Two MITers Aiming to be Miss Cambridge

Nearly ten years after Erika Ebbel '04 was named Miss Massachusetts, another MIT student may have the chance to compete for the same title.

The 16 contestants who will compete next month for the titles of Miss Boston and Miss Cambridge have been announced and two are current MIT students. The winners will compete in the Miss Massachusetts pageant this summer, and potentially the Miss America pageant early next year.

Kira Kopacz '15, a Course 9 major originally from New Jersey, is vying for the title on the platform of "Education for Innovation: Encouraging Youth in Math and Science."  Her talent will be singing “Già il Sole dal Gange,” an opera aria made popular by Luciano Pavarotti.

A member of Kappa Alpha Theta and the Public Service Center, Kopacz's research interests include studying how to reverse spinal cord injuries.

Jacqueline "Chacha" Durazo '14, a Course 2A major originally from California, is competing on a platform of sexual assault awareness. For her talent, she will dance to a mashup of “Live Your Life” by T.I. and “Don’t Stop the Music” by Rihanna.

A member of the Public Service Center, Durazo plans to attend culinary school in Italy following graduation.

The Miss Boston and Miss Cambridge winners receive a package that includes a $1,000 academic scholarship, a $2,000 scholarship to the Dale Carnegie training program, and a $1,000 modeling scholarship. The top two contestants are awarded the titles of Miss Boston and Miss Cambridge—regardless of where they live—so it's possible that Kopacz and Durazo could both compete for Miss Massachusetts.

Academic and modeling scholarship will also be awarded to three runner-ups, the winners of the talent, fitness, and interview competitions, and the People's Choice Award, which  is awarded to the contestant who raises the most donations to the Children’s Miracle Network (one vote per dollar donated).

According to the Miss Boston website, the pageant is organized by the Miss Boston Scholarship Organization, which is dedicated to supporting the Children's Miracle Network and providing young women with scholarships and public speaking opportunities.

The Miss Boston and Miss Cambridge pageant takes place on Feb. 10 at Boston's Park Plaza Hotel (tickets are available). Good luck to Jacqueline and Kira!