Gowns weighing 15 pounds or earrings 5 pounds or more aren’t enough to deter Trojans from pursuit of the crown for Miss Alabama.

Miss Troy University Allison Farrington modeled her gowns and performed her talent to a small crowd during her send off reception last week.

Farrington is preparing to compete with 47 other participants (including Troy University’s Miss Magnolia Sydnii Todd and Miss Troy University 2009 Marjorie Yessick) for the title of Miss Alabama – a Miss America Pageant preliminary – June 7-12.

“Now I say this as a parent: It’s always been a dream of hers to go to Miss Alabama and she’s always been wanting to go as Miss Troy University, so it’s sort of a double dream,” said Jay Farrington, Allison Farrington’s father.

Within her platform, Farrington has been working hard by helping distribute used books to children in Andalusia to read over the summer.

“Keep improving on yourself and remember,” said Farrington, “It’s about what you can do for yourself and what you can do for your community.”

Farrington will finish graduate school at Troy University so that she can teach high school biology and then she will decide whether she wants to pursue the title of Miss America.

Preparation for the pageant involves workouts, interview practices, walking practicing and preliminary pageants and hard work.

“A lot of the girls who have won Miss Alabama have competed 3-4 times,” said Sara Jo Burks, co-director of the Miss Troy University Pageant.

With more than 500,000 hours of community service and more than $100,000 in scholarships on the line, beauty truly does come with a price.

“They need to be well-rounded individuals, be talented, and know what’s going on in the community and state,” said Rob Drinkard, a co-director of the Miss Troy University Pageant. “(They) need to be willing to chase the crown.”

Pageant participants take on a “full-time job” when they become Miss Alabama, said Drinkard.

“They need to be willing to work hard and be fully committed to this whole process,” said Deborah Hicks, the chair of the advisory board.

Anyone who is thinking of competing is encouraged to “chase the crown.”

Farrington competed three times before she actually won Miss Troy University and she encourages other potential participants to not give up, but to keep trying.