By PHOEBE DONALD ROBINSON / Community Columnist

The Miss Shelby County Pageant will celebrate a very special birthday Friday, July 20, at 7 p.m. at the Shelby County High School Auditorium. Miss Shelby County 2013 will be crowned, the 25th young lady to hold this cherished title.

The night will host the past, present, and the future. All former Miss Shelby Counties have been invited to attend. The reigning Miss Shelby County 2012 Sydnii Todd will emcee with the newly crowned Miss Alabama 2012 Anna Laura Bryan along with the first Miss Shelby County Outstanding Teen Mary Ann McDougal. And for the first time, two crowns will be awarded Friday night — Miss Shelby County 2013 (ages 17-24) and Miss Shelby County Outstanding Teen 2013 (ages 13-16). The pageants are part of the Miss America Organization, the largest giver of scholarships to young women in the world and are sponsored by the federated AFWC Vignette Club of Shelby County.

Deidra Downs Gunn (Miss Shelby County 2000, Miss Alabama 2004 and Miss America 2005) will be honored along Amie Beth Dickinson (1992, Miss Alabama 1994) and Liz Cochran Morgan (2008, Miss Alabama 2009). Also recognized will be: Ashlee Stiglich Elliot (2010); Jessica Andrews Tucker (2009); Crystal Bedwell Langford (2004); Whitney Weldon Mosley (2003); Kristin Hilliard Bagwell (2002); Haley Spates Mims (1997); Melody Arledge Byrne (1996); Emily Bell Casey (1994); Ms. Senior Alabama 2008 Edwina Chappell (mother of the late Miss Shelby County 1990 Teresa Chappell); and the first winner — Donnalee Davis Blankenship (1997).

Todd graduated from Troy University in 2012 with a degree in communications with scholarships earned though her titles.

“I hate that my reign is almost over,” said Todd. “If it were up to me I would keep the title forever!”

Outstanding Teen McDougal is a rising junior at Oak Mountain High School.

“The sweetest part of my year was representing Shelby County at the different Chamber events to parades,” said McDougal. “Seeing the faces on children…realizing that I was having even the smallest impact in their lives meant the world to me.”

Admission is $12 for adults, $6 for children. Come Friday, July 20, to see who will be crowned to represent Shelby County for 2013!

 

Phoebe Donald Robinson can be reached by email at phoeberobinson@bellsouth.net.