Brains over beauty

A dazzling evening gown and perfect hair won't be enough to win this particular Elgin pageant.

The 2007 Miss Hispanidad Scholarship Pageant, scheduled for Friday, also requires the use of your noggin.

As part of the competition, which is being put on by the Hispanic Heritage Coalition, contestants research and put together projects on the Spanish-speaking country they choose to represent.

They will present what they learned about their chosen country at the pageant while wearing cultural costumes.

Contestants also will be judged on their public speaking and evening gowns, but 70 percent of their scores are based on the research project, said Maria Alvarez, a Hispanic Heritage Coalition board member.

"We do not give them any points for their beauty or talent, so it's basically academic," Alvarez said.

The pageant will award more than $10,000 will be in scholarships.

This year, 11 girls are vying to become Miss Hispanidad, a crown that comes with a $5,000 scholarship. Money also is awarded to the first through fourth runner ups and for the best and second best research projects, Alvarez said.

The popular pageant, which has been in existence since 1999, has grown from a show only to a full night out that includes dinner and dancing.

Here's a look at the girls who will be competing for the title of Miss Hispanidad.

•Miss Argentina: Maria Sarita Gonzalez, 18, of South Elgin, now a sophomore at Elgin Community College

•Miss Brazil: Martha Jimenez Lasso, 18, of Elgin. She will be attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

•Miss Colombia: Victoria Roa, 21, of Norridge, now enrolled at Wilbur Wright College in Chicago.

•Miss Costa Rica: Vanessa Mejia, 18, of Elgin, now attending Elgin Community College.

•Miss Ecuador: Vanessa Mejia, 16, of Carpentersville, now attending Jacobs High School in Algonquin.

•Miss El Salvador: Rosita Jimenez, 18, of Huntley, now attending McHenry County College, with hopes of becoming a pediatrician.

•Miss Mexico: I. Patricia Roa, 16, of Norridge

•Miss Nicaragua: Karina Nava, 17, of Elgin, a senior at Larkin High School in Elgin.

•Miss Spain: Sarita Gonzalez, 18, of Elgin, an incoming freshman at Elgin Community College

•Miss Puerto Rico: Astrid Osorio, 20, of Chicago, now enrolled in the nursing program at Truman College in Chicago.

•Miss Venezuela: Yesenia Lopez, 19, of Elgin, now studying nursing at Aurora University in Aurora.

If you go

What: The Miss Hispanidad scholarship pageant celebrates brains and beauty, and features individual research projects and contestants wearing gowns.

When: Dinner begins at 6 p.m. Friday, followed by the pageant. A dance concludes the evening, which ends at midnight.

Where: Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites, 495 Airport Road, Elgin

Cost: $50 per person. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

Info: For tickets, contact Maria Alvarez at (847) 877-3377 or alvarezs9@aol.com. For information about the pageant, visit www.fiestasalsa.org.