Several young women with ties to the River Valley & Ozark Edition coverage area will compete in the 76th annual Miss Arkansas Pageant Wednesday through Saturday at Summit Arena in Hot Springs.
Competition will begin at 7:30 p.m. each day.
Preliminary awards will be made Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in artistic expression (talent), lifestyle and fitness (swimsuit) and presence and poise (evening gown). The Top 10 contestants will be announced and will compete Saturday, culminating with the coronation of Miss Arkansas 2013.
Area contestants include the following:
• Miss Arkansas Tech University: Kristen Hayes of Ozark, the 23-year-old daughter of Kevin and Sheryl Shephard of Ozark, will present an Irish step dance for her talent, and her platform issue is
“Distracted Driving: It Can Wait.” A senior majoring in health and physical education at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, she will compete in interview on Tuesday evening, lifestyle and fitness on Wednesday, presence and poise on Thursday and artistic expression on Friday.
• Miss Conway: Morgan Holt of Conway, the 22-year-old daughter of Terry and Donna Holt of Conway, will present a jazz dance for her talent, and her issue platform is “Leading America’s Youth to a Lifestyle of Fitness.” A senior majoring in history at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, she will compete in interview on Tuesday evening, lifestyle and fitness on Wednesday, presence and poise on Thursday and artistic expression on Friday.
• Miss Greater Jacksonville: Caitlyn Cook of Conway, the 20-year-old daughter of Dr. Joseph Cook of Spokane, Wash., and Mary Cook of Pine Bluff, formerly of Conway, will present a vocal selection for her talent, and her platform issue is Staying Alive: Be Red Cross Ready. A sophomore studying mass communication at the University of Central Arkansas, she will compete in interview on Monday, artistic expression on Wednesday, lifestyle and fitness on Thursday and presence and poise on Friday.
• Miss Johnson County: Deidre Ann Holben of Lamar, the 19-year-old daughter of Larry and Tonya Holben of Lamar, will present a vocal selection as her talent, and her issue platform is Animal Rescue. A sophomore majoring in pre-veterinary medicine at Arkansas Tech University, she will compete in interview on Tuesday evening, lifestyle and fitness on Wednesday, presence and poise on Thursday and artistic expression on Friday.
• Miss Lake Dardanelle: Jade Collins of Hector, the 17-year-old daughter of Lorrie Ellis of Hector and Brant and Heather Collins of Little Rock, will present a vocal selection for her talent, and her critical issue is Live the United Way. A freshman studying communication at Arkansas State University, she will compete in interview on Monday, artistic expression of Tuesday, lifestyle and fitness on Thursday and presence and poise on Friday.
• Miss Metro: Sarah Sutton of Camden, the 23-year-old daughter of Greg and Jan Sutton of Magnolia, will present a vocal selection for her talent, and her issue platform is Everyone Counts!: Raising Awareness for Children With Disabilities. A graduate student at UCA pursuing a master’s degree in school counseling, she will compete in interview on Tuesday evening, lifestyle and fitness on Wednesday, presence and poise on Thursday and artistic expression on Friday.
• Miss Petit Jean Valley: Chelsy Jones of Plumerville, the 21-year-old daughter of Randy and Jennifer Jones of Plumerville, will present a vocal selection for her talent, and her platform issue is Operation Give Back: America’s Duty. A senior studying kinesiology at UCA, she will compete in interview on Monday, artistic expression on Tuesday, lifestyle and fitness on Thursday and presence and poise on Friday.
• Miss Pulaski County: Daley Johnston of North Little Rock, the 21-year-old daughter of Mike and Cheryl Johnston of North Little Rock, will present a tap dance for her talent, and her platform issue is Have a Heart-Smart Future: Planning Is Key. A senior studying communication sciences and disorders at UCA, she will compete in interview on Monday, artistic expression on Tuesday, lifestyle and fitness on Thursday and presence and poise on Friday.
• Miss South Arkansas: Claire Hodgson of Russellville, the 19-year-old daughter of Mario Hodgson of Russellville and Cathy Baker of Fayetteville, will present a vocal selection for her talent, and her platform issue is Leading by Example: The Power of Volunteering. A junior majoring in psychology and sociology at Arkansas Tech University, she will compete in interview on Tuesday, presence and poise on Wednesday, artistic expression on Thursday and lifestyle and fitness on Friday.
• Miss South Central Arkansas: Samantha Hudon of Hot Springs, the 21-year-old daughter of daughter of Jon and Christine Hudon of Hot Springs, will present a vocal selection for her talent, and her platform issue is Get Up! Get Moving!: Encouraging Youth Physical Activity. A junior at UCA majoring in broadcast journalism and interior design, she will compete in interview on Tuesday evening, lifestyle and fitness on Wednesday, presence and poise on Thursday and artistic expression on Friday.
• Miss University of Central Arkansas: Lauren Howell of Conway, the 23-year-old daughter of Dr. John and Debra Howell of Conway, will present a tap dance for her talent, and her platform issue is Giving Children Hope Through a Smile. A 2013 graduate of UCA with a degree in family and consumer sciences, she will compete in interview on Tuesday, presence and poise on Wednesday, artistic expression on Thursday and lifestyle and fitness on Friday.
• Miss White River: Mackenzie Moore of Harrison, the 21-year-old daughter of Brady and Deborah Moore of Harrison, will present a ballet en pointe for her talent, and her platform issue is The Power of a Wish. A senior at UCA majoring in speech communication, she will compete in interview on Tuesday, presence and poise on Wednesday, artistic expression on Thursday and lifestyle and fitness on Friday.
Tickets for the Miss Arkansas Pageant are available at www.ticketmaster.com and at the Summit Arena box office in Hot Springs, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on weekends.
For more information, call (501) 321-2835 or (800) SPA-CITY.