The play's the thing

An odd thing happened to Christina Cindrich recently She got her fill of shopping.

"I made a supermarket commercial," says Miss Pennsylvania Teen USA. "I was one of the 'happy shoppers' walking the aisles. It went on for 12 hours, all through the night."

She drank a lot of coffee that night, and she finished the commercial feeling weirdly energized. But maybe it wasn't just the caffeine. "I get excited whenever I think about acting," she says.

Ms. Cindrich has been studying musical theater since she was a little girl, and she hopes to become an entertainment reporter or soap opera actress. Pageants have been an ideal training ground. When she first competed unsuccessfully for her state crown, she took a hard look at how she had presented herself. "I decided my look was too sophisticated. I changed it to a more teenage look, and the next year I won." (To us, she looks like a sophisticated teenager.)

Her father is Ralph Cindrich, a former pro football player and well-known sports agent, and she has been exposed to celebrities much of her life. At a Super Bowl party in Miami this year, she found herself next to flamboyant basketball star Dennis Rodman. He was well-behaved, she says, but he was sporting a truly wild party hat. "I didn't even notice if he was wearing a dress."

Ms. Cindrich recently became friends with a group of very famous singers. She was a fan before she met these young men, and she admits that she's an even bigger fan now. We won't say who they are, because if we did, Ms. Cindrich would be the envy of millions of other girls. Of course, if she wins Miss Teen USA, the same thing will happen, but we can't help that.

Photo courtesy of Christina Cindrich

A girl for all ages

Erika Moody of Ohio is one the younger contestants at Miss Teen USA. She won her state crown at 15, but she has had a birthday since, and she describes herself as "a mature 16-year-old."

She was much less mature, only 2 years old, when she competed in her first pageant. The title she won was Little Miss Deer Park, in her native state of Texas. (Deer Park happens to be the hometown of former Miss Universe Chelsi Smith, but the two beauties have never met.)

For one so young, she has chosen an unusual career path. She wants to become a geriatrician, a doctor who specializes in care of the elderly. "There aren't many people in this field," says Ms. Moody, and she notes that the need is growing every day. People are living longer, and older people are more active.

She has visited and worked with older people in several parts of Ohio. And though Miss Teen USA has no "platform." Ms. Moody plans to continue her involvement with the elderly if she wins the national title.

One thing she hasn't had the opportunity to observe is a pageant for older women. "I haven't been invited to any," she says, "but I'd like to see one."

Photo courtesy of Erika Moody