{"id":1937,"date":"2015-10-08T06:48:44","date_gmt":"2015-10-08T14:48:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pre-production.taftcollege.edu\/tcwp\/cougaronline\/?p=1937"},"modified":"2015-10-08T06:48:44","modified_gmt":"2015-10-08T14:48:44","slug":"oildorado-maids-of-petroleum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.taftcollege.edu\/echo-online\/blog\/2015\/10\/08\/oildorado-maids-of-petroleum\/","title":{"rendered":"Oildorado Maids of Petroleum"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n

By Ashley Renteria<\/span><\/p>\n

Beauty pageant contestants walk the T<\/span>aft <\/span>C<\/span>ollege <\/span>campus. <\/span><\/p>\n

This year Taft is hosting its quinquennial <\/span>Oildorado<\/span> celebration in honor of the <\/span>community<\/span> and its ties to the oil business.<\/span> <\/span>A big part of <\/span>Oildorado<\/span> is the Maids of Petroleum Pageant, which features <\/span>15<\/span> local contestants. <\/span><\/p>\n

“Oildorado is my favorite time! Although it’s a lot of work, it is truly the best thing to be involved in around the community.<\/span> <\/span>I mean what other town gets to celebrate oil the way we do? So many people step up and help by volunteering or donating things we need, for me it’s the best part of being in this tight knit community,” says co-chair of the Maids of Petroleum pageant and former Oildorado princess; Brittney Odle.<\/span><\/p>\n

Oildorado<\/span> brings many fun activities for the town to participate in, such as country music festivals, warrants for (fake) arrests and kidnappings issued by your friends and family, hair and beard contests and the Maids pageant. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Maids of Petroleum is not your run-of-the-mill pageant you see on television. The Maids of Petroleum Pageant features local women, possibly family<\/span> members<\/span>, neighbors<\/span>. They are <\/span>people you grew up with and are honored to see representing the <\/span>community<\/span> and everything<\/span> for which<\/span> it stands. <\/span><\/p>\n

“We selected girls who’s applications were complete and had met all the requirements to join <\/span>this years 2015 Maids of Petroleum. \u00a0<\/span>The lengthy process produced 15 eligible maidens. <\/span>This year has been composed of challenges and triumphs. <\/span>Several of\u00a0<\/span>us were strangers when this all began, but we have come to love each other and truly enjoy our time spent with these girls. <\/span>We have learned we are almost a group of sisters aka MOPS.\u00a0” expressed Odle.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

The 15 women competing this year have been<\/span> preparing for <\/span>Oildorado<\/span> and it<\/span>s events since January. This summer the Maids held fundraisers to supply Fourth of July Fireworks for the <\/span>community<\/span>, raising a total of $12,000. <\/span>Of the $12,000, <\/span>$7,000 <\/span>was <\/span>raised in a single day. <\/span><\/p>\n

“The pageant consists of 4 main parts; <\/span>Formal Dress and Introduction(speech), <\/span>Bathing Suit, <\/span>Talent and <\/span>Question. <\/span>During the actual pageant they are judged on many things <\/span>including\u00a0 <\/span>their poise, charisma, stamina, and appeal.<\/span> ” <\/span>Odle stated.<\/span><\/p>\n

Five<\/span> of the contestants are students at Taft College<\/span>, i<\/span>ncluding<\/span>:<\/span> Emily Davis, <\/span>Maddison<\/span> <\/span>Rubadeau<\/span> and Taylor Owen. The<\/span> three women <\/span>provided insight <\/span>into<\/span> what it is like being a Maid.<\/span><\/p>\n

Emily Davis<\/span><\/p>\n

\"photo<\/a><\/p>\n

Emily, a sophomore at Taft College and sponsored by <\/span>Soroptimist<\/span> International of Taft, was inspired to join the Maids from being born and raised in Taft. Growing up watching women from her town being a part of the pageant had inspired women like Emily to run when they got the chance. <\/span><\/p>\n

Not only was she inspired by the women in her town, but also from her long time love\u00a0<\/span>for the film <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Miss Congeniality<\/span>,\u201d<\/span> starring Sandra Bullock<\/span>. Emily noted <\/span>that the Maids of Petroleum <\/span>P<\/span>ageant does offer a Miss Congeniality <\/span>title<\/span>,<\/span> voted by the contestants themselves<\/span>. It is <\/span>right after <\/span>q<\/span>ueen and <\/span>p<\/span>rincess.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

“We get only one question in our evening gown phase of the contest<\/span>,\u201d she said. \u201c<\/span>We don’t know what the question is until we’re asked it the night of the actual pageant.” <\/span><\/p>\n

If you have ever watched a beauty pageant, it’s a given that there is a talent portion and <\/span>Oildorado’s<\/span> version did not pass up the opportunity for these girls to showcase their talents. <\/span><\/p>\n

Emily was in the advanced choir for all <\/span>four<\/span> years at Taft Union High School and received two awards, <\/span>so to those who know her it is no surprise that she will be singing Kristin Chenoweth’s “Taylor the Latte Boy” for her talent portion of the contest, giving the audience a bit of comedy. <\/span><\/p>\n

“I genuinely love the pageant and all the fun I’m having<\/span>,\u201d Emily said. \u201cI\u2019m<\/span> getting to know girls I’ve never met before, forming friendships with my fellow Maids, being guests of honor everywhere we go and the local celebrity status never hurt either.” <\/span><\/p>\n

Maddison<\/span> <\/span>Rubadeau<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Maddiosn<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/span>Maddison<\/span>, who often goes by <\/span>M<\/span>addi<\/span>,<\/span> is sponsored by the Alpha House. She was inspired to compete by her older sister who competed in <\/span>Oildorado’s<\/span> Maids of Petroleum in 1990. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0Maddi<\/span> <\/span>said she <\/span>admires <\/span>that the <\/span>Maids of Petroleum <\/span>is more than just a pageant<\/span>. I<\/span>t\u2019s a town tradition that holds value and love for everyone<\/span>, she said.<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
\n

Maddi<\/span> <\/span>said s<\/span>he has had a blast going to events such as the <\/span>TUHS <\/span>Alumni Game and raising money for fireworks and looks forward to the actual <\/span>Oildorado<\/span> events.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unlike Emily, <\/span>Maddi’s<\/span> talent will be line dancing to a country song mashup which explains why her favorite things about being a Maid are dancing, performing and hanging out with the <\/span>other Maids.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I’m not your typical <\/span>\u2018<\/span>beauty<\/span>\u2019<\/span> pageant contestant,<\/span>\u201d <\/span>Maddi<\/span> <\/span>said. \u201c<\/span>I prefer the casual look to the gowns and love that there is variety in the girls competing<\/span>. That <\/span>makes us feel more like friends and a small family that helps each other rather than just competition<\/span>.<\/span>“<\/span><\/p>\n

Maddi<\/span> is a freshman at Taft College and works as an event planner for Taft Chamber of Commerce.<\/span><\/p>\n

Taylor Owen<\/span><\/p>\n

\"taylor<\/a><\/p>\n

Taylor<\/span>, a freshman,<\/span> is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Taft. <\/span>She <\/span>was compelled to join to prove that you could be a normal, average teenage girl to run and possibly win in a <\/span>pageant, Taylor said.<\/span><\/p>\n

She wants to let people know that you do not have to be perfect to be in a pageant, Taylor said.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0She <\/span>will be singing and playing guitar to Frank Sinatra’s “New York<\/span>,<\/span> New York.”<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
\n

“I’m most surprised at all the new variety of friends I have made being a part of the <\/span>Oildorado<\/span> tradition.” Taylor <\/span>s<\/span>a<\/span>i<\/span>d.<\/span><\/p>\n

To see Taylor showcase her musical talents, she will be performing on Friday October 9th at the 5th and North Music Fest along with other <\/span>musical acts<\/span> such as Truxton Mile, Tex Pistols and Sarah Lopez. Tickets are $7 and presale tickets are $10.<\/span><\/p>\n