History of Miss Deaf Pennsylvania Pageant

The Miss Deaf Pennsylvania  Pageant (MDPP) offers young Deaf and Hard of Hearing women between the ages of  17 and 27 an opportunity to develop self-confidence as they compete to become a  goodwill ambassador and spokeswoman of the Pennsylvania Society for the  Advancement of the Deaf (PSAD). Miss Deaf Pennsylvania Pageant is a non-profit  subsidiary of the Pennsylvania Society for the Advancement of the Deaf, which is  controlled by the Board of Managers. The Pageant has its own advisory board to  guide the Pageant Committee in their activities. The MDPP takes place during  biennial pageant affiliated with PSAD conferences.

The purpose of the  Pageant Program at the state level is to help the PSAD choose a young deaf woman  from among the chapter and independent contestants to be the ambassador of the  PSAD and a spokeswoman for approximately 82 thousand deaf and hard of hearing  Pennsylvanians. Above all-at all levels- the pageant’s goal is to provide a  fine, dignified and beautiful way to encourage and foster young deaf and hard of  hearing women Pennsylvanians in becoming the leaders of tomorrow.

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania was the site of the first pageant during the  1977 PSAD Convention. This first queen was Debra Krausa. The founders of Miss  Deaf Pennsylvania Pageant were Sol and Dot Schwartzman from Pittsburgh, PA.

Since 1977, the Pageant has undergone many changes. The pageant follows  closely with the Miss Deaf America Pageant structure. Before reaching state  level competition, participants compete at the local level, thus enabling a  large number of woman an opportunity to test their skills in public-speaking,  stage presence, poise and grace “under fire.” They develop the ability to “think  on their feet.” Talent is no longer “the only thing”; the women are judged  across a broad spectrum of categories including community service, academics,  current events, knowledge of deaf culture, and more. The contestants are  required to make a two-minute presentation. This then becomes their Miss Deaf  Pennsylvania Platform. The Platform allows each contestant the opportunity to  present an issue of importance to her and the Deaf community.

The  Pennsylvania Society for the Advancement of the Deaf is one of the oldest known  organizations in the United States. It was established in 1881 and incorporated  in 1891. PSAD has been a state association under the National Association of the  Deaf since 1968.