Hedrich, Kinney win Presque Isle pageants
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
Little Miss Presque Isle 201 & Junior Miss Presque Isle 2011
MADISON HEDRICH was named Little Miss Presque Isle 2011 at a pageant held at Presque Isle Middle School the evening of March 18. Pictured from left are: Georgia Gardiner, who was named second runner-up; Hedrich, who also earned the Talent Award and was named Miss Hospitality; and Ellie Smith, first runner-up and winner of the Miss Congeniality Award. (Left photo)
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Eight young ladies competed for two 2011 titles Friday night at Presque Isle Middle School — three for Little Miss Presque Isle and five for Junior Miss Presque Isle. Taking home the title in the Little Miss category was Madison Hedrich, with Emma Kinney earning the Junior Miss crown.
ROCK STARS
Joining on stage for the opening number, contestants and last year’s queens performed to “Rock Star” during Friday’s Little Miss and Junior Miss Presque Isle 2011 pageants held at Presque Isle Middle School. In front from left are: Little Miss Presque Isle 2010 Taylor Skidgel and Junior Miss Presque Isle 2010 Jacqueline Lambert. In the middle: Madison Hedrich, Georgia Gardiner and Ellie Smith. In back: Cameo Madore, Miranda Flannery, Tori Harvath, Emma Kinney and Emily Brawn.
Originally, the pageants, which both serve as fundraisers for the United Way of Aroostook, had been scheduled to take place on consecutive nights, March 18 and 19. Due to the lower number of contestants entered in each of the categories this year, organizers opted to combine the two competitions, creating a larger Friday evening affair.
EMMA KINNEY
danced her way to the title of Junior Miss Presque Isle 2011 during Friday’s pageant at PIMS. Kinney was also named Miss Hospitality and took the Talent Award.
Jason Parent and Claudia Stevens served as this year’s emcees. The festivities began with all contestants joining 2010 title holders Taylor Skidgel, Little Miss Presque Isle, and Jacqueline “Jackie” Lambert, Junior Miss Presque Isle, in a rousing dance performance to the tune “Rock Star.”
Judges and auditors for the evening included: Barb Blackstone, Nichol Archer, Andrea Perreault, Cindy Flanagan and Gayle James.
MADISON HEDRICH
takes to the air as she performs to “My Boy Lollipop.” She was named Miss Hospitality, earned the Talent Award and was also named Little Miss Presque Isle 2011 during this year’s pageant at PIMS March 18.
Skidgel told the audience the best part of being queen for the past year was “performing in front of everybody.” When Stevens asked her what her advice would be to the Little Miss contestants this year, Skidgel responded by saying “Have fun and always smile.” She then went on to perform a hip-hop dance routine to “Fire Burning on the Dance Floor.”
Contestants in both age levels then took to the stage for the sportswear/modeling walk competition, which rated 20 percent towards their overall score for the evening. An interview portion held prior to the pageant was also used by the judges in determining the winner and was worth 30 percent toward the final tally.
GEORGIA GARDINER
models her sportswear choice during the Little Miss pageant at PIMS.
“The sportswear is selected by the contestants and allows them to show a bit of their personalities,” explained Parent.
Stevens then introduced Lambert, asking her what she’ll remember most about her year as queen. Lambert replied with “the pageants,” noting she “met queens of all ages and became friends right off” with many of them. Lambert had the honor of introducing the visiting queens, before performing the last time as royalty, with a tap dance routine to the James Bond theme song.
Miranda Flannery,
SINGING “DANNY BOY” for her talent presentation, earned the honor of Miss Congeniality at this year’s Junior Miss Presque Isle competition. She was also named first runner-up.
Talent was plentiful as contestants took to the stage next. In the Little Miss competition, Ellie Smith, in silver-colored shirt, pants and boots, danced to the “Evolution of Dance.” Next up was Madison Hedrich, who donned a poodle skirt and performed to “My Boy Lollipop.” Rounding out the category was Georgia Gardiner, wearing a light pink dress as she presented her monologue, Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream.”
TORI HARVATH
performed a hip-hop dance number for the judges at this year’s Junior Miss Presque Isle event held Friday. She was named second runner-up.
Junior Miss contestants followed, singing and dancing to the delight of all in attendance. Cameo Madore was first up, singing the song “Defying Gravity,” from the play “Wicked.” Emily Brawn got lively, with a bit of dance blended with a sign language performance to the tune “Freak the Freak Out,” by Victoria Justice. Miranda Flannery was the next contestant, dressed in green plaid as she sang “Danny Boy.” A lyrical dance to Miley Cyrus’s “When I Look At You” was Emma Kinney’s talent presentation. Tori Harvath topped off the category with a clogging performance to Taio Cruz’s “Break Your Heart.”
The talent portion was valued at 30 percent of their overall score.
Miss Presque Isle 2010 Kori Kinney wowed the audience again with her vocal talents, singing Patsy Cline’s “Blue.” Giving contestants an opportunity to don their gowns for the next portion of the pageant, members of Moon Dance Studios, under the direction of Kim Lauritsen, danced to “Club Can’t Handle Me.”
ELLIE SMITH
dances to “Thriller” as part of the “Evolution of Dance” during the talent competition Friday night. Smith earned the honor of Miss Congeniality.
Donning their finest, contestants in both categories then took to the stage in the evening gown competition — this segment was valued at 20 percent of their final score. Each was asked a question and offered some interesting answers. Stevens asked Smith what she wanted to be when she grew up. Her response, “A doctor, they make people feel better.” Hedrich was asked the same question, answering “A physical therapist. My uncle’s one and I help my dad when his back is hurt.” Stevens asked Gardiner what her plans were when she grew up, to which Gardiner said “Be a vet; I’m good with pets — love pets and animals.”
Stevens said the Junior Miss contestants’ questions were selected earlier by the judges. Madore was asked what the hardest thing about being a cheerleader was, to which she said “the different personalities involved,” noting that “even if someone messes up, you have to treat them like they didn’t, because you’re still a team.” Brawn was asked what book club she belonged to and what was her favorite book. “I’m a member of the Teen Book Club at the library and my favorite book is ‘Delirium,’” she said.
CAMEO MADORE
walked gracefully across the stage during the evening gown portion of this year’s Junior Miss Presque Isle pageant, held March 18.
Flannery was asked to describe herself in three words. “Compassionate, because I care for others; giving, because I like to give to others; and helpful, because I help others whenever possible,” she answered. Kinney was asked what qualities she looked for in a friend. “Honest, trustworthy and must love fun — honest and trustworthy, because I need to know I can tell them things and they can tell me, and must love fun because it’s good to have a friend who likes the same,” she said. Harvath was asked what her favorite school subject was and why. “Art — I can express myself and do things my own way,” said Harvath.
Next came the farewell for last year’s queens. Little Miss Presque Isle 2010 Taylor Skidgel, on the arm of her father, Don Skidgel, made her way around the auditorium, gathering flowers, gifts, hugs and kisses as she made her way back to the stage for a final wave as queen. Lambert followed, on the arm of her father, James Lambert, gathering numerous gifts as she too proceeded to the stage for a final wave as royalty.
EMILY BRAWN
pauses for the judges at Friday night’s Junior Miss Presque Isle 2011 pageant, held at PIMS.
All the contestants gathered a final time, cutting loose as they danced, in their evening gowns, to “Rock Star.” Awards were then handed out.
Miss Congeniality went to Ellie Smith and Miranda Flannery, in their respective divisions. Miss Hospitality — the contestants selling the most tickets — went to Madison Hedrich and Emma Kinney.
“Combined, the girls raised $3,631 for United Way,” said Stevens, noting this year might be the first year in quite some time that United Way won’t be able to reach its fund-raising goal of $520,000. “Lamar from the radio program ‘Bob & Sheri’ will be at our Diamonds and Denim fundraiser at the Crow’s Nest April 19 from 6-10 p.m. We hope to see a big turnout.”
“This is a critical year. The need is certainly out there,” added Parent.
TAYLOR SKIDGEL,
accompanied by her father, Don Skidgel, took her final walk as Little Miss Presque Isle 2010 at the end of this year’s pageant, held March 18 at PIMS.
The evening concluded with the queen and her court being named for both groups. In the Little Miss division, Gardiner took second place, followed by Smith in first, with the crown, sash and title of Little Miss Presque Isle 2011 going to Madison Hedrich. In the Junior Miss category, second place went to Harvath, with Flannery earning first-place and Kinney was crowned Junior Miss Presque Isle 2011.
JACQUELINE LAMBERT,
on the arm of her dad, James Lambert, took her last trek as queen Friday night, before giving up her title as Junior Miss Presque Isle 2010 at PIMS.
Both queens have a busy season ahead of them, taking part in various parades, festivals and functions, as well as the Maine Potato Blossom Pageant in Fort Fairfield come July. Should either of them earn that title, the first runner-up in their respective division will assume the duties of representing the Star City as queen for the remainder of the year.
