You guys realize this is a beauty pageant we're talking about, right? You were expecting some intellectual discussion? It's run by Trump.

Personally, I love this stuff, if just for quotes like "Martial arts and techno, the new peanut butter and jelly" alone.

Miss Michigan 2014: Martial arts, dance highlight talent competition on opening night of preliminaries
Brandon Champion | BCHAMPIO@mlive.com By Brandon Champion | BCHAMPIO@mlive.com
on June 13, 2014 at 10:02 AM, updated June 13, 2014 at 10:30 AM


Erin Jenkinson, Miss Great Lakes breaks boards during her martial arts performance as she competes in the talent competition during the opening night of the Miss Michigan Scholarship Pageant competition on June 12, 2014. A total of 34 contestants began competition for the title of Miss Michigan at the Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts in Muskegon. The pageant concludes on Saturday.

MUSKEGON, MI – "It's the most exciting part of the Miss Michigan competition."

Those were the words of Mistress of Ceremonies and 2008 Miss Michigan Ashlee Baracy before the talent competition at the 2014 Miss Michigan Scholarship pageant Thursday night.

Half of the 34 contestants performed a variety of talents inside the Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts on June 12. The other half will perform Friday, June 13.

The contestants are all competing for the statewide title, $10,000 in scholarship money and the chance to compete for the Miss America crown in September in Atlantic City, N.J.

Here are five highlights from the first night of the talent competition:

1. Opera comes to Muskegon

Many of the contestants entertained the crowd with stirring vocal performances, but two that stood out were both operas. Emily Smith, Miss Greater Kalamazoo, took home the first preliminary talent award, a $500 scholarship for her classical vocal performance of "Convien Partir" by Maria Callas.

Miss Stateline Mallory Rivard also received a large ovation for her rendition of "O Mio Babbino Caro" from the opera "Gianni Schicchi."

2. "The Flight of the Bumblebee"

Thursday's performances included just one involving a musical instrument, but it was a good one. Performing in a sparkling, golden dress, Miss Greater Grand Rapids Camille Bridges played Rachmaninoff's iconic arrangement "The Flight of the Bumblebee" on the classical piano.

After a small slip-up at the beginning of the performance, Bridges played the remainder of the lightning-fast arrangement flawlessly, for which she received a large ovation from the full theater.

3. Martial arts and techno, the new peanut butter and jelly

What do you get when you combine martial arts and "Bangarang" by Skrillex? The most unique performance of the night, that's what. Miss Great Lakes Erin Jenkinson showcased a variety of martial arts skills during her high-energy performance.

Jenkinson began the performance flying around the stage, using punches and kicks as dance moves. She then twirled a stick in front of and behind her head several times before emphatically smashing through three sets of wooden boards with her fist.
Erin Jenkinson, Miss Great Lakes, performs at the 2014 Miss Michigan Scholarship Pageant Contestant Erin Jenkinson, Miss Great Lakes, performed a martial arts routine for the talent portion of the Miss Michigan Scholarship Pageant on June 12, 2014.

4. Disney's "Frozen" popular among the contestants

Influences from Disney's hit 2013 film "Frozen," the story of a princess whose icy powers have inadvertently trapped her kingdom in eternal winter, made several appearances during the first night of competition.

Back-to-back contestants, Miss Tip of the Mitt Charlotte Squires and Miss Capital City Tiffany Rogers, performed songs from the film, singing "Let it Go" and "For the First Time in Forever", respectively.

2013 Miss Michigan Haley Williams also performed an impressive baton routine to "Let it Go" at the end of the night. Williams perfectly executed the routine that helped her win last year's pageant, at times juggling three batons at once. She received a standing ovation following her performance.

5. Dance like nobody's watching, except everyone is

Dance will be a theme throughout the 2014 Miss Michigan pageant. Fifteen contestants will be performing some sort of dance, more than any other type of performance. Seven of those performances took place on Thursday.

Contestants performed a variety of styles, including contemporary, ballet, Irish step, tap and jazz. Miss SouthCentral Carleigh Rowley impressed with her feisty jazz dance to "It's About the Walk" by Prince.

Miss Lighthouse Coast Allison Adams showed some athleticism by doing a forward flip during in her jazz dance to "Ain't Nothing Wrong With That" by Robert Randolph and the Family Band.

Miss Bay County Katelyn Miujeak (contemporary dance), Miss Jackson Crossroads Quinn Fischman (tap dance), Miss Saginaw County Victoria Lines (Irish step dance), Miss Shoreline Jodi Beckman (tap dance on stairs) and Miss Allegan County Abbie Reed (ballet) also showcased their moves.

Brandon Champion covers arts and entertainment, business and weather for MLive Muskegon Chronicle. Email him at BCHAMPIO@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter @BrandonThaChamp.