By By Tim Cottrell
With the new release of Miss Congeniality 2 starring Sandra Bullock, pageants are on the mind of many young ladies throughout the country.
Last week in Bay Minette, an Atmore native was able to live that fantasy.
Megan Rolin, a freshman at Faulkner State Junior College, competed March 22 in the Miss Faulkner Pageant. The contest is open only to freshmen at the school.
Rolin beat out 11 other participants in a competition, which included judging on grade point average, school and community activities, an interview, poise, and dancing.
Rolin was understandably excited at the results.
"I was a bit shocked, but I was also excited" she said. "I went out as soon as it was over and had a cheeseburger because I hadn't had one in two months."
The contestants had two weeks to practice for the pageant, but Rolin said she had been preparing in advance.
"I knew several months ago I would be competing," she said. "So I prepped a long time before the practice sessions."
Rolin went on to describe the grueling day of the competition.
"We came in during the morning and did interviews," she said. "Then we all came out and danced the opening number. We had to make our own t-shirts for it. We did the dance and then got dressed for the casual wear. After that we got dressed in our evening wear and they read our bios. Then we did our interview. My question was what I would do if an intelligent friend told me they didn't want to go to college."
In addition to winning the overall crown, Rolin also received another prize.
"Another girl and I tied for Miss Congeniality," she said.
The pageant was the third for Rolin, but her first win.
"I've only been in two before this," she said. "I made the Top 10 in Miss Atmore a few years ago and I was the first runner-up in Miss Northview."
Rolin, a 2002 graduate of Northview High School, explained the two-year gap between high school and junior college.
"I attended the Mobile Masters Commission Ministry Program after high school," she explained. "I can be certified as a minister now, but I don't really plan on doing that. I just felt God leading me to do that and I have wanted to be in missions."
She went on to talk about her plans for the future.
"I'm just doing the basics here at Faulkner," Rolin said. "I want to go into nursing. I'm probably going to finish up at South (Alabama) and get a bachelor's degree. I hope to work as a nurse on the Mercy Ship.
"The Mercy Ship is a group of medical professionals such as doctors, dentists, and nurses," Rolin continued. "They commit two years of their lives on a ship going around to poor places and giving medical care. It's something I want to do. A lot of people need help."
While much lies ahead, another year at Faulkner is still in the works for Rolin, and she talked about many of the perks she will enjoy as Miss Faulkner.
"All of your schooling and books are paid for," she said. "I'll be on two billboards for Faulkner, and I'll also do a lot of P.R. (public relations) work for them."