Caressa Cameron

Ashley Smith

Ashley Smith

Will the third time be a charm for Caressa Cameron or Ashley Smith?

Both women first appeared in the Miss Virginia pageant in 2006. Cameron finished second runner-up in both competitions.

But if being repeat contestants is any advantage, the women face stiff competition this year. Seven other Miss Virginia contestants are also not first-timers. Why? They love the journey and opportunities Miss Virginia week brings them.

For Elizabeth Crot (Miss Hampton Roads), who competed for the first time last year, "it was a learning process.

"As soon as it ended I wanted to be back at Miss Virginia again," Crot said. "I definitely caught the pageant bug."

The cutoff age for Miss Virginia is 24, a restraint that may be the only thing forcing some contestants out of their quest.

Joked Cameron (Miss Hanover), "I'll stop when my mom can't buy anymore gowns."

Cameron and Jessie Buckman (Miss Chesterfield) recall standing on stage as top five finalists when Hannah Kiefer won last year. When Kiefer was crowned, Buckman became first runner-up, a result she didn't anticipate.

"It was my first year. I came to learn. I was scared to death standing there; scared that I was going to win! And I'd have no idea what to do," she explained. "But I have the confidence this year."

But the decision to return wasn't as easy for others.

"There's so much more pressure this year," Buckman said. She decided to give it another shot after considering the scholarship money that could be won by placing in the top five again.

Cameron agreed. "You want to come back and not fail. How do I beat myself, or do it better?" she asked. "You don't want to peak one year and then fall."

That goes for the local pageants as well, where each woman must win to qualify for state competition. After winning the crown at one local pageant, the contestant is no longer eligible to win it again, which is why the returning women each hold a different title this year. The local competitions also offer scholarship money, the amount varying depending on the pageant.

"I compare pageants to football," said Cameron. "On any given Sunday, anyone else can win a local pageant. There's more pressure and people just expect you to do more," she said.

Also returning this year are Madison Van Duyne (Miss Apple Blossom), Tara Wheeler (Miss Arlington), Jordan Forbes (Miss Greater Richmond), Smith (Miss Norfolk), Sonya Milstead (Miss Shenandoah Valley) and Tamika Mills (Miss Hampton Holly Days). The nine women will compete against 16 other hopefuls.

There are some advantages to being a returner.

"The videos and photographs of yourself show all your imperfections," Smith said. The ladies use them as tools, judging their own performances.

"We are our hardest critics," said Van Duyne.

Forbes warned, "You have to strike a balance. You want to work to improve but never to a point where you aren't yourself anymore."

But having competed before is no guarantee a contestant will have great results. Kiefer, last year's winner, was a first-time Miss Virginia contestant.