After five months of preparation by pageant participants, Amy Conway was crowned Miss Deaf CSUN Feb. 18 in the Northridge Center in front of a sold- out crowd of about 250 at the 14th biennial Miss Deaf CSUN Pageant.

Reagan Anders, Kimberly Bermudez, Amy Conway, Laura McManus and Lynn Moran competed in the event, which was organized by the Deaf CSUNians organization. The night’s theme was “Docked For The Night.”

The contestants were judged based on an interview conducted earlier that afternoon, a talent performance, platform speech, as well as evening gown and on-stage performance.

For the talent portion, Moran performed a comedy routine, Bermudez a dance piece, and McManus a recital of Sojourner Truth’s “Visions from Sojourner Truth’s Eyes,” as well as a performance of Shirley Temple’s “On the Good Ship Lollipop.”

During their platforms, the contestants gave short speeches in sign language on issues they were concerned about. Anders’ platform was about the importance of mentors, Bermudez’s was on women in Juarez, Mexico, and McManus’ was on sending appreciation to American troops fighting abroad.

Conway also received the awards for Miss Congeniality and Best Platform. Conway is a liberal studies major from Montana.

In her winning platform “Feed The Hungry,” she pointed out that one in every 10 homes are left in hunger. She then encouraged others to participate in campaigns, such as those run by the Deaf CSUNians, and to donate time at the food bank for food collection and distribution.

She ended her platform by signing, “There is enough food in the world; no one should ever sleep hungry.”

The first runner-up and also winner of the Best Talent award was Reagan Anders. Anders, a kinesiology major, told a humorous account of a disastrous rollerblading incident she had on a Thanksgiving Day at the beach.

Laura McManus came in as second runner up in the pageant. When asked during the on-stage questions whether she saw herself as a winter, spring, summer or fall person and why, McManus attributed herself as being a fall person. McManus, an undeclared major from Massachusetts, said that she loved the fall because she loved the trees and how the colors change. She also said that to her, fall represented a fresh beginning because there is an opportunity to grow again in spring.

Deaf studies major Kimberly Bermudez grabbed the award for Best Evening Gown, with her sequined, deep aqua blue dress. For her talent performance, she performed a “Hula to the Ulupalakua” Hawaiian dance.