‘Miss Pennsylvania’ Meets and Greets throughout Kittanning

by Jonathan Weaver

The reigning ‘Miss Pennsylvania’ made a royal visit throughout Armstrong County Monday – meeting residents both at the Kittanning Care Center in Kittanning Township and at Grey’s Colonial Acres and meeting elected officials through the Armstrong County Courthouse.

When Amanda Smith of Pittsburgh was crowned “Miss Pennsylvania” in June, she said it felt “unreal” and cried once her feet touched the floor the next morning.

But, the next day started 10 months of charitable and special events across the state. During those 10 months, Smith has talked to elementary, middle and high school students about the importance of fitness and nutrition and the arts.

Smith would have been a senior Musical Theater student at Carnegie Mellon University, but she took the year off after being crowned ‘Miss Pennsylvania.’

“The area I grew up in was very rural – everyone around me was very agriculturally-based and there weren’t a lot of art opportunities, but I just happened to get involved with a K-12 youth theatre group. That’s what really sparked my interest,” Smith said. “I did that all through high school, and somehow was lucky enough to get into Carnegie Mellon when I auditioned.”

Her first appearance was only a week after being crowned – at the 2014 Fur Takers of America & Pennsylvania Trappers Association Convention.

The 22-year-old student was actually born and raised on an ostrich farm in Florida before moving to Pittsburgh for college.

Smith said she had been in a few talent shows before, but only has been in one ‘Miss Florida’ pageant (which she finished in the Top 15 in) and one ‘Miss Pennsylvania’ competition because of the scholarship money.

Smith was one of 38 young women who competed for the 85th title of ‘Miss Pennsylvania’ at Shady Side Academy in June. She qualified after being crowned ‘Miss Southwestern Pennsylvania’ – her first local competition - in November 2013.

“My mom said I’ve been singing since before I could talk, but I’ve been formally training in voice since I was a freshman in high school,” Smith said. “I did a few in high school, but I didn’t grow up doing beauty pageants – I grew up on a farm, so it definitely wasn’t my thing.”
She sang “Music of the Night” from the Broadway musical “Phantom of the Opera.”

Smith will have to give up her title of ‘Miss Pennsylvania’ this June at the next competition, but will go back into acting with her first two professional summer shows.

Smith will play as “Ariel” in the Gretna Theatre (Lebanon County) production of “The Little Mermaid” July 9-19 and as “Belle” in the West Virginia Public Theatre production of “The Beauty and the Beast” July 29-August 2.

Even though she said those roles are some of her favorites, her ideal role would be as “Christine Daae” in the Broadway cast of “Phantom of the Opera.”

Smith had some advice for ‘Miss Armstrong County’ Anna Oberneder during this June’s competition: ‘relax’ and ‘be yourself.’

“The thing I tell any title holders is to relax and enjoy the experience because the experience of ‘Miss Pennsylvania’ week can be just as valuable as actually winning it – you get out what you put in,” Smith said.

Oberneder, 21 of Kittanning Township, will also sing at the upcoming competition. She was not in the Top 11 last June, but hopes to crack that this year.

Oberneder also currently works part-time at the Kittanning Care Center.
If she doesn’t win this June, she will be eligible to compete in local pageants for two more years.

Both young women said they enjoyed their experience at the senior healthcare facility.

Activities Director Mary Turner said residents enjoyed seeing the appearances during one of the week’s most crowded activities.

“We can always use help at Bingo, and the residents enjoy them coming out here with their crowns on,” Turner said.

Smith and Oberneder’s pageant executive director Kathy Rashlich praised the local women.

“These ladies define what Miss America stands for: service, scholarship, style and success,” Rashlich said. “They prove stereotypes are wrong. The ladies are friends and work together forming lifelong friendships.”

Along the tour, the pair met Armstrong County Commissioner Bob Bower, and other representatives from other county row offices.

Myers called both women “very respectful.”

“You couldn’t ask for a much better contestants to represent Pennsylvania,” Myers concluded.

Smith will return to Kittanning next month to ride through the Memorial Day Parade through downtown while Oberneder sings at a similar event in Altoona.