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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (May 14, 2015)
Miss Clatsop County 2015 A Alexis Mather, Miss Clatsop County 2015, volunteered to model for a Community Education pho- tography class I teach at Clatsop Community College. After the class she asked if I would photograph her in a studio setting. Most of her pic- tures have been taken on location, and she needed a head shot. What FRXOG,VD\",WZRXOGEHDGLI¿FXOW job, but somebody had to do it. Actually, nothing is easier than making an attractive woman look attractive. Mather began participating in the Miss Clatsop County Program, which is a preliminary to the Miss Oregon and Miss America pro- grams, at the age of 13. “It’s a re- markable program,” she told me. “My parents were divorcing, and it allowed me to stay on a positive track and to be more a part of the community.” Mather won the title in 2013, at the age of 18, and then again this year at the end of January. Why compete a second time? “I was more mature,” she says, “more ready to compete for the title of Miss Oregon.” As I set up the seamless back- ground and began to test the light- ing, she told me about those who had mentored her. “I was inspired by them,” she says. The director of Miss Clatsop County, Sandy Newman, in particular, “is a very special person in my life. I value her opinion. It’s about a personal journey and building your charac- ter. Through Miss America I’ve dis- covered who Alexis is. She’s very ther how it feels to be Miss Clat- sop County. “I’m held to a high standard, and I’m blessed with an extraordinary opportunity to touch the lives of other people. It’s exhil- arating, but it’s a lot of hard work.” Mather is constantly out in the community, she tells me, and constantly in training. By this she means that she has to keep up with current events, and she also keeps outgoing, adventurous and compas- up a strenuous regimen. “I go to sionate.” the gym almost every day,” she Mather has chosen “Be a men- WHOOV PH ³,¶P YHU\ PXFK LQWR ¿W tor your own way” for her platform ness and a healthy lifestyle.” She as Miss Clatsop County. She likes practices her singing every day, too to mentor through music, due to the (“not just my talent song”), and she LQÀXHQFHRIDQRWKHURIKHUPHQWRUV says she is getting back into playing Lisa Nelson, her vocal coach at the the guitar. Astoria Conservatory of Music. The most important thing she Mather hopes that her story, of does, Mather says is, “community “overcoming divorce and emotion- involvement. My biggest training al abuse,” will help others. “I hope LVSXVKLQJP\VHOIZKHQLW¶VGLI¿FXOW that ultimately my message, my or awkward.” mentoring groups of girls, will help She’s changed into a black top WKHPWR¿QGWKHLUPHQWDOVWUHQJWK´ and denim shorts. The look is ca- I ask Mather to sit on a stool in sual now, playful, and it suits her. front of the background. She im- She speaks of where all this train- mediately and naturally falls into ing is leading, whether or not she a pose. “I want to try some serious wins at the Miss Oregon Scholar- looks,” she says, “I’m not very good ship Program in June. She says, at those.” I take a picture; I take a “I’ve always wanted to model” — lot of pictures. She’s right. She has like her mother — and the pageant a beautiful smile, but she is lousy at has made her realize that, “I love the frowns and scowls on display in show. I love doing hair and make- most fashion photographs. It’s just up for fashion and photo shoots. It not her. “Go with your strengths,” I has brought out the girly side of tell her. “Smile.” me.” After the competition Ma- She changes into something red ther will leave for Seattle to study and dressier; she tries a few sultry cosmetology and to try her hand at looks, but it’s the smiles that suc- modeling. ceed. Of winning the Miss Clat- While we’re working I ask Ma- sop County title, and all the hard work and training that goes with it, Mather says, “Ultimately, I thank God. Without walking with Him, I couldn’t do it. I view the crown and sash of Miss Clatsop County as microphone, and I trust that God will put me exactly where I should Story and photos by DWIGHT CASWELL be.” ‘I’m held to a high standard, and I’m blessed with an extraordinary opportunity to touch the lives of other people.‘ Coastal Life 4 | May 14, 2015 | coastweekend.com
