Like the good ‘ol days, Cultural Council proposes return of the beauty pageants

By Barbara Taormina

The Revere Cultural Council agreed to support council member Rocky Graziano’s pitch to bring back the Miss Revere Beach pageant next summer.

The Council can use 5 percent of its annual grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council for one of its own projects or events and it’s putting its money behind a Miss Revere Beach pageant.

Graziano, an experienced pageanter who works with the Miss Massachusetts Scholarship Foundation, gave an almost breathless overview of the Revere pageant that would include a Mister Division. Contestants, ages 16 to 21, would compete in a talent segment.

“You don’t need to be talented,” said Graziano. “You just need to do something entertaining.”

Graziano did say, however, there would likely be some outreach to dance and theater programs at Revere High School.

There would also be a formal attire segment with contestants wearing outfits that are special for each of them as well as a brief public interview with contestants introducing themselves and explaining their vision of the future of Revere.

Graziano said he hoped the pageant could piggy back onto another event such as the sand sculpting festival and thus save money on police details, cleanup and other logistics. He figured the event would cost well under $5,000.

The Cultural Council is expecting $44,000 from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and it has more than 30 applications for funding.

Graziano stressed that Miss and Mister Revere Beach would be awarded $1,000 each for college or any other path of personal development. He said Revere would have two role models and Mister and Miss Revere would get kick starts to their respective careers.

Graziano also said during down moments of the pageant, the event could feature local talent which could make it a community event. And he added it would give the Cultural Council the chance to make connections with other cultural organizations throughout the city.

“I like this. It harkens back to the old days of Revere as an amusement pier,” said council member Joe Heafitz.