Habitat looking for Cover Girls

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Clarendon County Habitat for Humanity is holding a fundraiser with a twist, and it’s not your typical beauty pageant. The contestants are not as they seem, and the qualification for entry is just one thing: They must be able to grow facial hair, and the more they have, the better. The Clarendon County Cover Girls pageant will begin 6 p.m. April 1 as the organization’s newest fundraiser for the charity that has built 23 homes for those less fortunate in Clarendon County. Proceeds from the pageant will go toward the 24th. Habitat Director Jennie Lee said the pageant has all the “beauties” it can handle. “This will be the first major fundraiser for the next project,” said Lee. “We have raised some of the money from the Clarendon County Dancing with the Stars event. The proceeds from this event will go toward the amount needed to start building the next home.” Home No. 23 was completed in 2016 under the direction of former Habitat President John Belding, who handed over the reins to Judge James Dingle. The womanless beauty pageant is the first fundraiser under Dingle’s direction, and 20 contestants have volunteered to be a part of the event. They include mainly local business owners, from Anderson Pharmacy owner Rock Ouzts to former Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office Deputy and Manning Police officer Pete Surette and Manning City Councilman Clayton Pack. Family and friends are working diligently to get the hairy contestants ready for the eventful evening. Wigs have been ordered as well as dresses, shoes, make-up and some extra padding. After a social at 6 p.m., the pageant will get underway at 7 p.m. Contestants will walk the catwalk and show-off their styling, curves and hair-dos. There will be four judges: Dancing with the Stars organizer Cheryl Wingard, Manning Mayor Julia Nelson, Clarendon County Sheriff Tim Baxley and Manning Times Editor Robert J. “Bobby” Baker. The judges will make up 50 percent of the overall contestants’ scores, while the other 50 percent will come from how much each contestant has raised through online voting. There will also be voting during the event, and sponsorships sold by contestants will count toward their vote totals. Lee said that Habitat for Humanity has built homes in Summerton, Pinewood, Manning and Turbeville. Land for the homes is donated by local landowners scattered throughout the county, and the last was built on Huggins Street in Manning on donated land. Prospective homeowners do have to meet certain criteria. Applicants must get a designated score on credit reports, and must have some form of stable income, as they will be paying back no-interest mortgages. Loan repayments range from $45,000 to $50,000, set up as an actual mortgage, but with more affordable options. “These projects help families to build assets and equity,” said Lee. Applicants must also provide “sweat equity.” “Our homeowners work on their homes or they work on others’ homes,” Lee said. She noted that the 24th homeowner has already been selected. “We have to have more than $50,000 to start the next home, so fundraising is an important part of our work,” Lee said. To vote for your favorite Cover Girl, visit clarendonhfh.com/clarendon-cover-girls-pageant, or find them on Facebook.