Crenshaw County Junior Miss Sadie Jones had a busy week last week. She spent the week in Montgomery preparing for the state program, and all her hard work paid off with a win in the overall fitness category and a preliminary talent win.

One of the first things the contestants did was learn the opening number, which featured all the girls.

From there, the girls were divided up into four smaller groups to work on fitness and self-expression.

However, the trip wasn’t all about work and preparation.

“We went to the Cattlemen’s Association in Montgomery, and they fed us lunch and hosted us,” Jones said. “We got to tour the building. All 52 of us also went to one of their Kiwanis Club meetings.”

Another trip for the girls was an appearance at St. James Elementary School.

“While we were there meeting the kids, our director talked about the ‘Be Your Best Self” program, and a few people performed their talents,” she said.

Once it came time for the competition, Jones won the fitness portion, which is judged on coordination, stamina, agility, posture and carriage.

She also won a talent prelim with her jazz dance to “Knock on Wood” by Amii Stewart.

Another big part of the program was the social aspect – Jones was paired up with Cullman County’s Junior Miss Jordan Johnson, and they stayed with Jimmy and Leigh Blackwell of Pike Road for the week.

“I made a lot of new friends,” Jones said. “A lot of the girls I already knew, like I’ve been dancing with Coffee County’s Junior Miss for three years.”

Jones said things like that were her favorite part of the experience.

“You get to meet a lot of girls that are going to the same school you are, and they might end up being a roommate,” she said.

Jones earned $1,600 in scholarship money for her fitness win and $700 from the talent portion.

She plans to use that money to attend the University of Cincinnati or the University of Alabama and major in dance or fashion design.