Miss Universe contestant has cheering section in Uniontown
As millions of people around the world sit down tonight to watch the televised Miss Universe pageant in Panama City, Panama, a loyal following in the Uniontown area will be cheering on Miss Slovenia in her quest for the crown. Polona Bas, 21, is one of 70 contestants in the pageant, which will be broadcast over NBC at 9 p.m.
Although she is representing Slovenia, there are many Americans who think highly of the young woman as well because from September 2000 to July 2001, Bas lived in South Union Township as an exchange student with her host family Tom and Leah Walls.
While here, she earned a high school diploma from Laurel Highlands High School, received a driver’s license, studied dance at Ginny Tanner Dance Studio in Uniontown and made a lot of friends.
And what do they think of her being Miss Slovenia?
“I think this is wonderful. This is her dream,’ said Mrs. Walls.
“We’re so thrilled. I can’t believe it,’ said Tanner.
“It’s going around through a bunch of friends who knew her,’ said Matt Burnworth, who graduated Laurel Highlands with Bas. “They’re all happy for her.’
“I think it’s great,’ said John Prystupa, who taught Bas French in high school. “I think she’s very talented. I don’t know her competition but I wish her the best. I hope she goes all the way. That would be wonderful.’
Bas came to Fayette County through Nacel Open Door, an exchange student program that the Wallses have participated in since 1991. Mrs. Walls, nursing director at Uniontown Hospital, and Walls, plant manager at Cavert Wire in Oliver, place students in the community as well as take students into their own home. For instance, they are bringing in 20 French students for a month this summer and are still searching for homes for some.
Bas, whose nickname here was Lona, is a native of Maribor, Slovenia, a country that broke off from the former Yugoslavia about 10 years ago. War erupted among the new countries that emerged and, growing up, Bas felt its effects.
“She told us that at age 5 or 6, she lived in one of the fall-out shelters,’ said Mrs. Walls. “They’d spend three to five days in a bomb shelter trying to survive.’
But as a youth, Bas also had an opportunity for pleasure as she began to study rhythmic gymnastics. Bas trained for 13 years and represented her country in several international competitions, including the Group World Championships in Seville, Spain, in 1998.
In fact, Mrs. Walls said Bas was on her way to the Olympics when she was injured. Instead of competing at the 2000 games, she came to America instead.
“We watched the Olympics with her. Tom and I were amazed that she knew everyone. She’d say ‘This one eats too much ice cream.’ ‘This one eats too much and that one gains too much weight,” Mrs. Walls remembered.
Bas brought rhythmic gymnastics to Uniontown where she wowed students at Ginny Tanner’s studio and Laurel Highlands high school.
Tanner remembered, “She whipped out her ribbon and the kids were blown away by her performance. It was fabulous and something they’d never seen. At the show, she caught the audience. My husband said it was the best thing he ever saw. It was so different.’
Tanner also described Bas as a “beautiful dancer,’ and although her dance training was different from what she found in America, she kept trying.
“The kids loved her and it was a treat to watch her dance,’ said Tanner.
Mrs. Walls noted that Bas won first place at a high school talent show that was used as a fundraiser for the prom.
That win was so special to Bas that she mentioned it during a pre-competition interview that can be read on the Miss Universe Web site. Officials asked the question “What is your proudest personal accomplishment (other than representing your country in this pageant)?’ Bas answered, “Winning first place in a talent show at my high school.’ (She also listed that she was a graduate of Laurel Highlands High School as well as Skofijsiz Gimnazia AMS.)
Mrs. Walls said, “To be going towards the Olympics and then be happy because you win a little talent show… But she got reinforcement and praise here.’
In fact, when asked what Bas thought of America, Walls said, “I think she liked it. I don’t think she wanted to go back.’
“She was very popular in school. She had tons of friends. She fit in more than other exchange students,’ said Mrs. Walls.
Prystupa mentioned visiting Bas before she left the country and that she wanted to thank the teachers at Laurel Highlands for being generous with their time, something she didn’t find in Slovenia.
“She was very appreciative,’ Prystupa said.
Bas’ parents worked hard to ensure their daughter had this trip to America. Mrs. Walls noted that Bas’ father took a better-paying job in Bosnia to have money for the trip. Her mother worked as a commentator for a religious television station. Still the family experienced financial difficulties and Bas didn’t take any major trips while in the United States, although she traveled to Cedar Point with Tom and Leah Walls, and Niagara Falls and New York City with their son Alex.
But while here, Bas experienced the life of a normal American teen-ager.
Walls said, “She got her driver’s license here. I taught her to drive.’
“She celebrated her birthday with us. We went to dinner at Caleigh’s in Uniontown,’ said Mrs. Walls.
After returning to Slovenia, Bas kept in touch with friends in America. Mrs. Walls said Bas now works as a hostess at a hotel at a Slovenia beach. She is also a student at the College of Tourism.
The Miss Universe Web site also reported that Bas taught rhythmic gymnastics to young girls when her own gymnastics career ended.
After winning Miss Slovenia and knowing she was headed for international competition in Panama, Bas phoned the Wallses. Mrs. Walls said the family considered going to Panama to see her, but had difficulty finding information. Even Bas’ parents are not making the trip because of the expense.
Bas had also hoped to stop in Uniontown to see the Walls family after the competition but has commitments as Miss Slovenia that prevent her from doing so.
Nevertheless, her cheering section in Fayette County will be in full force tonight.
Mrs. Walls said they will be watching and videotaping the show.
Walls said they’ve heard from people who know Bas and they’ll also be watching.
Prystupa reported he wrote an article for the newspaper for his Slovene lodge called “Prosveta,’ which means “The Enlightenment,’ that is distributed to Slovene-Americans.
And everyone is talking about the pageant and remembering a lovely young woman who touched their lives.
Tanner commented, “She left an impression on us.’