LITTLE ROCK — The Miss Arkansas and Miss Arkansas’ Outstanding Teen pageants will take place today through Saturday at the Robinson Center Performance Hall in Little Rock.
Preliminaries for both pageants will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. Miss Arkansas’ Outstanding Teen finals will begin at 7 p.m. Friday, and the Miss Arkansas finals at 7 p.m. Saturday. Doors will open at 6 each night.
Several young women with ties to the River Valley & Ozark Edition coverage area will compete in the Miss Arkansas Pageant.
Area contestants include the following:
• Miss Arkansas Tech University — Kara Dickens of Cedarville, the 18-year-old daughter of Rodney and Gail Dickens, will present a lyrical American Sign Language performance of “Colors of the Wind” for her talent. Her social-impact statement is “Power of a Positive Role Model.”
A junior political science major at Arkansas Tech, she will compete in interview today, talent on Tuesday, onstage interview on Wednesday, and social-impact statement and evening wear on Thursday.
• Miss Arkansas Valley — Kelsey Stone of Russellville, the 22-year-old daughter of Dee and Kim Stone, will present a piano/vocal rendition of “Rise Up” for her talent. Her social-impact statement is “#Find Your Gift.”
A senior middle education level major at Arkansas Tech, she will compete in interview on Monday, onstage interview on Tuesday, social impact statement and evening wear on Wednesday and talent on Thursday.
• Miss Conway — Elizabeth Steely of Conway, the 20-year-old daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Don Steely, will present a vocal rendition of “They Just Keep Moving the Line” for her talent. Her social-impact statement is “Catch Up and Get Ahead: America Reads.”
A junior broadcast journalism major at Ouachita Baptist University, she will compete in interview on Monday, onstage interview on Tuesday, social-impact statement and evening wear on Wednesday, and talent on Thursday.
• Miss Diamond Lakes — Hannah Hagerman of Sherwood, the 21-year-old daughter of Kim Hagerman, will present a tap dance to “Footloose” for her talent. Her social-impact statement is “Speak Out Against Sexual Assault.”
A senior social studies major at the University of Central Arkansas, she will compete in interview on Monday, onstage interview on Tuesday, social impact statement and evening wear on Wednesday, and talent on Thursday.
• Miss Greater Jacksonville — Haley Morton of Sheridan, the 19-year-old daughter of Chris and Dana Morton, will present an acro-lyrical dance to “Not About Angels” for her talent. Her social-impact statement is “Healthy From the Inside Out.”
A junior nursing major at UCA, she will compete in interview on Monday, onstage interview on Tuesday, social-impact statement and evening wear on Wednesday, and talent on Thursday.
• Miss Greater Jonesboro — Madeline Adams of Jonesboro, the 18-year-old daughter of Jon and Kim Adams, will present a piano rendition of “Bohemian Rhapsody” for her talent. Her social-impact statement is “Art Feeds.”
A freshman pre-medicine biology major at Arkansas Tech, she will compete in interview on Monday, onstage interview on Tuesday, social-impact statement and evening wear on Wednesday, and talent on Thursday.
• Miss Henderson State University — Megan Skartvedt of Russellville, the 19-year-old daughter of Mark and Sandy Skartvedt, will present a twirling routine to “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody” for her talent. Her social-impact statement is “Dress for Success.”
A senior entrepreneurship, marketing and accounting major at Henderson State, she will compete in interview today, social-impact statement and evening wear on Tuesday, talent on Wednesday and onstage interview on Thursday.
• Miss Johnson County — Baily Phillips of Hartman, the 19-year-old daughter of Darrin and Tonya Phillips, will present a hip-hop dance to “Good to Be Alive (Hallelujah)” for her talent. Her social-impact statement is “Not All Scars Are Visible: Teen-Anxiety Awareness.”
A sophomore nursing major at UCA, she will compete in interview today, social-impact statement and evening wear on Tuesday, talent on Wednesday and onstage interview on Thursday.
• Miss Metro — Taryn Bewley
of Conway, the 20-year-old daughter of Terry and Allyson Bewley, will present a rhythm tap dance to “Endangered Species” for her talent. Her social-impact statement is “Literacy Is the Answer.”
A junior psychology and political science major at OBU, she will compete in interview today, social-impact statement and evening wear on Tuesday, talent on Wednesday and onstage interview on Thursday.
• Miss Natural State — Chanan Drake of Conway, the 20-year-old daughter of Cory and Kimberly Drake, will present a jazz dance to “How Will I Know” for her talent. Her social-impact statement is “Special Olympics: Futures as Bright as Gold.”
A junior merchandising and product-development major at the University of Arkansas, she will compete in interview today, talent on Tuesday, onstage interview on Wednesday, and social-impact statement and evening wear on Thursday.
• Miss Ozark Highlands — Payton Marshall of Belleville, the 21-year-old daughter of David and Stacy Marshall, will present a Middle Eastern fusion dance to “Melody of a Heartbeat” for her talent. Her social-impact statement is “Paws With Purpose.”
An English-education major at Arkansas Tech, she will compete in interview today, social-impact statement and evening wear on Tuesday, talent on Wednesday and onstage interview on Thursday.
• Miss Petit Jean Valley — Shalexis Shelton of Hampton, the 19-year-old daughter of Sharon and Greg Golden and Michael Shelton, will present a tap dance to “I Can’t Turn You Loose” for her talent. Her social-impact statement is “SHINE a Light on Mental Health.”
A junior health-services administration pre-occupational therapy major at UCA, she will compete in interview today, talent on Tuesday, onstage interview on Wednesday, and social-impact statement and evening wear on Thursday.
• Miss Texarkana Twin Rivers — Danielle Duggan of
De Queen, the 21-year-old daughter of Gregory and Donna Duggan, will present a vocal rendition of “It Is Well” for her talent. Her social-impact statement is “Spread the Love: Ending Food Insecurity.”
A management and marketing major at Arkansas Tech, she will compete in interview today, social-impact statement and evening wear on Tuesday, talent on Wednesday and onstage interview on Thursday.
• Miss University of Central Arkansas — Ebony Mitchell of Harrison, the 22-year-old daughter of Hulene Ongola, will present a tap dance to “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” for her talent. Her social-impact statement is “SAFE Connections.”
A senior marketing major at UCA, she will compete in interview today, talent on Tuesday, onstage interview on Wednesday, and social-impact statement and evening wear on Thursday.
Tickets to the Miss Arkansas Pageant are available by calling the Robinson Box Office at
(501) 244-8800 for possible discounts or through the pageant business office at (501) 321-3506.
Tickets are also available through TicketMaster online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling (800) 745- 3000.
For more information, visit the website missarkansas.org.