It may have been "A Jungle Out There" at the Highland Jr. Miss program Saturday night, but two beautiful young women made the whole trek look easy.

Lisa Lindow and Lara Mann were crowned the new 2007 Highland Junior Miss Representatives, to a standing ovation at Lone Peak High School Sept. 16.

Both representatives said they were amazed they actually made it.

When Lisa heard her name, she said, "I was a mixture of confused and shocked. I did not expect it at all .... I didn't know what to do. My family said I looked like I was looking around to see who had won."

Lara also was surprised.

"It was completely surreal! I didn't know what to do with myself. The honor and excitement I felt was indescribable. It's a moment I will always remember."

Both women played the piano for the talent part of the competition. Lisa played "If You Believe," by Jim Brickman, and Lara played Prelude in C# Minor, Opus 3 Number 2, by Rachmaninoff.

Lisa got involved in the Jr. Miss program after meeting a former representative, Katie Millar.

"But I did it for many other reasons. The main reason is I come from a family of all boys so I wanted to try and learn some feminine traits. Also, all the girls I look up to and admire have participated in Jr. Miss and I wanted to try and become more like them. Jr. Miss is a big part of that," she said.

Lisa is the oldest child and only daughter of Jon and Sherry Lindow. She has been on the Lone Peak High School honor roll for three years, and is on the 2006 National Honor Roll. In addition to the piano, she plays violin.

For two years she volunteered with Utah Lab Rescue, an organization that rescues and places Labrador Retrievers in good homes. She's also been a Behind the Tour Specialist (B.A.T.S.) at Timpanogos Cave for two years.

Lisa said, that while she's keeping her options open, she hopes to go to BYU-Idaho, because of its rural atmosphere. She wants to study to become a dietitian or nutritionist because of the many young people she's seen struggling with eating disorders.

"I want to help people realize that eating healthy is not only important but that it really does help with health. So many people seem to not realize that," she said.

Lara got involved in Jr. Miss because of what she'd heard about the program. "I really wanted to stretch myself and hopefully earn some scholarship money. It was definitely worthwhile," she said.

Lara's eight other contestants also seemed to agree she exemplified what the program was about. They voted for her as the Spirit of Junior Miss. Lara also swept the judges off their feet, winning the Interview award, the Talent award, and the Self Expression award.

"The girls in the program are such beautiful and talented young women. I feel like I gained eight new sisters," she said.

Lara is the fourth child of Rod and Suzanne Mann. She has been on the honor roll for four years, and recently received Lone Peak's Shield of Justice award for defending someone who was being ridiculed.

"I believe that everyone, regardless of what they do, deserves respect and kindness," she said.

In addition to the piano, she's also been involved in choir. She is also a student body officer. She is very artistic, and plans to study art therapy at BYU.

"An art therapist is someone who helps people cope with their problems by having patients express their feelings and experiences through art. It's a great way to help others," Lara said.

Suany Rivero, Janae Willmore, Kierstin Hadley, Kimber Spackman, Danielle Smith, Liz Barry, and Jessica Densley also competed that evening. Danielle Smith was the scholastic Winner, Jessica Densley was the physical fitness winner, and Liz Barry was the ticket sales winner.

The judges were Te'wa Wride, Tiffany Nelson, Darin Lewis, Todd McCabe, Aimee Lewis and Loreen Olney. They judged the contestants on the interview, worth 25 percent, talent, worth 25 percent, scholastic achievement, worth 20 percent, self expression, worth 15 percent, and fitness, also worth 15 percent.

This story appeared in North County on page A1.