Miss Niles Pageants bring a bevy of winning smiles

Photo

SPECIAL TO THE VINDICATOR From left to right are participants in the Miss Niles, Junior Miss Niles and Little Miss Niles Pageants, Gianna Baker, Junior Miss second runner-up; Shyana Beers, Junior Miss first runner-up; Alissa Erwin, Junior Miss Niles; Alaina Santor, Miss Niles first runner-up; Zia Williams, Miss Niles; Anastacia Prox, Miss Niles second runner-up and Miss Congeniality; Vanessa Henderson, Little Miss Niles; Kherington Stanford, Little Miss first runner-up; and Adrianna Valentine, Little Miss second runner-up.

Staff report

NILES

The Little Miss, Junior Miss and Miss Niles Pageants took place June 28 at the McKinley Birthplace Museum and Library, 40 N. Main St., downtown. The pageants coincided with the Harry Stevens Hot Dog Day Festival.

After an absence of nearly 20 years, the pageants reappeared during last year’s festival. The goals were to not only revive the tradition but also to help young ladies focus on poise, personality, purpose and pride in themselves and their community.

Pageant divisions are Little Miss, ages 5 through 8; Junior Miss, ages 11 through 14; and Miss for ages 15 through graduating seniors of 2015.

The winners and runners-up follow:

Little Miss, Vanessa Henderson

First runner-up, Kherington Stanford

Second runner-up, Adrianna Valentine

Junior Miss, Alissa Erwin

First runner-up, Shyana Beers

Second runner-up, Gianna Baker

Miss Niles, Zia Williams

First runner-up, Alaina Santor

Second runner-up, Anastacia Prox

Miss Congeniality, Prox, was selected by her peers.

Little Miss Niles received a $100 American Girl Doll certificate, a basket of outside play items and all the prizes matching the other two queens.

Junior Miss Niles received a $100 cash prize and all the other prizes, matching Miss Niles.

Miss Niles received a $500 cash prize, a $300 Michael Stevens Studio photo package, jewelry from Barba Fine Jewelry, a $25 Eastwood Mall gift card, a $25 gift certificate from Select Sportswear and dining certificates from Dairy Queen downtown Niles, Bruster’s of Girard, Red Lobster and Outback Steakhouse.

Miss Congeniality received a beauty basket and a $25 gift certificate to Salon La Vi donated by Bernadette Marsico.

All the contestants received a certificate signed by Miss Ohio 2014, Mackenzie Bart, and Niles Mayor Ralph Infante Jr.

Winners are expected to represent the city as respectable community members and will be required to participate in Niles parades, grand openings of new businesses as requested and attendance at two or more community events during their term. Little Miss and Junior Miss winners also are asked to wear their crowns and sashes at all community functions.