Maybe it’s having doctors and science on my mind for the past few weeks, but this news warmed my heart: a grad student in Virginia just won the state beauty pageant (and semi-finals for Miss America) with a science experiment. And forgive me my title for this post, I really do find Camille Schrier’s demonstration of the surging effects of the catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide far more impressive than I would seeing her in an evening gown. I mean gimme safety goggles, black gloves and scientific enthusiasm any old day:

Can she tapdance? I have no idea. But I may have to watch the Miss America pageant for the first time in… ever? Just to see what she brings to the stage there. I mean, it’s not like she’s going to unleash her plan for world domination there, right? Oh. Oh, dear. No, I kid. If you don’t know, a nickname for the U.S. State of Virginia is “The Old Dominion,” so Miss Dominion just happened to be her regional title that she went to the state finals with. Still, it’d be quite appropriate to supervillainy, wouldn’t it? And once she completes her doctorate studies she can be DOCTOR DOMINION. For now though, she’s content to wear the Miss Virginia crown and promote STEM (Science Technology Engineering & Math), particularly ladies in STEM, through her victory. Style and science co-existing on the same stage? Dr. Gwen would be proud.