Elise Mosca had tried on the gold gown three times prior, but this was the final fitting - everything had to look and fit perfectly.
That's because the 27-year-old isn't wearing this dress to dinner or a dance. She's hoping to win the title of Miss Pennsylvania.
The Forty Fort woman and several other Luzerne County residents are in Altoona today competing in one of Pennsylvania's premier pageants.
"It's not just about looks. It's really about volunteerism," Miss Mosca quickly pointed out during her final fitting at Prom Excitement in Edwardsville.
Tonight's pageant - which will crown a Miss Pennsylvania, Mrs. Pennsylvania and Miss Teen Pennsylvania - focuses on a contestant's platform about a charitable cause. Miss Mosca is promoting skin cancer awareness in memory of her mother, Tina Mosca, who died from melanoma at age 61 in April.
A first-grade teacher for Wilkes-Barre Area, Miss Mosca has won pageant crowns before.
She was named Miss Unico in 2004 while at Wyoming Valley West High School. She was crowned Miss Stati Uniti New York in 2011, a competition that secured her entry into the Miss Italia nel Mondo contest in Italy. Most recently, she was crowned Miss Philadelphia International, the title that garnered her entry into today's contest.
This contest is the most important one, Ms. Mosca said, noting it will give her access to promote her platform and her mother's legacy.
"The day I came home from Miss Italia nel Mondo, the tumor had gone to her brain. So at the height of that success, everything stopped. And I was in the hospital day in, day out, night and day. And I fought until the last minute," Miss Mosca said.
"This opportunity came and it's like the silver lining. She is shining on me and saying, here's your opportunity to honor and remember me by raising awareness."
Miss Mosca and Sherri Homanko, Hazle Twp., 25, are competing against eight other women for the title of Miss Pennsylvania International.
Linda Zaneski, 45, Edwardsville, and Jill Snyder, 44, Sugarloaf, are in the running for Mrs. Pennsylvania International, hoping to bring the crown home to Luzerne County for a second consecutive year. Kimberly McLendon of Shickshinny is the reigning Mrs. Pennsylvania International.
Alexa Martino, 17, of Mountaintop, is running for Miss Teen Pennsylvania International.
Contact the writer: bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com