Friday, October 13
On the first day, our Teen and Miss contestants will check-in and then have their Preliminary Interview. During the interviews, each contestant has the opportunity to meet individually with the entire judging panel for approximately three minutes. Each contestant has the opportunity to convince the judges she is right for the job of MISS NEW JERSEY USA or MISS NEW JERSEY TEEN USA.
The contestants enjoy getting to know the pageant staff and other participants. The contestants will also begin rehearsals on arrival day; we put on a high quality production. Rehearsals with our staff in the hotel’s main ballroom are also being held concurrently that afternoon. We bring in a choreographer and a producer who work to make the rehearsals productive, but fun. As a result, the shows are always incredible! The day concludes with dinner and a group meeting, featuring a motivational speaker who will once again drive home the message of becoming your personal best, before bed check.
Saturday, October 14
After breakfast, the morning and afternoon is spent in rehearsals which prepares them for that day’s stage shows – the Miss New Jersey USA and the Miss New Jersey Teen USA presentation show. During the Presentation Show, each contestant is ‘presented’ to the judges in the preliminary swimsuit (Miss Contestants) / Activewear (Teen Contestants) and evening gown competitions. By now the pressure is off, and the day ends with a dinner and evening of fun, dancing, and making new friendships.
Sunday, October 15
The third day begins again with breakfast followed by rehearsals and concludes with the final competitions. At the end of each of the final shows, we will have a new Miss New Jersey USA & Miss New Jersey Teen USA. The winner of MISS NEW JERSEY USA will advance to the nationally televised MISS USA pageant, and the winner of the MISS NEW JERSEY TEEN USA title will advance to the MISS TEEN USA pageant. Should MISS NEW JERSEY USA go on to win MISS USA, she would then advance to the ultimate contest … the internationally televised MISS UNIVERSE Pageant.
