Owens crowned Miss Relay 2017

Published 9:17 pm Tuesday, February 14, 2017

The new Miss Relay, Sydney Owens, poses with her proud mom, Marie. Marie is herself a cancer survivor and she and Sydney have long been volunteers for Relay For Life. For more photos from the pageant, see page 8.

The new Miss Relay, Sydney Owens, poses with her proud mom, Marie. Marie is herself a cancer survivor and she and Sydney have long been volunteers for Relay For Life. For more photos from the pageant, see page 8.

More than 80 lovelies from babies to senior citizens paraded across the stage of the Ritz Theatre last Saturday to the applause and cheers of their friends and family.

This wasn’t just any beauty pageant. It was the tenth and final Harley’s Angels Miss Relay Pageant and the funds raised will all go to the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life in Butler County.

There were multiple age categories and multiple winners, but perhaps the most coveted title is that of “Miss Relay,” in the 16-18 year old group. It was Sydney Owens, daughter of a cancer survivor and a Relay volunteer in the past herself, who took this crown. First runner up was Caitlyn Stephens, also voted Miss Congeniality, with Shelby Johnson chosen Most Photogenic and second runner up.  Other contestants in the Miss Relay top five were Alyssa Lear and Katherine Tillery.

Email newsletter signup

“I am not sure which of us is most excited, me or Sydney,” her beaming mom Marie said as they posed for photos during intermission.

The pageant proved something of a family affair, with mother-and-daughter contestants such as Hannah Stewart and her mother Debbie, and siblings, including Kinley and Kesley Woodard and April Richey and Melonie Harrison, all taking part in the event.

Top contestants in the categories for the youngest contestants were as follows: Baby Miss—winner, Khloe Thompson, first runner up, Kaelyn Mills and second runner up and Most Photogenic, Elizabeth Keith; Tiny Tot Miss—winner and Most Photogenic, Georgia Moseley, first runner up, Lynlee Till and second runner up, Kendall Deshazo; Tiny Miss— winner, Brandi Kent, first runner up, Scarlett Atondo, second runner up, Maddie Stevens, Most Photogenic, Natalie Huggins; Petite Miss—Annaleigh Spann, first runner up and Most Photogenic, Londyn Pettway, second runner up, Aubrie Weaver.

The top contestants who walked the stage at the 7 p.m. program were: Little Miss—winner, Mattie Cook; first runner up, Calie Little, second runner up and Miss Congeniality, Alexandria (Lexie) Lett,  Most Photogenic, Krista Sexton; Junior Miss—winner, Kinley Woodward, first runner up, Most Photogenic and Miss Congeniality, Zoe Coon, second runner up, Savanna Powell; Teen Miss—winner, Most Photogenic and Miss Congeniality, Kelsey Woodward, first runner up Kiyana Holley and second runner up, Jordan Neese; Stunning Miss—winner, Hannah Stewart, first runner up, Ansley Shipp, second runner up, Victoria Salvador, Most Photogenic, Courtney Neese and Miss Congeniality, Samantha Smith; Glamorous Miss—winner, Janet Mount, first runner up, Miss Congeniality and Most Photogenic, Sabrina Dempsey, second runner up, Keri Barr; Elegant Miss—winner, Most Photogenic and Miss Congeniality, April Richey, first runner up, Sherry Henson and second runner up, Melonie Harrison; Golden Miss—winner, Most Photogenic and Miss Congeniality, Virginia Haskew, first runner up, Carole Black, second runner up, Pam Kilpatrick, Dancing Queen, Debbie Stewart.

“I so appreciate all my helpers who made this possible, Amanda Curran of WSFA for being a great emcee, all the contestants, our judges and all those who came out to support us for the pageants,” said April Langford,Harley’s Angel team captain. “We hope everyone will come out and support the Benefit Bash next month, too. It’s all for a great cause.”