LGNV-- The annual Miss LHS Pageant took place on March 9, 2019. Fifty-six Loganville girls ranging from young elementary schoolers to seniors in high school were involved in the pageant which involves an interview, casual wear, and formal wear for high school contestants and formal wear for elementary and middle school contestants. The pageant focused on poise, grace, on-stage confidence, as well as beauty. The winners of the Miss LHS pageant included Cadence Pirkle, Miss Freshmen; Chloe Boyd, Miss Sophomore; Madison Cope, Miss Junior and Kayla Shelnutt, Miss LHS. Titles were also given to Charity Myers, Sponsorship Queen, and Shalesia Stanford, Spirit of Miss LHS. The Miss LHS pageant is not just a beauty pageant, but a scholarship pageant. This year, the pageant raised $14,000 to help with contestants’ college. In the past two years, the pageant has given out $22,000 in scholarship money. In addition to scholarship money, this pageant also prepares girls for their future with help in confidence and interview skills. Pageant director and PTSO President, Mrs. Jennifer Morrow, said, “It helps them be confident on stage, be confident in front of a group of people. The interview is the biggest, most important thing for me. You learn how to dress, how to interview properly, and how to speak without using your hands.” Miss LHS, Kayla Shelnutt, remarked, “The interview is always my favorite part. The judges get to know you better.” In addition to the interview, contestants must also take part in casual wear and formal wear categories on stage. The contestants are not allowed to wear a deep v-neck, two-piece, or a high slit for their formal dress. For Kayla, she used her friend’s dress, who won Miss Ohio USA in it. For the casual wear category, she opted for a serape skirt, yellow shirt, and turquoise necklace; however, the most important part of her outfit was her belt buckle which she uses when she rides horses. Kayla revealed, “I wanted something that represented my style and set me apart from everyone else.” Kayla, an equestrian, is planning on attending Auburn University, one of the best schools for equestrianism, on a scholarship for her riding, so the belt buckle represented one of her main interests. Pageants are nothing new to winner, Kayla Shelnutt. She has competed in several other pageants prior to the Miss LHS pageant. It was after learning that her grandma won the Miss LHS pageant in 1968 that Kayla realized how much she wanted to earn the title, too. Commenting on her win, she said, “It was a really proud moment for my family. All the hours I put in practicing with stage walking and interviewing really paid off.” Both Kayla and Mrs. Morrow say that practice is key for future contestants. Mrs Morrow said, “Practice your turns. Practice your walk. Nobody can get up there and just wing it.” Kayla remarked, “You have to go to all the practices that they offer here.” Regarding advice, Kayla noted that “being yourself, especially in the interview, is the biggest thing.” Future contestants should also know what the pageant and judges are looking for. For instance, Mrs. Morrow said, “We are looking for people to represent the high school with the highest of integrity.” As the Miss LHS pageant looks forward to next year, they hope to gain more contestants and raise even more money for scholarships. The pageant next year is taking place on February 8th in hopes of getting more girls involved. “We hope that will help those who are already in sports and haven’t started yet to be able to participate,” says Mrs. Morrow. We wish luck and success to Miss LHS, Kayla Shelnutt, as she starts college at Auburn University and continues her equestrian endeavors.