Community News

     Chocolatiers Amy Lear, owner of Man In The Moon Candies, and Gretchen Hanley are on their way to Atlantic City this weekend to participate in the Miss America "Show Us Your Shoes" contest, with a grand prize of $1,000; second place, $500; and a third-place prize of $300.

     Intrigued? Here is what we found out according to nj.com:
     The Miss America pageant began in 1921 in Atlantic City, but for the past seven years has not been held at the seaside resort. This year, however, the pageant is back home and in celebration of the return, the Miss America Organization and Atlantic City Alliance invited everyone to participate in the festivities by submitting "decked out, fabulous DIY shoe creations."

     According to nj.com: "The shoe tradition began around the 1970s when groups of viewers would dress up like Miss America and position themselves on balconies along the parade route," said parade producer John Best. "Many times the contestants were rehearsing for long hours, then would come out for the parade."

     Because the girls were tired from practicing, many of them would either don bedroom slippers or wear no shoes while riding in the convertibles.

"They needed a break and were wearing bedroom slippers," Best said. "The guests could look into the cars and could see that the girls weren't wearing any shoes, so they started shouting 'Show us your shoes.'"

     This chant caused the contestants to raise their feet so the viewers on ground level could also see what they were wearing on their feet.

     "So, each year, the new contestants started dressing up their shoes and it became a tradition," Best said. "Now, one of our main goals is to carry on those traditions."

    This year, Miss America fans can get in on the show action as well.

     Jene' Luciani, who is a nationally acclaimed fashion journalist, style expert, tastemaker, TV personality, spokesperson and best-selling author, will serve as a judge for the shoe contest.
     "Who doesn't love shoes and I love Atlantic City, I've been going there all my life, so I thought it would be fun to be a judge," Luciani said.
     When judging the entries, Luciani said she will be looking for creativity.
     "I'll be looking for someone who's thinking outside the shoebox," she said. "That's what the (Miss America) contestants will be doing. I'd love to see how outrageous and avant-garde people can get."
     How much outside the box can you get with confectionary shoes?

     Good Luck ladies and please send pics!!