Havre native competes in Atlantic City for Miss America

Native Havreite and Miss Montana Lauren Scofield has been in Atlantic City, New Jersey, for nearly two weeks, preparing for and competing in the Miss America pageant.

Kim Scofield, Lauren's mother, said Wednesday in a phone interview that her daughter has been so busy that she only was able to speak to her parents for half an hour Tuesday night.

The pageant has four competitions: the interview, swimsuit, talent and evening gown competitions.

Lauren had her preliminary interview Monday and her preliminary swimsuit and evening gown competition took place Wednesday night.

"She competed in swimsuit and evening gown tonight and looked amazing," Kim Scofield said in an email this morning.

Lauren will compete in the talent competition tonight. Kim Scofield says Lauren will play the theme to "Game of Thrones" on the piano.

Kim Scofield said the outcome of the preliminaries is not yet known and neither is whether Lauren has made it into the top 15.

Kim Scofield was also excited to announce that Lauren was one of five to be nominated for the science, engineering, technology and math, or STEM, award. Although she did not win, Kim Scofield said it was a huge honor for Lauren to be nominated.

Throughout the busy last few days, Kim Scofield said, her daughter has made some friendship she believes will endure long into the future. She has bonded with Miss Virginia, Miss South Carolina, Miss Massachusetts and Miss Wyoming, Scofield said.

Twenty family members plan to be in Boardwalk Hall Sunday evening during the airing of the pageant, which will begin at 6 p.m. mountain time. Family members will be coming from Montana, Washington, California and Nevada.

Lauren will stand on the same stage her aunt, Miss Montana 1986, Kami Compton Bohlinger, stood on 30 years ago.

"We were here 30 years ago for this same thing," Kim Scofield said.

Lauren plans to be back in Montana Tuesday and she is scheduled to appear in the Havre Festival Days parade Sept. 17.