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Pageant Victory Puts Gasp In Gasparilla For Winner

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By PAUL CATALA, Tribune correspondent

Published: January 19, 2008

WESLEY CHAPEL - She won't be wearing an eyepatch, carrying a sword or taking swigs from a flask.

Instead, Lisa Noury hopes to elegantly portray the positive side of Tampa's annual pirate-worshipping fest.

On Sunday, the Tampa native and lifelong Wesley Chapel resident was crowned Miss Gasparilla in the Gasparilla Pageant 2008, which was divided into four age divisions. Noury, 18, competed against 18 other Miss Gasparilla entrants at the Westin Hotel on Harbour Island in downtown Tampa.

As part of her reign, Noury will ride on a float in the Gasparilla Children's Parade at 2 p.m. today, held along Bayshore Boulevard between Bay-to-Bay Boulevard and Watrous and Orleans avenues.

Sitting with her mother Thursday in the Wesley Chapel Merle Norman studio where they work, Noury said that after winning Miss Wesley Chapel in 2006, pageant director Stephanie Sims suggested she enter Gasparilla Pageant 2008. It would become the fourth pageant she would win in five years.

"I've always been a fan of Gasparilla. I've gone ever since I can remember," she said. "I wanted to be part of the celebration and incorporate positive aspects into it by being a good role model. I think I can bring a good, positive aspect to some of the negativity that Gasparilla sometimes has."

A member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority at the University of South Florida, Noury also is a volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House, with Toys for Tots and Queen for a Day, a nonprofit organization that pampers pediatric cancer patients with makeovers and manicures. She is avidly involved in the First Baptist Church of Wesley Chapel.

The daughter of stepfather David Perez and mother Pat Perez, the 2007 Wesley Chapel High School graduate and University of South Florida freshman said the Gasparilla pageant was relaxing and not intimidating.

The pageant was broken down into a one-on-one interview and evening wear competitions. There also was an optional swimsuit competition and supermodel judging, which Noury took part in.

"It was an exciting pageant, but at the same time, I felt unusually calm. I felt like I was at home, for some reason. It was a great experience and an unexpected win," she said.

Noury was one of more than 120 contestants in the Gasparilla pageant's second year. The pageant had divisions from infants to married women.

Sims, who founded the pageant with her husband, Bill, said the idea behind the Gasparilla pageant was to give everyone a chance to get involved with the festivities, not just business people and those affiliated with krewes.

Sims said Noury would next be involved with a summer talent showcase in Orlando in June.

"I wanted to make the pageant a part of Gasparilla that anyone in the public can join in," Sims said. "I couldn't be more thrilled she Noury won. She'll be a really good representative for the title."

In addition to Noury, winners in other categories included Brianna Lupo, Wesley Chapel (Teen Miss Gasparilla, ages 14-17); Ann Poonkasem, San Antonio (Ms. Gasparilla, ages 16 and over); and Chantal Trinidad, Gainesville (Mrs. Gasparilla).

For more results, see www.starsearchpageants.com.

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