Elgin girl goes to international pageant in Dallas

How often do you hear of someone in your hometown placing in an international beauty pageant? For 10-year-old Marlowe Adair of Elgin, it’s just another year.

The Oklahoma State Cinderella Pageant is a part of the International Cinderella Scholarship Program, according to an email by Marlowe’s family. Founded in 1976, the program has grown into the largest and most prestigious scholarship-oriented system in the world.

For 48 years, Cinderella championed the need and value of higher education for young ladies and women, the email said. Cinderella promotes the goal by awarding millions of dollars in cash college scholarships to young women all over the world.

Contestants ages newborn to 29 can compete in the pageant, according to the Cinderella Pageant website.

The program is based on a three-tiered system of competitors. Contestants start at the local level and, based on their performance, can advance to the state level (or national level for foreign countries). They then can proceed to the International Pageant.

Marlowe won the 2024-2025 Oklahoma State Cinderella Miniature Miss Pageant in June and headed to Dallas, Texas for internationals in July. Marlowe has participated in pageants since she was six years old. While at nationals, she competed in a closed interview from a panel of judges while modeling on-stage. She sang and danced to “My New Philosophy” from the musical, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” for her talent. She was awarded a crown, sash, trophy and a $1,000 cash scholarship. A portion of her fees were also paid in order for her to advance to Internationals.

When she was at internationals, she won 1st alternate for Overall Photogenic, the email said.

Alisha Adair, Marlowe’s mother, said it doesn’t seem like much, but most girls don’t receive anything.

“Marlowe didn’t receive anything last year,” Adair said. “The competition is extremely tough and contestants travel from other countries to compete.”

Throughout the year, Marlowe will be traveling the state meeting young ladies from all over while participating in preliminary competitions. She will also be serving as an Ambassador and Representative of the state, making appearances in parades and other community events. Marlowe is in 4th grade and wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up.