Girls compete for Miss U.P. and Miss Teen U.P.

Sixteen Upper Peninsula women are competing in the Miss Upper Peninsula and Miss Teen Upper Peninsula pageant Thursday night.

There are six contestants for Miss Upper Peninsula, and ten for Miss Teen Upper Peninsula.

One contestant, Alicia Adzmia, has had to overcome things like drug abuse and poverty.  She sees the pageant as a way to show that she can overcome adversity.

Adzmia said a lot of the women competing have similar stories, and said any one of the contestants could be a role model.

The Miss Upper Peninsula and Miss Teen Upper Peninsula begins Thursday night at 7 p.m. at the Forest Roberts Theater on Northern Michigan University’s campus.  There will be entertainment during intermissions.