By PHOEBE DONALD ROBINSON / Community Columnist

Shelby County High School’s Starlette Dance Team is sponsoring its first Miss Starlette Pageant on May 2 at 3 p.m. at Elvin Hill Elementary School, 201 Washington St. in Columbiana.

The pageant is a “natural” beauty pageant for ages 6 months to 18 years and is a fundraiser for the dance team to raise much-needed funds for dance camp, costumes and other expenses.

SCHS Starlette Sponsor Angel Goodwin held auditions in March for the new dance team.

Fifteen girls competed and eight were chosen: Catherine Cole (10th grade); Amber Nielson (11th grade); Lindsey Reddy (10th grade); Maggie Stogner (11th grade); Hannah Watkins (8th grade); Melissa Hyde (7th grade); Maddie Kirkland (9th grade); and Kara Thomas (10th grade).

New members are Hyde, Kirkland and Thomas and returning members include Cole, Nielson, Reddy, Stogner and Watkins.

“I am proud and excited to announce this year’s captains,” said Goodwin. “Amber Nielson is the Starlette captain and Catherine Cole is co-captain. The Starlettes dance with the band at Friday night games, dance at all pep rallies, and do community projects like Relay for Life and the Diabetes Walk. They also march in Liberty and Christmas parades. The Starlettes will have their Junior Dance Camp from June 24-26, 2015.”

The pageant is a “natural” pageant with appropriate dress and age make-up only.

Sunday best, special occasion, pageant or prom dresses allowed. Entry fee is $40 and optional photogenic entry fee is $10 for first picture, $5 for each additional picture (5-picture max).

Pictures must be 5-by-7 and will be returned.

The pageant will have six divisions: Baby Miss Starlette, ages 6 months to 2 years; Tiny Miss Starlette, ages 3-5 years; Little Miss Starlette, ages 6-8 years; Petite Miss Starlette, ages 9-11 years; Junior Miss Starlette, ages 12-14 years; and Miss Starlette, ages 15-18 years.

For each division, there will be one winner with two alternates, one most photogenic and one people’s choice.

All division winners will ride in the Liberty Day Parade.

The entry deadline is April 24, 2015. For information, email SCHSMissStarlette@gmail.com or Facebook, Miss Starlette Pageant event page.