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Show Reaching for More Than the Crown New Miss Wasatch has grander goals to represent and educate Jean Croasmun, Courier staff McFee’s” “I thought, why am I beating myself up,” says 18-year-old Brittany Ann Langford, the newly crowned Miss Wasatch, “It wasn’t worth it,” she says. Farewell Langford suffers from bulemia, an eating disorder. Only three weeks ago, Langford was released from the hospital after being admitted for complications associated with the disease, in which the victim binges and purges, aware that what she’s doing is detrimental but seeing no other alternative to keep herself from being fat. Then, on Monday, September 27, Langford took over the reigns as Miss Wasatch from Jami McPhie who resigned the crown for personal reasons. While crowning Langford, originally the First Attendant, as Miss Wasatch was an easy decision for pageant organizers, for Langford it was a big step. UE UE ve wot | Ut Ee “It was a tough decision,” says Langford, of her decision to accept the crown. “I ; 4 Fe said I had to think about it. Langford, with the support of her family, did think about what it would take to be Miss Wasatch. The public events. The busy schedule. The stress placed on appearance. All of which could send Langford back to the hospital if she wasn't careful. Ultimately it came down to Langford’s constant struggle with her weight; would accepting the title and the responsibilities associated with it trigger another bout with the disease? Would it cause more harm than good? Langford’s anorexia started during her sophomore year at Alta High School in Salt Lake; she tried to control the disease herself. “I would watch the videos of the girls and: knew I needed to eat,” Langford says: “Then | was afraid I was getting fat so | started purging.” Finally Langford came to a decision. She would take this opportunity to serve as Miss Wasatch, this:second chance at the. crown, this recent hospitalization, and she would I would I thank have thoroughly events I have been Wasatch. New Miss Wasatch, Brittany Ann Langford, takes-a little time out of her new.y-busy schedule to hit the playground in Heber’s city park. Langford is relatively new to Wasatch County. A resident of Charleston and a‘ 1999 graduate of Wasatch High School, Langford moved to the mountains from Sandy, Utah, just a year ago. “It was difficult to move at the begin- ning of my senior year,” Langford says. She was nervous about the people, about being in a small town, ing off new and all alone at her high school education. knows everyone; it’s a really munity,” Langford says. about startthe end of “Everyone tight com- and how to act. Langford, an avid rollerblader, biker and sports enthusiast, felt a little out of her element. Congeniality,” Miss A Wasatch. to all of you Miss Wasatch and the County. Langford gone unnoticed. To the community, thank you for your overwhelm- she bargained for. ing amounts Langford realizes that her Miss Wasatch duties are just beginning. Pageant director Robyn Giles is working on increas- experience appreciated. = —-- title and ulti— to use this “It was my first pageant,” says Langford, newly granted-“voice” to educate young ' Other, more seasoned pageant contestants gave Langford advice.on what to do who~-was also voted Miss Congeniality. it My has support is very Miss and much Wasatch been a definite ing the exposure and duties for the title- highlight holder. Langford has to prepare herself Making the decision to relinquish for the Miss Utah Pageant in June. She’s my crown was a very difficult decision for me to make. However, to | working on her talent, singing and dancing, and her interviewing skills. “Before this the only interviews I’d had were for jobs,” says Langford. But more important than her prescribed duties are the personal on when she accepted the crown. “I ‘life and let them know that all of us need to look on the inside. I’m really excited to see what. 1 can do,” and an extreme honor. me, matriage is above all the high- est honor and privilege. To the new Miss Wasatch, Brittany Ann Langford, | wish. you the best of - luck. It is an experience you will Jami McFee eee of encouragement, to them about the pressures of mundane VEL to thank says, Miss Wasatch last Wasatch Giles, laughing. Ultimately she got more than Sincerely, Langford Pageant of Robyn Board, Robertson, time you have dedicated, it hasn’t want to give our youth more confidence in themselves,” she says. “I want to talk Wasatch who have Lynn entirety To friends who’ encouraged thanks Pageant Pullan, responsibilities Langford decided to take the Miss special made this-possible, my family, the Luckily for Langford, she quickly made friends. Ultimately it was those- same enter able to attend you for all of your hard work and “All I wanted out of the pageant was Miss the in as the reigning Derek “Il prayed a lot,” says Langford. “And I. realized that it’s who you are on the inside.” Now, as Miss Wasatch, Langford hopes to spend the year traveling to schools and talking to people about the disease she has dealt with all of her adult life. enjoyed and participate goes out Langford accepted the mately a new platform and bulemia. to have had to be it’s representative. to good: use. about anorexia like County for the elite opportunity | them women put Dear Wasatch County: never forget. Former Miss Wasatch ‘99 says Langford, with a very healthy smile. % Se ola RCE akate ae : we ll give you the Creat. Give us your creepiest, cravwliest, ghouliest and best Halloween stories. See the Events Calendar on page 18 for more gruesome details. |