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WILKES BARRE – The 2014 Miss Northeastern Pennsylvania is at again. Caroline Jones was recently crowned Miss Rose White City 2015 and is competing in the Miss Pennsylvania pageant for the second year, with the hope of representing the state at the Miss America pageant. This is just one more credential to add to her overloaded plate.
“Last year I was the youngest contestant at the pageant,” she said. “I would love to win the state title of course but what I really love is that I get to promote my platform, ‘Read to Succeed.’ Having a crown gives you a voice and allows you to make a difference and influence others.”
Jones’s busy life doesn’t stop with the pageant world. She is a college freshman pursuing a double major in management and marketing at King’s College. She is duel enrolled at Wilkes University where she will complete her minor in leadership studies. The 4.0 student is also a freshman class representative and a lector and canter for the Campus Ministry.
“It is all about time management,” she said. “There are a lot of nights where I wish I got more sleep but it is worth it in the end.”
Jones said she is more comfortable and confident this year because of her prior experience. She knows what to expect and has been sharpening her interview skills and pageant walk to be a well-rounded competitor.
“Preparing for Miss Pennsylvania is an on-going journey of personal self-improvement. I do this as part of my daily life, not only for the competition,” she said.
As Miss White Rose City, she commits to serving York, Pennsylvania for an entire year by participating in community events and staying dedicated to her platform. At the pageant, she won the overall talent portion of the competition with the piano piece, “Midnight Escapade” and the Chloe Eichelberger Interview Award by the judges and was voted Miss Congeniality by the other contestants.
“I am excited to bring my platform to the York area,” Jones said. “I will read to children at elementary schools, libraries and day cares and continue to encourage them to love education.”
Jones did not grow up in the pageant world.
She won her first title in 2008 when she was crowned Pre-teen Pennsylvania and was the first runner up to the national title holder. This was not a Miss America affiliated pageant.
“I started because I love to perform,” Jones said. “I have been playing the piano for the past 14 years and also sing and play the guitar and ukulele. A pageant is just another time to perform.”
“The first pageant was a nice introduction in to the pageant world,” said Janet Jones, Jones’s mother. “It was very academic based and focused on community service, grades and the interview process. Caroline enjoyed it and then just said ‘OK, I’m done’ and that was it.”
Jones took a a six-year break from pageants but that didn’t mean she didn’t stay busy. Jones said she has loved reading and books her whole life and wants to pass that passion down to younger generations and promote childhood literacy. She is the author and illustrator of the children’s book “One More Book, Please!”
“I wanted to focus on school and being a kid,” Jones said. “I decided to compete within the Miss America organization last year in order to promote my platform.”
Mrs. Jones said her daughter saw the need to encourage the love of education and reading in young children.
“As Caroline became more and more passionate about reading and education, she realized she would have a better impact on children if she had a title,” she said. “When she walks into an elementary classroom with her crown the kids get excited and want to listen.”
Jones said her family and friends were supportive of her decision to re-enter the pageant world.
“I am very grateful for them,” she said. “My parents and teachers will help me practice my interview questions and my family has always been supportive of my activities.”
“Caroline really takes advantage of having a crown,” Mrs. Jones said. “The experience is what you make of it and she is working really hard to get the word out about her platform.”
She said she cherishes the relationships she has made on her journey to compete for the title of Miss Pennsylvania. The directors she has worked with and the women she’s become friends with have made the competition feel more like a sisterhood.
“It is a great feeling to know you inspired people throughout your platform,” Jones said. “This organization is all about doing good and empowering girls. It really focuses on serving the community and being the best version of yourself.”