She doesn’t call Lapeer home, but it is the place where she was crowned.
Lauralei Pariseau, a junior at Oxford High School, won the title of Miss Lapeer Days during the summer festival held Aug. 19-21.
‘I feel honored to represent Lapeer in this way,? she said.
Pariseau isn’t one of those young ladies who competes in multiple pageants each year, hoping to add another crown and sash to her collection.
She entered to simply enjoy the experience.
‘I thought it would be fun,? Pariseau said. ‘It was my first time competing in a pageant.?
The competition itself was fairly simple. Each contestant answered a series of questions about their school career, their role model in life and what they liked about Lapeer.
‘I enjoyed being on stage because I’m a performer,? said Pariseau, who’s a member of the OHS dance team.
Pariseau said her role model is her big sister Jonelle Pariseau, a 2006 OHS graduate who now owns and operates Studio 8 Dance Arts Center of Southeast Michigan (715 N. Lapeer Rd.) in Oxford.
‘She knows what it is to work hard for what she wants,? Pariseau said. ‘I look up to her for that.?
No one was more surprised than Pariseau when her name was announced as Miss Lapeer Days on Friday.
‘I was shocked because I was up against people who had competed year after year,? she said.
The next day Pariseau was a star in the Lapeer Days parade.
‘I got to ride in a corvette,? she said.
Pariseau is looking forward to pursuing a career in marketing and advertising, but she’s undecided as to which college will best suit her needs.