There’s royalty in the house!” someone called out earlier this week when Erica Comeau showed up in the newsroom wearing a tiara. The 19-year-old Brewer native had just arrived from Portland where, on Sunday, she won the title of Miss Maine USA 2005. She stopped by to show off her crown and her sash and to talk about her victory. She has wanted to be a beauty pageant queen her whole life, but she started training only a year ago for last weekend’s competition. At 19, Comeau is one of the youngest women to win the title, and she’s the first winner from Brewer since the pageant’s founding in 1952. She competed against 18 other Maine women in bathing suit, evening gown and interview segments. When it came down to the last two contenders, she and the other finalist shakily held hands and stared into each other’s eyes. Then came the tears, the crown, the hugs with Mom.

Now, Comeau said, she’ll promote the Miss USA platforms of breast and uterine cancer research. And the 2003 Brewer High School graduate will travel around the state encouraging other young girls to follow their beauty queen dreams. She also may encourage them to do sports. Comeau holds the school record for the high jump: 5 feet, 2 inches. A waitress at Ground Round and manager at Abercrombie & Fitch in Bangor, Comeau has completed one year of business school and eventually will resume studies in broadcast journalism. But there’s another event in April she hopes to score big on before that: The Miss USA Pageant.

Below are excerpts from her visit at the NEWS. Before leaving, however, she bumped into more royalty: 1961 Miss Maine Potato Blossom Queen Sandra Kennedy, who works in the advertising department. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” said Comeau, flashing her winning smile and offering a regal handshake.

BDN: So, you won?

Comeau: Yes. It was worth every piece of lettuce I ate.

BDN: Some women start preparing for a beauty contest when they are little girls. You did it in a year. How did you prepare?

Comeau: I went to the gym twice a day. And I have a trainer in Cincinnati whose name is Rocko. He helped me a lot. I was already in decent shape, but seeing as this was my first contest, I wanted to be as close to perfection as I could get.

BDN: Was it hard to eat salad every day?

Comeau: At first, yes, because I have a huge sweet tooth.

BDN: Why did you do this at this point in your life?

Comeau: I wanted to go for the Miss just to see what would happen. I knew it would be a wonderful experience but I also wanted to win. I’m a very determined girl. I proved you don’t have to be in pageants your whole life to win. You just have to want it.

BDN: Do you want to stay in Maine?

Comeau: I love being from Maine. It’s a beautiful state. We have lots of hills and mountains and trees. We’re known as Vacationland, and that’s cool. I’m going to stay in Maine as long as I can, and then hopefully go to New York.

BDN: Every contender has to submit a question for the other competitors for Miss Maine. What was yours?

Comeau: “Do you need the crown or does the crown need you?” I wasn’t trying to stump anyone, but I wanted to know why a person wanted the crown.

BDN: What question did you get? And how did you answer it?

Comeau: “What is courage?” I told the judges that courage comes from within, and that each one of us standing up here shows courage. Getting into a bathing suit in November and standing in front of everyone is courageous.

BDN: What kind of bathing suit did you wear, and was it weird standing in front of five judges in a bathing suit?

Comeau: It’s a bathing suit. It’s going to be revealing. Mine was an animal print. I wanted to show them I could be classy as well as sexy. I didn’t want them to focus on how young I am.

BDN: And your gown?

Comeau: I had it made. I told the maker that I wanted it to be worthy of Miss Universe. It was a straight cut, with gun-metal beads and black lace and a very high slit. I wore 4-inch stilettos. It was very elegant. I never felt as glamorous.

BDN: How relevant is beauty in your life?

Comeau: Very. I believe that beauty comes with confidence. Confidence on the inside makes beauty.

BDN: So, now what?

Comeau: This Friday, I have my first parade. On Saturday, I’m doing Coats for Kids.

BDN: What are your responsibilities as Miss Maine?

Comeau: I’m a role model.

BDN: Beauty pageants have, for some women, been controversial. Are they for you?

Comeau: Some people think it’s degrading. But I can’t even express to you the confidence level I had to attain to get up there in a bathing suit. I found myself as an individual. I’ve always been a leader but now I have a purpose.

Alicia Anstead can be reached at 990-8266 and aanstead@bangordailynews.net.