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 be 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 Tri-Lakes Edition coverage area will compete in the Miss Arkansas Pageant.
Area contestants include the following:
• Miss Central Arkansas — Kyla Soden of Cabot, the 21-year-old daughter of Mike and Donya Soden, will present an acro-lyrical dance to “I Was Here” for her talent. Her social-impact statement is “Empowering Hearts: I Can, I Will.”
A senior biology major at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, she will compete in interview today, social-impact statement and evening wear on Tuesday, talent on Wednesday and onstage interview 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 OBU, 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 Hot Springs — Gracie Stover of Little Rock, the 21-year-old daughter of Mike and Laura Stover, will present a tap dance to “Michael Jackson’s Epic Duel” for her talent. Her social-impact statement is “Survive: Don’t Text and Drive.”
A senior pre-pharmacy and mass communication major in journalism 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 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 the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, 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 in Arkadelphia, 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 Northeast Arkansas — Jessica Miller of Bryant, the 20-year-old daughter of Scott and Dodi Miller, will present a tap dance to “Pump It” for her talent. Her social-impact statement is “SAVE: Suicide Awareness.”
A junior social work major at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, she will compete in interview today, talent on Tuesday, onstage interview on Wednesday, and social-impact statement and evening wear on Thursday.
• Miss Ouachita Baptist University — Julie Williams of Arkadelphia, the 21-year-old daughter of the Rev. Charlie and Amy Williams, will present a vocal rendition of “When You Believe” for her talent. Her social-impact statement is “Bridging the Gap Between the Free and the Fighter.”
A graduate of OBU, where she majored in mass communications and political science, she will compete in interview today, social-impact statement and evening wear on Tuesday, talent on Wednesday and onstage interview on Thursday.
• Miss Ouachita River — Tiffany Lee of Benton, the 22-year-old daughter of Tony and Kelly Lee, will present a tap dance to “Unknown Fun” for her talent. Her social-impact statement is “Stay Hydrated. Stay Healthy.”
A graduate of OBU, where she majored in mass communications, she will compete in interview Monday, onstage interview on Tuesday, social-impact statement and evening wear on Wednesday, and talent on Thursday.
• Miss South Central Arkansas — Emma Pitts of Clarksville, the 21-year-old daughter of Jeremy Pitts and Rebecca Adler, will present a Broadway vocal rendition of “Journey to the Past” for her talent. Her social-impact statement is “Creativity StARTS Here.”
A senior music education major at OBU, she will compete in interview today, talent on Tuesday, onstage interview on Wednesday, and social-impact statement and evening wear on Thursday.
• Miss Southeast Arkansas — Charlee Carter of Monticello, the 22-year-old daughter of Mark and Michelle Carter, will present a tap dance to “Get Up Offa That Thing” for her talent. Her social-impact statement is “You Are Worth It: DREAM With Confidence.”
A graduate of the University of Arkansas at Monticello, where she majored in business finance, she will compete in interview today, social-impact statement and evening wear on Tuesday, talent on Wednesday and onstage interview on Thursday.
• Miss Southwest Arkansas — Avery Jackson of Little Rock, the 20-year-old daughter of Russ and Mandy Jackson, will present a contemporary dance to “Whatever It Takes” for her talent. Her social-impact statement is “Suicide Prevention.”
A junior nursing major at OBU, she will compete in interview today, talent on Tuesday, onstage interview on Wednesday, and social-impact statement and evening wear on Thursday.
• Miss White River — Maddy Rottinghaus of Hot Springs, the 19-year-old daughter of Michael and Amber Rottinghaus, will present a piano rendition of “Stormy Night” for her talent. Her social-impact statement is “Appreciation of Language and Culture.”
A sophomore biology/Spanish major at OBU, 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 at www.ticketmaster.com or (800) 745- 3000.
For more information, visit the website missarkansas.org.