She’s Got It All! … Miss Philadelphia 2010!!!

Think pageants are just about gorgeous gowns and stunning smiles? You’re wrong! Meet Miss Philadelphia 2010, Andrea Helfrich. This gown is lovely and her smile is gorgeous, but there’s much more to this titleholder.  She’s got it all! Beauty, brains, and a big heart! Philadelphia, this is what winning the crown is about. On March 27^th, Andrea Helfrich,  age 21, a Marketing Coordinator and student at West Chester University was crowned Miss Philadelphia 2010 in her 4^th attempt at the title.

There are tons of pageant systems; Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International and many more. Each pageant organization operates under their own unique rules and guidelines and there is really a lot of variation in what these systems look for when searching for the next face.  Andrea’s Miss Philadelphia title falls under the Miss America system which is a scholarship organization that encourages women of all shapes and sizes who take pride in their education and volunteer work to participate.  Each contestant is judged in 5 phases of competition.  There is a 10 minute interview as well as on stage competitions in swimwear, talent, on-stage question, and evening wear. In this system, you have to be well rounded, well put together, well spoken, well dressed, well…pretty much have it all!

Andrea doesn’t describe herself as a “pageant girl,” but she is certainly no stranger to the system. She has held the titles of Miss Lehigh Area 2006, Miss West Chester University 2007, Miss Northeastern Pennsylvania 2008, Miss Keystone 2009 and now Miss Philadelphia 2010.  The next stop for Andrea is the Miss Pennsylvania competition which will be held in Pittsburgh, PA.  The preliminary nights of competition are June 16^th and 17^th, and Miss Pennsylvania 2010 will be crowned on June 19^th.

So what do Andrea’s duties as Miss Philadelphia entail? I’ll let her tell it!

“There is not exactly a job description for the role of Miss Philadelphia.  The position equips the winner with a microphone and opportunities to share a message with people that she would never normally be able to reach.  With that being said, I will utilize these opportunities to share my story about drunk driving and motivate teens to resist peer pressure and get involved in safe activities that they enjoy.”

What is her story? Well at 15 years old, she became the victim of a drunk driving accident. Today, she shares that story with thousands of elementary and junior high students in Bucks County, PA. After becoming a volunteer and spokesperson for Mother’s Against Drunk Driving, she entered the Miss America system hoping to have the opportunity to use the platform to educate and inform about the fight against drunk driving.

Andrea has a long list of community activities. Check them out! With that gorgeous face and her community involvement it’s no wonder why this girl won the crown.

• Organized “Casual for a Cause” and raised 1,000 dollars for MADD
• Helped to clothe hundreds of Bahamian and Jamaican children
• Implemented MADD’s “Tie One on for Safety” in West Chester, PA
• Co-founder of Alcohol Alternative Events, promotion campaign director
• Represented WCU at University Mother’s Against Drunk Driving, Dallas, TX
• Motivational Speaker, Rotary Clubs, High schools and Junior High schools
• Wrote, directed and starred in Public Service Announcement
• MADD Activist and Volunteer (4 years)
• Co-founder of the first newscast at West Chester University
• Spokesperson for “Cruis’n not Boozin”
• Featured on MyPHL 17’s “In Focus” to discuss drunk driving on college campuses
• Currently working to establish a non-profit

I hope you have enjoyed learning a little more about Andrea Helfrich, Miss Philadelphia 2010. Check her out here!

Ps. I also wanted to tell this story because I have a little pageant girl in me! I have competed in the Miss Pennsylvania USA competition twice. I was the First Runner Up in 2007 and Miss Photogenic and Third Runner Up in 2010. Just thought you should know, one pageant girl to another