Special to the Star-Herald
The 2008 Miss Greater Mars Hill and Little Miss Mars Hill pageants were held on Saturday, March 29.
This year was a special year, as it was the 60th Anniversary of the Miss Mars Hill Pageant. The first Miss Mars Hill to be crowned was Arlene York McCrum, whose granddaughter Mikala Woollard was this year’s
Greater Miss pageant director, assisted by Janine Stackpole. The Little Miss director was Jennifer Tweedie.
The event began with the interviews taking place in the afternoon. The pageants began at 6:30 p.m., with the Greater Miss contestants doing their opening routine, followed by the Little Miss’s opening routine. Miss Greater Mars Hill 2007 Katelyn Field was welcomed to the stage for her final happenings as the reigning queen.
Judges for the evening for the Greater Miss pageant included Robyn Holdsworth, Tammy Delong and Jola Hebert. Auditors were Pam Townsend and Jason Woollard. Little Miss judges were Effie McPherson, Eva Ireland and Debbie Sweetser. Auditors were Harley York and Wendy Grass.
Mistresses of ceremony for the evening were Stevi Fletcher and Jenna Robinson. The evening’s competition began with sportswear for both the Little and Greater contestants, followed by the talent competition. This was followed by the Little Miss party dress and question competition and the Greater Miss evening gown and question.
The Little Miss contestants began with Hunter Nicholson, daughter of Budd and Amy Nicholson. She sang “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” as her talent and shone as brightly as her ruby slippers!
Lillie Mahan was the next contestant. She did a clog dance as her talent and really covered the stage. The daughter of Stacey and Jennifer Mahan, Lillie was named the second runner-up.
Next on the program was Natalie Gillen. Natalie did a great job singing and tap dancing to “If I Only Had
a Brain.” Natalie is the daughter of Shawn and Amy Gillen.
Isabelle Wright is the daughter of Edward and Tracey Wright. She was crowned Little Miss Mars Hill 2008 and received the High Ticket Sales Award. Isabelle did a wonderful jazz dance to “Fabulous” as her talent.
Holly O’Leary is the daughter of Tracy and Brianne O’Leary. She did a monologue as her talent titled “Brother For Sale.” This little Raggedy Ann doll decided that maybe she loved her brother Andy enough to keep him, after all!
Contestant number 6 was Michaela Pelletier. She sang a Shirley Temple song titled “My Straw Hat” as her talent. The only thing different from the original was the blonde curls! Michaela is the daughter of Maggie and Michael Blevins and Dale and Cassie Pelletier. She was named the first runner-up for the evening.
Next up was Alysha Decker, daughter of Harold and Kathleen Decker. She did a sweet job singing “How
Much is that Doggie in the Window?” as her talent.
Allisa Hatt danced her way gracefully across the stage to “I’m On My Way” as her talent. She is the daughter of George and Tammy Hatt.
The Little Miss escorts for the evening were Shane Stackpole, son of Chris and Janine Stackpole; and Lane Grass, son of Neil and Lisa Grass. They were both very handsome in their tuxedos and did a very good job with their escort duties.
Special talent was also provided by Little Miss Mars Hill 2007 Kelsey Dominique and Miss Greater Mars Hill 2007 Katelyn Field.
The Greater Miss contestants included Lisa-Marie Fletcher Mean, daughter of Eric and Marla Mean. She did a very nice job singing “Testify to Love” by Avalon as her talent. She received the award for High Ticket Sales. Her escort for the evening was Logan McCarthy.
Michelle Marie Tweedie was named Miss Greater Mars Hill 2008. The daughter of Mike and Sue Tweedie, Michelle did a great job singing “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me” by Dusty Springfield as her talent. She was escorted by Cameron York.
Latisha Lynn Neece is the daughter of Calvin and Sherry Johnston. Named second runner-up, Latisha did a dance routine to a medley of music as her talent and showcased both her dance and tumbling capabilities. She was escorted by Jordan Robinson.
Abby Young was named Miss Congeniality and first runner-up. She was escorted by Greg Cousins and is
the daughter of Herb and Gail Young. She did a wonderful job singing “Freedom” by Wynona Judd as her talent.
Shannon Michelle Michaud is the daughter of Tina Field. She sang “If You Believe” by Rachel Lampa as
her talent. Shannon’s escort was D.J. McClung.
As with any other pageant that I’ve attended – I’m glad that I wasn’t a judge. All of the contestants did a great job.
Photos courtesy of Tomi Henderson
MISS GREATER MARS HILL 2008 Michelle Tweedie, center, is joined by first runner-up Abby Young, at left, and second runner-up Latisha Neece following the pageant held on March 29.
LISA MARIE MEAN participated in the evening gown competition during the Miss Greater Mars Hill 2008 pageant on Saturday, March 29. She received the award for High Ticket Sales.
MICHELLE TWEEDIE sang “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me” as her talent during the Miss Greater Mars Hill 2008 pageant on Saturday, March 29. She was crowned Miss Greater Mars Hill 2008.
LATISHA NEECE steps across the stage during the evening gown competition at the Miss Greater Mars Hill 2008 pageant on Saturday, March 29. She was named the second runner-up.
ABBY YOUNG, named first runner-up during the Miss Greater Mars Hill 2008 pageant on Saturday, March 29, sings “Freedom“ as her talent.
SHANNON MICHAUD glides across the stage in a beautiful red gown during the Miss Greater Mars Hill 2008 pageant on Saturday, March 29.
LILLIE MAHAN does a clog dance as her talent in the Little Miss Mars Hill 2008 pageant on March 29. She was named the second runner-up.
NATALIE GILLEN was regal during the party dress portion of the Little Miss Mars Hill pageant on March 29.
HUNTER NICHOLSON did a sparkling job singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” as her talent during the Little Miss Mars Hill 2008 pageant on Saturday, March 29.
ISABELLE WRIGHT was named Little Miss Mars Hill 2008 on March 29. She did a jazz dance to “Fabulous” as her talent
HOLLY O’LEARY was cute as a button as Raggedy Ann during the talent competition of the Little Miss Mars Hill 2008 pageant.
FIRST RUNNER-UP Michaela Pelletier is escorted by Shane Stackpole following the party dress and question portion of the Little Miss Mars Hill pageant on March 29.
ALYSHA DECKER was beautiful in the party dress portion of the Little Miss Mars Hill pageant on March 29.
ALLISA HATT, at left, poses in her lovely party dress during the Little Miss Mars Hill pageant on March 29.
THE ESCORTS, at left, for the Little Miss Mars Hill 2008 pageant were Shane Stackpole and Lane Grass.
CHASE HENDERSON enjoys a piece of hotdog at the FFA Food Bar during the Winterfest activities in Mars Hill on Saturday, March 15.
