Dozens of young hopefuls competed for crowns in this year’s Miss Mountain Laurel Pageant. Forty-seven contestants in nine different age brackets vied for the titles. The pageant was held Saturday at the Habersham Ninth Grade Academy in Mt. Airy.
Queens & Courts (all age categories)
Baby Miss: Natalia Magestro (Queen); Evelyn Humphrys (1st Runner Up); Falynn Smith (2nd Runner Up).
Toddler Miss: Aliza Hewell (Queen); Anniston Gilbert (1st Runner Up) ; Kenslie Davis (2nd Runner Up).
Tiny Miss: Paisley Wheeler (Queen); Avery Payton (1st Runner Up).
Wee Miss: Sara Jess Palmer (Queen); Chesnie Cronic (1st Runner Up); Lillian Gerdes (2nd Runner Up).
Petite Miss: Karsen Wade (Queen); Yasmine Taylor (1st Runner Up); Cadence Wheeler (2nd Runner Up).
Young Miss: Ebonie King (Queen); Jessica Dale (1st Runner Up); Ansley Barron (2nd Runner Up).
Pre-Teen Miss: Jolina Phongavanh (Queen); Miley Scott (1st Runner Up); Amanda Newsome (2nd Runner Up).
Teen Miss: Caroline: Caroline Page (Queen); Karah Walters (1st Runner Up); Erica Nations (2nd Runner Up).
Little Miss Divison: Sara Jess Palmer (Queen); Chesnie Cronic (1st Runner Up); Lillian Gerdes (2nd Runner Up).
Miss Mt. Laurel: Kristen Poole (Queen); Amber Martin (1st Runner Up).
Sr. Ms: Carley Moss (Queen); Heather Kirkum (1st Runner Up).
People’s Choice
Jr. People’s Choice: Queen Kenslie Davis
Sr. People’s Choice: Queen Ansley Barron
The Mt. Laurel Pageant 2015
Now in its 52nd year, the Miss Mountain Laurel Pageant has undergone changes through the years. The most recent was the addition of the Senior Ms. category which allows older contestants – ages 19 and up, single or married – to compete.
“We had a successful year this year with the pageant even though our numbers were down,” says pageant director Chrysta Andrews. Community is what we make it: That’s the Lions Club’s core belief according to Andrews and the Miss Mountain Laurel Pageant plays right into that theme. The Miss Mountain Laurel Pageant is a fundraiser for the Clarkesville Lions Club, part of an international service organization that boasts 1.3 million members in over 200 countries worldwide. Proceeds from Saturday’s pageant will go to help buy glasses and hearing aids for vision and hearing impaired residents of Habersham County.
“I’m proud to serve for the Clarkesville Lion’s Club. I love watching young ladies’ confidence build when they walk out on the stage,” says Andrews. “I personally have used pageants to help build my confidence throughout the years. This has helped me tremendously in my career.”
The Mountain Laurel queens and their courts will ride in the 53rd Annual Mountain Laurel Parade in downtown Clarkesville on Saturday, May 16 at 10 a.m. The parade kicks off the two-day festival featuring streetdancing and fireworks Friday, May 15 followed by a 5K run, craft and art exhibitions and the VFL Duck Race on Saturday, May 16.
For more information visit www.clarkesvillega.com.
