NEUSE NEWS EXCLUSIVE: Michaela Williams crowned Miss Neuse 2019
Hundreds of friends and family members gathered at the Kinston Performing Arts Center Saturday night to witness the crowning of Miss Neuse 2019.
Michaela Williams, daughter of Michael and Shannon Williams, and a sophomore at North Lenoir High School, won the title.
Michaela Williams is crowned Miss Neuse 2019. Photo by Catherine Hardee / Neuse News
The 15 contestants showcased their creativity through short skits illustrating their favorite decade. The creative expression portion of the competition was worth 15 percent of the total score.
The next portion was the talent competition, which was worth 40 percent of the total score. The contestants each showed their individual talents, which included tap dancing, clogging, jazz and contemporary dance, piano and a monologue.
The final portion of the competition was the gown competition, worth another 15 percent of the total score. The contestants were judged on poise, grace, appropriateness of their gowns and overall appearance in this portion.
The other 30 percent of the score came from the interview portion, which took place Saturday morning.
Following performances from last year’s talent competition winner Anna Hull and Miss Neuse 1989 Karen Whaley Bellush and her daughter Brodi, Miss Neuse 2018 Kennedy Santes said her farewells, and the results of the judges’ scoring were announced.
The award for most ad sales, which carried a prize of 10 percent of the top individual ad sales amount, went to Macy Rouse. The award for the most photogenic contestant went to Olivia Sutton. Lydia Walston received the congeniality award, and a $100 scholarship donated by the Hugo Firemen & Ladies Auxiliary.
Awards were also given for the top score in each portion of the competition. Rebekah Lemon received the top score for the interview portion, and a $100 scholarship donated by Dana Spence Wade. Taylor Fussell won the award for the creative expression portion, and a $100 scholarship donated by Mandy Jarman Odom. Fussell also won the talent portion of the competition, and a $100 scholarship donated by Lisa Kennedy. Madison Sasnett received the poise and presence award for the best score in the gown portion of the competition, and a $100 scholarship donated by Dara Gray English.
The People’s Choice award, and a $300 scholarship donated in memory of Jay Tyndall, also went to Sasnett.
The finalists all received silver bowls donated in memory of Janice Andrews Kornegay. The third runner-up, receiving a $200 scholarship donated in memory of Tanner White, was Gracie Reavis. The second runner-up, receiving a $500 scholarship donated by Elizabeth Liles Radford, was Rebekah Lemon. The first runner-up, receiving a $500 scholarship donated by Diana Hardy, was Taylor Fussell.
Miss Neuse 2019, Michaela Williams, received the crown, a $3,400 scholarship, and a 16 x 20 portrait donated by Potter Photography. All the contestants received flowers donated by Rider Florist, and each contestant also received a $50 scholarship donated in memory of Lonniette Porter.
Read our preview of the event here: https://www.neusenews.com/index/2019/2/12/annual-miss-neuse-pageant-slated-for-saturday
