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Miss Texarkana talks to girls about Internet safety, being kind to others

By Jim Williamson Texarkana Gazette 

    ASHDOWN, Ark.—For about 30 minutes Friday, Miss Texarkana, Ark., Valerie Brown shared a little gossip and talked about social networking safety with 45 first-grade girls.      During the Ladies Club meeting at Margaret Daniels Primary School, Brown discussed Internet safety, answered questions about being a beauty queen and talked about being a tomboy. She then performed an opera song.      The Ladies Club was created by Principal Kay York as a complement to the school’s Gentlemen’s Club for boys. Ladies Club, which meets every other week, helps girls with self-esteem and provides educational discussions.      “The girls had been neglected, and we started the Ladies Club,” York said.      She said Brown’s presentation was timely.     “They can get on Facebook and don’t realize the repercussions or the dangers on the computer,” York said.      She said controlling a child’s Internet usage can be difficult for parents and grandparents, since children may have better computer skills.      “We had a grandmother who was upset with a $200 phone bill when the grandchild had down- loaded applications. Children’s skills are beyond what we think.”      When Brown asked how many know about Facebook, all of the girls said they learned about the site from older sisters or brothers. About half said they knew how to put photos on Facebook.      “Be careful if you put photos on the Internet. Once it’s there, it’s there forever,” Brown said.      She said the same holds true for messages.     “If you put hurtful words on the Internet, it’s there for good.”      Brown told the girls they are “a lot smarter than I was in the first grade.” As an example, the pageant queen said her boyfriend’s little cousin taught her how to use an iPhone.      Brown asked what the girls wanted to do when they grow up. The occupations included ballerina, teacher, doctor and astronaut.      She told the girls to start thinking about a career early.      “If you want to enter beauty pageants, start early. I entered my first pageant when I was 19 years old. I was scared to speak and cried like a baby when I had my first interview,” she said.      One student said she watched Brown ride in the Four States Fair Parade last weekend.      “I didn’t wear my glasses or contacts and I couldn’t see anything. I just smiled and waved,” Brown said.  

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We successfully launched our new website. I could not be more happy to share this with you.
I am also  pleased to announce our new pageant Twin Rivers, open to the entire State of Texas.
The Miss and Teen Texarkana Titles are closed this year: In Texas, you must be a resident of Bowie, Cass, Marion, Titus, Red River or Morris counties, and in Arkansas you must be a resident of, Columbia, Howard, Pike, Nevada, Sevier, Miller, Hempstead, Little River or Lafayette counties.
The Miss and Teen Twin Rivers Pageant is open to all residents of Texas.
We were named  Pageant of the Year for pageants over 11 counties in Arkansas last two years in a row. 
So we look to win again this year.

Our Pageant this year will be!
January 27th -28th 2012
Sullivan Performing Arts and John Thomas Theater
3941 Summerhill Road
Texarkana, Texas


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First Post! 08/12/2011
 
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