dwasson
05-26-2006, 03:17 PM
INDY 500
Princess diaries
For women, it's about personal growth
By Will Higgins
will.higgins@indystar.com
May 26, 2006
They can't smoke, drink or chew gum. Tattoos are best left covered up. And heaven forbid they should get caught cuddling in public with boyfriends.
The life of a 500 Festival princess has its boundaries. Yet the program thrives. Women are governors, senators, CEOs, astronauts -- even race drivers. But this year, 286 Indiana women applied for the 33 princess slots available, more than twice as many as a few years ago.
Why?
For starters, many princesses say, the position still has considerable prestige. Princess work is a resume-booster. Besides, it's fun being in the limelight.
Of course, young women donning a sash and tiara doesn't just seem old-fashioned, it is old-fashioned. The 500 princess program was started in 1959, when Dwight Eisenhower was president. But organizers have done their best to make sure the program isn't viewed as a relic.
Above all else, it's no longer an outright "beauty pageant," says Colleen Bartel, a former Mrs. Indiana winner and the chief princess coordinator. "With us, it's 50-50: brains and looks."
Princesses are selected based on their communication skills, poise, academic performance, and community and volunteer involvement.
The princess program is run by the Indianapolis 500 Festival, a mostly volunteer group formed in 1957 to add pizazz to the 500-Mile Race.
The Shriner-heavy group's first job: Establish a parade.
Two years later came the princesses. It was a logical move: The Kentucky Derby had princesses. So did the Rose Bowl Parade. But as times changed, the concept began to draw fire, which helps explain why Super Bowl organizers avoided embracing royalty when they launched their game in 1967.
Since then, young women in pageants have been met with suspicion -- at least by some.
"Women as side dish" is how Sharlene Hesse-Biber, a Boston College sociologist, sees parade princesses. "It's a way of trivializing women."
"It's a kind of femininity that's accommodating and passive," said Lyn Mikel Brown, a Colby College professor whose book "Packaging Girlhood" is due out in July. "It's about narrow definitions of how one looks."
Not so, Bartel says, noting that princesses come in "all sizes and shapes, which is really nice."
"There's no ideal. Our tallest girl, I believe, is 5-11, and we have a little short one who's got to be under 5 foot, and I love them just the same."
Besides, as Bartel emphasizes, it takes more than an attractive figure, or personality, to become a princess.
Only college students need apply, and since 2002, a minimum grade-point average of 2.8 has been required. This year's princesses carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.6. (The Kentucky Derby insists on a 3; the Rose Parade settles for a 2.)
Other changes have come, too.
Princesses of yore recall being forced to smear Vaseline on their teeth, an old beauty pageant trick that makes it easier to smile.
"I did that at a Junior Miss thing one time," said Katie Hunt, an '06 princess, "but there isn't any of that" here.
More broadly, the princesses insist the program is about personal growth, not looks.
"This is a step outside my comfort zone," says Tanya Hadley, a princess from Woodburn who majored in agriculture at Purdue University, "and anytime you do that, it's good for your development."
Once they're selected, princesses are expected to attend a number of official 500-related events -- luncheons, the Mini-Marathon and parties.
On race day, they ride around the track in convertibles and wave to the crowd.
It falls to their queen -- this year's queen is Tracey Todd, a 19-year-old Purdue University freshman -- to attend the post-race celebration in victory lane and plant a kiss on the winning driver.
Queen, princess -- both jobs are ornamental, obviously. But the roles can present advantages that extend beyond the festival.
"(Serving as a princess is) not something an employer would make a hiring decision on by itself," says Mark McNulty, an Indianapolis human resources executive, "but it signifies (the princesses) have some drive."
"On a resume, you're looking for differentiators," HR expert Karl Ahlrichs says. "High-visibility positions like 500 princess (are) similar to student council president. It's a sign of a willingness to get out in front of a group."
Princesses of years past cite yet other reasons for their involvement.
"For me, it was a wonderful introduction to the city," says Sue Anne Gilroy, a Crawfordsville native and princess in 1970 who went on to be elected Indiana's first female secretary of state.
"It was a great honor," says Wendy Barth Servies, the 1986 queen, who parlayed the exposure into a radio career. She's the morning drive-time DJ on an Indianapolis oldies station.
Her mother, Diane Hunt Barth, was the 1961 queen. They are Hoosierdom's only mother-daughter blue-blood combination, a source of family pride. When Diane Barth died of cancer in 2000, the family displayed her crown at her funeral.
Through all of the years and changes, one tradition remains intact: The winning driver still gets kissed by the queen.
Unless, that is, Danica Patrick wins the race. Then what?
"Probably, in that case, the queen would just shake Danica's hand," Bartel said. "I'm not really sure."
Todd has thought about it. "Probably I'd just give her a hug."
QUALIFYING
A few of the requirements for would-be 500 Festival princesses:
• You must be enrolled as a full-time student in an Indiana college.
• Maintain a cumulative college grade-point average of 2.8.
• Provide three character references from professional contacts.
• Be involved in at least one worthwhile extracurricular college or community service activity.
• Be between 19-23 years old.
• Be single.
BECOMING A PRINCESS
How are the 33 princesses selected? Selection, organizers say, is based on "personal projection, motivation and commitment." The judges look for the following characteristics:
• Exceptional poise and appearance.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong desire to serve others through community service.
• Maturity and responsibility.
• Academic achievement.
• The ability to work well with others.
• Hard worker.
• Patience and flexibility.
• Great sense of humor.
• High energy level.
• Unselfish nature.
RULES, RULES, RULES
Certain behaviors are encouraged, while others are not:
• Participants may not endorse products or appear in advertisements as a representative of the 500 Festival or Indianapolis Motor Speedway without written consent.
• In case the 500 Festival queen marries, is disqualified or is prevented from fulfilling her designated obligations, the princess with the second-highest judges' score will be crowned to replace her.
• Princesses will conduct themselves at all times in such a manner . . . consistent with the highest moral and ethical standards. This includes, but is not limited to, avoidance of all of the following: a conviction of felony or misdemeanor; alcohol or other drug abuse/solicitation; nudity, full or partial.
The royals' weekend
While the 500 Festival queen is required to represent the organization at various functions throughout the year, not so her princesses. While they're encouraged to volunteer their time in the community, their obligation is done after race weekend. Here's the rundown through Sunday:
Today
6 a.m. -- TV interview, Downtown, queen only.
7 a.m. -- Radio interview, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, queen only.
10 a.m. -- Memorial service, Monument Circle (all princesses).
1 p.m. -- Princesses at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for "Carb Day"; will "represent" in sashes, tiaras.
4 p.m. -- Princesses depart Speedway for University of Indianapolis, where they'll stay in a dormitory Friday night and Saturday night.
6 p.m. -- Dinner for princesses and friends and family at Jonathan Byrd's Cafeteria, Greenwood.
Saturday
9:15 a.m. -- Leave University of Indianapolis dorm for parade.
Noon -- Parade starts. (Princesses to ride on float, queen in horse-drawn carriage.)
6 p.m. -- Greet guests at annual Snakepit Ball at Indiana Roof Ballroom.
About 10 p.m. -- Return to University of Indianapolis.
Sunday
10 a.m. -- Breakfast at 500 Festival offices.
11 a.m. -- Police escort to Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
11:30 a.m. -- Hop on back of convertibles for lap around Speedway; wave to crowd.
1 p.m. -- Race starts; princesses and queen watch from pagoda.
About 4 p.m. -- Race ends; queen heads to victory lane, kisses winner.
Princess diaries
For women, it's about personal growth
By Will Higgins
will.higgins@indystar.com
May 26, 2006
They can't smoke, drink or chew gum. Tattoos are best left covered up. And heaven forbid they should get caught cuddling in public with boyfriends.
The life of a 500 Festival princess has its boundaries. Yet the program thrives. Women are governors, senators, CEOs, astronauts -- even race drivers. But this year, 286 Indiana women applied for the 33 princess slots available, more than twice as many as a few years ago.
Why?
For starters, many princesses say, the position still has considerable prestige. Princess work is a resume-booster. Besides, it's fun being in the limelight.
Of course, young women donning a sash and tiara doesn't just seem old-fashioned, it is old-fashioned. The 500 princess program was started in 1959, when Dwight Eisenhower was president. But organizers have done their best to make sure the program isn't viewed as a relic.
Above all else, it's no longer an outright "beauty pageant," says Colleen Bartel, a former Mrs. Indiana winner and the chief princess coordinator. "With us, it's 50-50: brains and looks."
Princesses are selected based on their communication skills, poise, academic performance, and community and volunteer involvement.
The princess program is run by the Indianapolis 500 Festival, a mostly volunteer group formed in 1957 to add pizazz to the 500-Mile Race.
The Shriner-heavy group's first job: Establish a parade.
Two years later came the princesses. It was a logical move: The Kentucky Derby had princesses. So did the Rose Bowl Parade. But as times changed, the concept began to draw fire, which helps explain why Super Bowl organizers avoided embracing royalty when they launched their game in 1967.
Since then, young women in pageants have been met with suspicion -- at least by some.
"Women as side dish" is how Sharlene Hesse-Biber, a Boston College sociologist, sees parade princesses. "It's a way of trivializing women."
"It's a kind of femininity that's accommodating and passive," said Lyn Mikel Brown, a Colby College professor whose book "Packaging Girlhood" is due out in July. "It's about narrow definitions of how one looks."
Not so, Bartel says, noting that princesses come in "all sizes and shapes, which is really nice."
"There's no ideal. Our tallest girl, I believe, is 5-11, and we have a little short one who's got to be under 5 foot, and I love them just the same."
Besides, as Bartel emphasizes, it takes more than an attractive figure, or personality, to become a princess.
Only college students need apply, and since 2002, a minimum grade-point average of 2.8 has been required. This year's princesses carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.6. (The Kentucky Derby insists on a 3; the Rose Parade settles for a 2.)
Other changes have come, too.
Princesses of yore recall being forced to smear Vaseline on their teeth, an old beauty pageant trick that makes it easier to smile.
"I did that at a Junior Miss thing one time," said Katie Hunt, an '06 princess, "but there isn't any of that" here.
More broadly, the princesses insist the program is about personal growth, not looks.
"This is a step outside my comfort zone," says Tanya Hadley, a princess from Woodburn who majored in agriculture at Purdue University, "and anytime you do that, it's good for your development."
Once they're selected, princesses are expected to attend a number of official 500-related events -- luncheons, the Mini-Marathon and parties.
On race day, they ride around the track in convertibles and wave to the crowd.
It falls to their queen -- this year's queen is Tracey Todd, a 19-year-old Purdue University freshman -- to attend the post-race celebration in victory lane and plant a kiss on the winning driver.
Queen, princess -- both jobs are ornamental, obviously. But the roles can present advantages that extend beyond the festival.
"(Serving as a princess is) not something an employer would make a hiring decision on by itself," says Mark McNulty, an Indianapolis human resources executive, "but it signifies (the princesses) have some drive."
"On a resume, you're looking for differentiators," HR expert Karl Ahlrichs says. "High-visibility positions like 500 princess (are) similar to student council president. It's a sign of a willingness to get out in front of a group."
Princesses of years past cite yet other reasons for their involvement.
"For me, it was a wonderful introduction to the city," says Sue Anne Gilroy, a Crawfordsville native and princess in 1970 who went on to be elected Indiana's first female secretary of state.
"It was a great honor," says Wendy Barth Servies, the 1986 queen, who parlayed the exposure into a radio career. She's the morning drive-time DJ on an Indianapolis oldies station.
Her mother, Diane Hunt Barth, was the 1961 queen. They are Hoosierdom's only mother-daughter blue-blood combination, a source of family pride. When Diane Barth died of cancer in 2000, the family displayed her crown at her funeral.
Through all of the years and changes, one tradition remains intact: The winning driver still gets kissed by the queen.
Unless, that is, Danica Patrick wins the race. Then what?
"Probably, in that case, the queen would just shake Danica's hand," Bartel said. "I'm not really sure."
Todd has thought about it. "Probably I'd just give her a hug."
QUALIFYING
A few of the requirements for would-be 500 Festival princesses:
• You must be enrolled as a full-time student in an Indiana college.
• Maintain a cumulative college grade-point average of 2.8.
• Provide three character references from professional contacts.
• Be involved in at least one worthwhile extracurricular college or community service activity.
• Be between 19-23 years old.
• Be single.
BECOMING A PRINCESS
How are the 33 princesses selected? Selection, organizers say, is based on "personal projection, motivation and commitment." The judges look for the following characteristics:
• Exceptional poise and appearance.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong desire to serve others through community service.
• Maturity and responsibility.
• Academic achievement.
• The ability to work well with others.
• Hard worker.
• Patience and flexibility.
• Great sense of humor.
• High energy level.
• Unselfish nature.
RULES, RULES, RULES
Certain behaviors are encouraged, while others are not:
• Participants may not endorse products or appear in advertisements as a representative of the 500 Festival or Indianapolis Motor Speedway without written consent.
• In case the 500 Festival queen marries, is disqualified or is prevented from fulfilling her designated obligations, the princess with the second-highest judges' score will be crowned to replace her.
• Princesses will conduct themselves at all times in such a manner . . . consistent with the highest moral and ethical standards. This includes, but is not limited to, avoidance of all of the following: a conviction of felony or misdemeanor; alcohol or other drug abuse/solicitation; nudity, full or partial.
The royals' weekend
While the 500 Festival queen is required to represent the organization at various functions throughout the year, not so her princesses. While they're encouraged to volunteer their time in the community, their obligation is done after race weekend. Here's the rundown through Sunday:
Today
6 a.m. -- TV interview, Downtown, queen only.
7 a.m. -- Radio interview, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, queen only.
10 a.m. -- Memorial service, Monument Circle (all princesses).
1 p.m. -- Princesses at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for "Carb Day"; will "represent" in sashes, tiaras.
4 p.m. -- Princesses depart Speedway for University of Indianapolis, where they'll stay in a dormitory Friday night and Saturday night.
6 p.m. -- Dinner for princesses and friends and family at Jonathan Byrd's Cafeteria, Greenwood.
Saturday
9:15 a.m. -- Leave University of Indianapolis dorm for parade.
Noon -- Parade starts. (Princesses to ride on float, queen in horse-drawn carriage.)
6 p.m. -- Greet guests at annual Snakepit Ball at Indiana Roof Ballroom.
About 10 p.m. -- Return to University of Indianapolis.
Sunday
10 a.m. -- Breakfast at 500 Festival offices.
11 a.m. -- Police escort to Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
11:30 a.m. -- Hop on back of convertibles for lap around Speedway; wave to crowd.
1 p.m. -- Race starts; princesses and queen watch from pagoda.
About 4 p.m. -- Race ends; queen heads to victory lane, kisses winner.