Bayview searching for its queen
Nannette DuPont Bradetich has spent the past 30 years being royalty.
Now Miss Athol/Bayview 1978 is ready to give up her reign and let someone else wear the crown.
The rules of the competition have changed: Girls and ladies ages 8 to 80 “and beyond” are eligible to enter. The swimsuit competition is out. And the winner of the revamped competition won’t just be a Miss, she’ll be the Queen.
But Queen of a smaller realm.
This contest is all about Bayview.
Ralph Jones, owner of Ralph’s Coffee House in Bayview, said the idea of the Queen of Bayview Pageant came to him after Bradetich shared her story of being crowned Miss Athol/Bayview. A picture of Bradetich in a white formal gown and robe, wearing a crown and holding carnations, is framed on the wall of the coffee shop.
“They put me in charge of Bayview Daze,” Jones said. “Initially, we were thinking how much ‘Girls Gone Wild’ can we get into the queen competition.”
But Jones said he’s hoping to make the town’s annual celebration in July more family friendly, so he opted to allow kids into the contest. So as not to anger his mother, Jones said he opened it up to women over 80, too.
“It’s not a beauty contest,” he said. “I want everybody to be involved.”
He crafted a list of official queen duties for the winner of this year’s pageant.
She must serve as the town’s goodwill ambassador for a year and attend community events, fundraisers and activities.
She must attend ribbon-cutting ceremonies celebrating the opening of “new businesses, shopping malls and banks” in Bayview.
She must pose for pictures with tourists, Jones said, and help christen ships making their maiden voyage on Lake Pend Oreille.
Contestants will be judged on the best Bayview Daze/Fourth of July-themed outfit and on a three-part essay that addresses why the contestant loves Bayview, what she would do to make Bayview a better place and why she’s deserving of the title of Queen.
Points will also be earned based on the amount of money each contestant collects toward the Bayview Daze fireworks show. Spectators at the Bayview Daze Street Parade will be able to select a contestant as “People’s Choice” by donating money to their favorite queen during the parade.
Some have already signed up, including Jones’ mother, and are getting a head start on collecting donations.
Bradetich, who will judge this year’s contest, said she’s a little sad at the idea of relinquishing her title.
“But I think it’s time for a younger person that will be able to get out and do something for the community,” she said.
When she was crowned Miss Athol/Bayview, it was intended to become an annual event.
About a dozen teens signed up for the first competition at the Athol Community Center, which included talent, swimsuit and formal gown competitions.
Bradetich, then a 17-year-old Lakeland High student, won the judges over with her rendition of Debby Boone’s “You Light Up My Life.”
Her royal duties included riding on a float with the princesses of Athol and Bayview. She remembers the parade – her first and last – clearly.
“It was an old gazebo on top of a trailer,” Bradetich said. “The wind was blowing.”
She received a Miss Athol/Bayview doll, a crown that was too big for her head, and flowers.
And, unknowingly, a title she’s kept for three decades.