05/19/2023
THANK YOU, CATHY! Today, our thoughts are with Cathy Layton-Aupied and her daughter, Martine, as they make a cross-country trek from Gastonia to Las Vegas. We have known since October that our 2023 pageant would be Cathy’s last show with us as our choreographer and producer, a role that she has done so very well for 21 years!
Saying that Cathy put on some great shows is an understatement – we’ve had awesome dance numbers, outstanding featured entertainers, cool lighting effects, fun staging and props, and an overall production that we think has been among the best for local preliminaries. During a “Wonder Woman” swimsuit production years ago, we made it seem that Miss Gastonia was landing on the stage from high above. We even got Cathy to agree to a country music-themed show (country for the whole pageant happened only once, but she did agree to some Dolly-inspired songs in other years).
When we first asked Cathy to consider coming on board with us, she was reluctant to be involved with a “beauty pageant.” We promised that she could put together a contemporary, upbeat, and fun show, and she did just that every single year. We are grateful for her creativity, big-picture vision, flexibility, and attention to detail. Her responsiveness, can-do attitude, friendship, and commitment to our program will be valued forever.
Please join us in thanking Cathy and wishing her safe travels as she ventures to her new home in Las Vegas with thoughts of her Carolina family and friends always in her mind!
