Commercial Appeal, Thursday, February 26, 2004

By Barbara Bradley

Catherine Werne, 20, a sophomore at Ole Miss, knows a bit about fashion. While competing in the Miss Teen International pageant in Chicago last year, she wore a sexy, one-shoulder red gown with a slit. She bought it for $50 at a Grenada resale shop. She won the fashion competition and placed second runnerup in the pageant.

Her competitors all paid a lot more, she said. "They were so mad."

Werne will get the chance to show her fashion flair again when she joins 17 other pageant or talent contest winners who will model for the St. Jude Beauty Queen Classic Luncheon and Fashion Show on March 27.

The event, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Woodland Hills in Cordova, will include Jennifer Sherrill, 2004 Miss Arkansas USA; Lucy Hale, 2003 American Junior Idol; Ashley Serio, 2004 Miss Memphis; and Jeni Stephens-Thompson, 1996 Miss Tennessee.

The event was originally to be hosted by actress Dixie Carter. However, Carter had to cancel to accept a role in the Broadway musical "Thoroughly Modern Millie," in which actress Delta Burke is now appearing, said Helen Wood, a spokeswoman for St. Jude.

Sherrill will compete for the Miss USA title in April. Her platform (the issue she would promote if she wins) is, coincidentally, cancer awareness.

Stephens-Thompson of Memphis is married to Shelby County Commissioner Bruce Thompson. Serio works at St. Jude in diagnostic imaging. Werne, the University of Mississippi student, is the 2003 Miss Teen Mississippi International.

The pageant winners will model spring fashions from The Shops of Saddle Creek and bridal couture designs from All About Weddings.

Guests will have a chance to bid on auction items, including a 2004 Lexus ES330, provided by Lexus of Memphis, and a Henry Miller baby grand piano, provided by AMRO Music.

Tickets are $50 per person; reservations must be made by March 12. Call 373-5051. The event is sponsored by the local chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha to benefit St. Jude.

Other beauties scheduled to participate are:

Allison Bloodworth, 2003 Miss Mississippi USA; Camille Casey, 2002 Miss Tennessee Teen All American; Kym Clark, 1986 Miss University of Georgia; Shelley Deaux, 2003 Miss Collierville; Suzanne Jackson, 2001 Mrs. Tennessee International; and Lauren Lowrey, 2003 Miss Teen Tennessee International.

Also modeling will be Valerie Morris, 1991 Mrs. Tennessee; Carrie Norwood, 1977 Miss Ripley; Lee Carruthers Sturdivant, 2003 Carnival Memphis Queen; Jean Drumwright, 1951 Miss Tennessee; Brandee Trimboli, 1996 Miss Teen Mississippi; Kara Lee Waddell, 2003 Future Star Dance Award USA; and Melinda Winchester, 1977 Miss Youth Personality.