A dozen or so outfits with matching jewelry, evening gowns and bathing suits are packed in suitcases.
Newspapers have been read from front to back, treadmills are now still and dance studios that were practiced in for hours are empty.
It's coming down to next few weeks for three Spartans vying to become the next Miss Michigan.
Joining 21 other women, psychology senior Melissa Cousino, political science junior Christie Charron and nutritional studies senior Katie Thomas must dazzle judges with both brains and beauty to take the crown home.
"It's exciting to have other girls from MSU at the pageant," Cousino said. "It shows what wonderful women are on this campus, and to know they are working to advance themselves and their causes is so reassuring."
Melissa Cousino
Cousino got involved with pageants because she saw an opportunity for scholarship money and to raise awareness for Make-A-Wish Foundation.
After a third attempt for Miss Monroe County, Cousino, 21, was awarded the title in 2006. She has since earned $10,000 in scholarships through her involvement with pageants, and raised $75,000 for Make-A-Wish Foundation.
"Being able to see how the children handle stressors and negative situations, with positivity and excitement, takes away your stress of studying for an exam," she said.
Getting ready for the pageant has entailed labeling what pieces of jewelry go with what outfit and practicing a tap dance to "All That Jazz."
In August 2003, Cousino was mistakenly diagnosed with brain cancer - the diagnosis was dismissed three hours later.
"After my own cancer scare, I wanted to help people who have cancer stories," she said.
A cardiologist determined three months later that she suffers from Neurocardiogenic Syndrome, a curable disorder in which messages between the brain and the heart get delayed, so the heart can't keep up with the body.
Cousino takes daily medication to treat the disorder.
Cousino came to MSU in fall 2004 and joined MSU Stars, becoming vice president her freshman year. The group is a partner with Make-A-Wish Foundation. She is president of MSU Stars and a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority.
"I never would have been able to do nearly three-fourths of what I'm doing, had I not had the crown," she said. "Crowns open up a lot of opportunities."
Christie Charron
Unlike Cousino, Charron never really had an innate passion to be a pageant girl.
"My parents always wanted me to run, but I just never really had an interest in pageants," the 20-year-old said. "But I got into the teen division when I was younger and won. So I just said, 'Why not?' And I did it."
On the flip side of things, Charron said she's wardrobe shopping and busy with makeup and hair appointments. She's been working out and getting ready for her talent, a jazz dance to "Never Dance."
The Port Huron native took the Miss Lake Huron Shores crown in November and since has made many public appearances, hobnobbing with local officials and educating them about an issue she's passionate about, "DARE Dance - Dancing Our Youth to a Better Tomorrow."
DARE Dance is part of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education campaign, or DARE, and is an after-school dance program Charron brought to Michigan and her hometown. She worked to get it started at a local school.
The program will be in place this fall at an elementary school where she will teach an after-school dance program.
"It's great to know I'll be bringing a national program to the area," she said. "To know that I'll be offering dance classes to those who can't afford it will be great."
Katie Thomas
It's all smiles for Thomas, 20, who won Miss Saginaw County 2006 in August.
"I always have loved the program because it's based on scholarship and education," she said. "I love pageants and love to get involved."
Her platform is "Operation Smile - Looking Behind the Smile," which stems from her passion of dentistry. She's pursuing a degree in the field, and said it's important to recognize the significance of making toothbrushes and toothpaste available to people who may not have dental care.
"The need is phenomenal," she said.
Involved in MSU's Pre-Dental Club, Thomas receives donations from local dentist offices and other businesses to provide brushing materials to people who can't afford them.
She has visited schools in Saginaw and East Lansing to tell children the importance of oral hygiene.
"Children don't brush their teeth that much, so it's important to make it fun so they understand the benefits of keeping their teeth clean."
The member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority has been around pageants her whole life. Her mom, Carol, won Mrs. Michigan America in 1988.
Finding an evening gown to get sized for the pageant is Thomas' most challenging task at hand before the pageant.
She's been working out a few times a week and playing the piano several hours a day to prepare for her classical music performance.
"I can use the crown as my microphone to promote my Operation Smile platform," she said.
Miss Michigan
Less than a year ago, MSU alumna Angela Corsi was crowned Miss Michigan.
"It was incredible to have the job, and be able to travel around and promote the organization for me and my platform," said the Farmington Hills native, whose local pageant title was Miss Heart of Michigan.
Corsi, whose reign will end when she crowns Miss Michigan 2007 on June 16, has been working statewide to promote her platform, Make-A-Wish Foundation.
With three Spartans in the running, the chances of taking the Miss Michigan title for a second year are good.
"It's great representation - I have gotten to know all three of them, in addition to all the others competing in the competition," Corsi said. "It takes hard work, determination, a vision and understanding of what the organization is.
"All three of these MSU contestants are wonderful leaders, students and role models. To have all three coming out of MSU competing for Miss Michigan is absolutely incredible."
