For her passionate dedication to the Bridgeport Benedum Festival Pageant, Judi Leffe Giffen is receiving special recognition at this year’s festival. During Thursday’s Benedum Fellows Banquet at Bridgeport Conference Center, she – along with the festival’s longtime treasurer Eileen Frank – will be honored by the committee for their years of work and dedication to the festival, said Ruth Allen, committee member.  Both will receive plaques of appreciation for the selfless contributions they have made to the city’s signature festival.

 

Long before she founded and directed the Benedum Festival Pageant, Giffen attended Michett's Modeling School and West Virginia Northern College, where she majored in business and fashion merchandising. The Wheeling native went on to model for Criswell Modeling Agency, finding herself affiliated with spokesmodels and actresses including Hallie Berry and Heather Locklear. Her venture with modeling and fashion went on as she – through an opportunity with Seventeen magazine –became fashion coordinator and teen board director for Stone & Thomas department stores, teaching modeling, hosting cosmetic and skin care workshops and coordinating fashion shows and store promotions. A highlight of Giffen’s career is her position as sales representative with L’Oreal Paris and Maybeline New York.

 

Years later, after becoming a wife and mother of two daughters, Giffen put her acquired fashion, modeling and organization skills to work in her hometown of Bridgeport. She founded and became director of the Benedum Festival pageant.

 

“I wanted to bring natural pageantry to the area and teach girls how to feel good about themselves and to have opportunities,” she said. “Many of the girls have gone on to modeling careers, acting, winning bigger titles and wonderful careers.” 

 

Pageants teach girls to develop self-confidence, proper communication, interview and networking skills, as well as grace and poise - not to mention sparking an interest in community involvement and a world of opportunities, Giffen said.

 

“It is a learning experience and it’s not always about winning - it’s what you learn from it and what you do with it,” she said. “It’s not all about beauty.  It is about how you carry yourself.  Pageant girls are very intelligent young ladies.”

 

For the past decade, the Benedum Festival Pageant has been one of the signature events of the annual festival honoring Michael Late Benedum , who is known for his major role in Bridgeport’s development.

 

That pageant follows a long line of pageantry events with which Giffen has been involved. Among those with which she has been affiliated are Miss USA, Miss United States, Miss America, Junior Miss, Sunburst and NCHA pageant systems. That involvement includes her roles as contestant, state winner, judge, pageant director, pageant consultant, stage director, chaperone and pageant mom.

 

Giffen’s past queens have gone on to hold many International, state and national titles. Giffen is also affiliated with the TB Talent and Casting Agency in Pittsburgh and continues to model for local stores. This past fall, she modeled on the runway for a Gladys Magazine photo shoot.

 

Through her work with and love for pageantry, Giffen has developed the mantra, “Winners define the crown … the crown doesn’t define you.” She encourages her title holders to become involved in their communities and explore volunteer opportunities which match their individual passions and talents. 

 

And Giffen lives what she preaches. In addition to her pageantry work and her position as sales/service manager and event coordinator for Bridgeport Conference Center, she is an advocate for colon cancer awareness and early detection. Her late husband Tag died of the disease in 2011. Along with her daughters Lauren (pictured left) and Victoria (pictured above), Giffen is active in various fundraising and awareness opportunities.

 

Giffen has recently been approached to begin hosting area workshops to prepare clients for pageants, modeling, TV and film work.

 

She said she was pleasantly surprised to learn she was being recognized Thursday night. Guest of honor at the dinner will be LuAnne Bush, sole recipient of the 2014 Michael L. Benedum Fellow Award.

 

The banquet begins with a 6 p.m. social hour. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased for $25 each at the Benedum Civic Center or by contacting Ruth and Bob Allen at 304-842-3638. Today is the last day to purchase those tickets, Allen said.

 

Editor's Note: Giffen is shown top with winners of this year's Benedum Festival Pageant. 

 

The Benedum Festival takes place Thursday through Saturday with carnival attractions, live entertainment, 5K, fishing derby, pet parade, oil and gas expo and much more. For a schedule of events, click visit the festival Web site HERE.