CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA--(Marketwired - April 18, 2014) - Miss Virginia USA recently announced that their scholastic-centered pageant will be held in Charlottesville, Virginia on November 29 and 30, 2014. The organization chose Charlottesville as the competition location for a three-year period due to its central location, which will make it easier for contestants from all over the Commonwealth to participate. The historic Paramount Theater, located on the Historic Downtown Mall, is the selected venue for this prestigious event.
In a press conference held earlier this week, announcing the three-year contract with Miss USA, the Paramount's Executive Director Chris Eure said, "We know this level of event will attract participants, their families, and spectators from cities and towns throughout the state of Virginia to the Charlottesville area, and the large draw for the competition will certainly have a positive impact on local tourism, and offer a boost for local restaurants, hotels and shops."
The Miss Virginia USA contract with the Paramount is already causing a very positive impact on our local economy, with over 400 rooms booked at the Omni Hotel Charlottesville over the span of four nights. Stores and restaurants can also expect an increase in patronage, as there will be an estimated 500 to 700 friends and family of contestants visiting over the three-day period.
Kim Nicewonder Johnson, Executive Director for the state of Virginia's official preliminary to Miss USA, says, "Becoming partners with the City of Charlottesville, together we are creating a most incredible one-of-a-kind experience for young women from across our state. Throughout this year leading up to our event, we embrace the opportunity to promote the city and the numerous participating businesses. It is a pleasure to be here for the first time and to make this the best event of its kind in all of Virginia."
The Executive Director of the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau, Kurt Burkhart, is thrilled with this announcement. "The Miss USA competition is a tremendous event that will help elevate the awareness of our destination, while also having an important and very direct economic impact on our local businesses at a time of year when visitation is not particularly high," he says.
The Miss Virginia USA competition is an annual pageant that selects a representative from the state of Virginia to advance to the nationally broadcast Miss USA pageant. Every year Miss Virginia USA and Miss Teen Virginia USA winners receive a combined total of over $500,000 in scholarship dollars from Emory and Henry College, the University of Virginia College at Wise, Lindenwold University, and King University. The young women who participate in these pageants also forge relationships with organizations committed to research and education such as the Latino Commission on AIDS, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Gilda's Club. The Miss USA pageant was first inaugurated in 1952.