Pageant News Bureau - Shana Orczyk

P a g e a n t N e w s B u r e a u

The go-getter

Nobody at Buckingham Palace has asked for our advice, but we think Shana Orczyk is the kind of girl Prince William ought to marry. She's good-looking, she's personable and she knows how to handle money.

"I manage millions, and I'd like to manage billions," says this budding financial analyst from Massachusetts.

She's talking about dollars, of course. Preserving and increasing other people's wealth is her chosen career. Her goal is to manage a huge mutual fund, steering it like a giant cruise ship into profitable waters. That takes intelligence, drive and a lot of nerve.

Even if she weren't on her way to being a billion-dollar babe, Ms. Orczyk would still be a babe. Her parents chose her first name because it means "beautiful girl," which proved more than prophetic.

She admits to loving pageant competition, and just as in her financial career, she has set her sights very high. "I want to represent my state in a major national pageant," she says.

As a teenager, she tried for Miss Massachusetts Teen USA, doing well but not winning.

As Miss Bay State 2002, she competed in the Massachusetts preliminary to Miss America. Considering that she contracted strep throat and developed a "horrible rash" all over her body, she feels that she won a moral victory by not dropping out. "I refuse to quit."

In late 2003, Ms. Orczyk will compete at Miss Massachusetts USA. This time, she intends to be healthy, and she's determined to win. One of her inspirations is Massachusetts' own Susie Castillo, Miss USA 2003. (Of course, Ms. Castillo inspires everybody.)

Ms. Orczyk's first name rhymes with "Dana." Her last name is pronounced "Orzik." Just a couple of helpful tips for pageant emcees. And for Prince William.

Photos courtesy of Shana Orczyk

P a g e a n t N e w s B u r e a u