Standing under the dazzling lights on stage in her royal blue evening gown and tightly clutching sophomore Abby Feltner’s hand, sophomore Emma Wernecke lit up the Willie Duke Auditorium with her smile as she was crowned Miss Starr’s Mill 2013. Not only did she win $2,000 in scholarship money, she also was the first sophomore to take the title, surprising many including herself.
After numerous rehearsals, mountains of paperwork, hours of hard work, and two heated nights of glitter, glamour, sparkle, unbelievable talent, and intense competition, the Miss Starr’s Mill Pageant bubbled up to the finale on Saturday, Jan.12. Promptly at 7:30 p.m., pageant director and emcee David Spearman led the audience through a night of enchantment as the number of finalists decreased from 27 to 10, from 10 to five, and finally, from five to one.
“I just couldn’t believe it,” Wernecke said. “I thought, this couldn’t be happening to me.” She was shocked to hear her name called and even after the pageant was over wondered, “Is this all a really vivid dream?”
The top 10 finalists, seniors Camille Edwards, Olivia Scott, Hollie Floyd, Danielle Johnson, Victoria Melton, Micole Mayfield, Rebekah Livingston, junior Michelle Smartt, Feltner and Wernecke, had to perform their talent portions and model their evening gowns a second time for the panel of judges. Allison Feltner, mother of Abby Feltner, was glad to see the talent again.
“I missed the first time Abby sang because I was crying so hard,” she said about her daughter’s performance of the Beatles'”Black Bird”Thursday night.
Many were awestruck at the remarkable and diverse talents of the 27 contestants, especially the finalists. “I would say this was the most talented top 10 we’ve ever had,” Spearman said. “It was incredible.”
Soon after the top 10 were chosen, the competition intensified as the top 10 became the top five. Advancing were Wernecke, who performed a lyrical dance to “Beautiful Things” by Michael Gungor, Feltner, Mayfield, who sang “Maybe This Time”, Livingston, who sang “My Man”, and Smartt, who played “Piano Fantasy”.
After a short interview portion, the five girls and the other 22 contestants took the stage once more and eagerly awaited the final decision. Smartt was awarded fourth runner-up, followed by Livingston as third runner-up. Mayfield was the second runner-up and Feltner, who was the first runner-up, was the first sophomore to win that title in the pageant’s 12-year history.
Not only did Wernecke win the pageant, but she also won the leadership essay contest. The Miss Congeniality award went to Scott, and freshman Helena Resler was voted as Miss Photogenic. Senior Mariah Smith was awarded Best Interview. Feltner received $1,500, Mayfield $1,000, Livingston $600, and Smart $400. Junior Marianna Pitts, who also won Best Talent out of the non-finalists for her ballet on point, was awarded the Zach Stutts Thespian Performing Scholarship Award for $500.