Miss Cumberland is from Hagerstown, but attends college in Winchester, Va. Miss Washington County is from Cumberland and goes to Frostburg State, while Miss Allegany County hails from Silver Spring. Miss Montgomery County is from Frederick, and Miss Charm City comes from Chevy Chase.

Nothing against the pageant or the girls - I'm sure they are all very bright, talented, lovely young women. I just got a big chuckle reading the confusing geography lesson in the Sunday and Monday papers. But seeing that Miss Frederick was actually from Frederick brought a little sanity back. Can someone familiar with these things shed some light on why many of the ladies represent a town or area away from their homes?

Huh, I thought it was a HM misprint...

I had a girlfriend that participated in the pageants and I hated it. Why? Well first of all, I think they're stupid. Second, I had to travel all around Maryland for them since many of them participate in those outside of their home county. The only one I really enjoyed was Miss Ocean City, because I got to go to the beach in the off season. The reason why they participate in other county pageants is because they want a chance to compete for Miss Maryland. That's really about it. There aren't any restrictions on having to live in a county in order to compete in it.

I knew a girl who competed in Miss Maryland three different years, representing three different counties (one of which she was actually a resident of). They receive scholarship money when they win a crown. I just don't understand what parading down a runway in a swimsuit has to do with scholarship.

They receive scholarship money, but that's not why they're all doing it.

I love pageants, like this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj3iNxZ8Dww