Miss USA 2010, Rimah Fakih, participated in Saturday's Miss Michigan USA competition held at the Power Center for the Performing Arts in Ann Arbor.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

"I'm praying that she wins," McKenzie said of her daughter, Piaget Ventus, Miss River Rouge USA. "She's nervous, excited, positive."

Adam Graham, of Livonia, attended the event to show support for his sister, Jaclyn Graham, who is the current Miss Livonia USA.

"I hope she wins, she deserves it," he said before the show. "It's her first pageant ever. ... She's a model and decided to try something new."

The show was moved to Ann Arbor from Port Huron this year, where it had been held for the past 10 years.

Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau officials projected an economic impact of $375,000 to Washtenaw County and Ann Arbor as nearly 100 contestants and up to 2,000 supporters and family members visited area hotels and restaurants.

Participants in the Miss Michigan USA pageant perform during Saturday's competition at the Power Center for the Performing Arts in Ann Arbor.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Elizabeth Moore, 10, of Ann Arbor, was excited to see her pageant coach compete in the event.

"She's the best pageant coach around," said Moore, who was crowned the 2010 Miss Michigan Princess in the International Junior Miss competition. "I've never seen her perform before, so this is actually the first time. I hope she wins."

"It's nice to see the pageant system come here to Ann Arbor," said Moore's mother, Tanya Proehl. "Hopefully (Elizabeth) will be a future Miss Michigan."

The top 15 participants were judged on a swimsuit presentation and evening gown presentation before the group was narrowed down to the top five, who were then given an interview question to answer.

Miss Michigan USA 2011 will represent the state at the Miss USA competition in Las Vegas in the spring of 2011. 

Miss USA 2010, Dearborn’s Rima Fakih, attended and participated in the event.

Heather Lockwood is a reporter for AnnArbor.com, reach her at heatherlockwood@annarbor.com or follow her on Twitter.