BY REON CARTER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
![[watkins]](/editions/1998/09/18/watkins_200x140.jpg)
Cheya Watkins performs in the talent prelimaries.
(AP photo)
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ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- Miss Ohio, Cheya Watkins, 21, of Evendale, remains optimistic about her chances to make the first cut at Saturday night's Miss America pageant finals.
She did not walk away with the highest scores during swimsuit preliminaries Tuesday or talent preliminaries Wednesday, but says, "I'm extremely pleased with my performance. I gave it 100 percent. I feel good about Top 10 (announced Saturday night). I believe I will be there.
"Ultimately, though, it's up to God.
"I think I possess a lot of qualities that Miss America should have," Ms. Watkins says. "I think a lot of the girls here do. You have to be able to persevere on your own two feet and believe in yourself and really come to realize that if you're not grounded here (during competition), you can easily lose a sense of who you are."
Miss Watkins describes the national pageant as everything she expected -- and more.
"I love the whole atmosphere," she says. She did have a setback last week when she passed out during a rehearsal. She attributes the incident to low blood sugar and a failure to eat.
Miss Watkins has been surprised by the hospitality extended the 51 Miss America competitors.
"People put so much effort into making sure you're happy," she says.
The biggest pageant nuisance? Makeup.
"I don't wear a lot of makeup normally, but I need it for the stage," she says. "It's the biggest hassle."
Miss Ohio says being "bored and tired of sitting at home on weekends" inspired her to try to become Miss America.
"I entered my first preliminary last November, but my dad has been telling me I could be Miss America since I was 2 years old."
![[watkins]](/editions/1998/09/18/watkins_600x419.jpg)