By PHOEBE DONALD ROBINSON / Community Columnist

This year Shelby County has been represented by two beautiful, talented local young women: Miss Shelby County Amanda Ford and Miss Shelby County Outstanding Teen Tiara Pennington, both of Helena.

The two will crown their successors on Friday, July 17 at 7 p.m. at the Shelby County High School auditorium.

Tickets are $15, which includes a program.

Ford and Pennington will co-emcee the pageant, sponsored by the GFWC-Alabama Vignette Club, with the newly crowned Miss Alabama 2015 Meg McGuffin.

The year has been special for the two friends best said in their own words:

“This has been an amazing year filled with many opportunities,” said Ford. “Being able to represent my home county at the Miss Alabama Pageant was certainly a dream come true. Being Miss Shelby County has blessed me in so many ways, especially through the people I have met in this amazing community who have encouraged and inspired me.

“I was thankful to have so many people in the Shelby County area support my platform Relay For Life and join me in the fight against cancer,” she added. “I am so lucky to have my director Pam Oliver and the Shelby County Vignette Club who have provided outstanding scholarship opportunities for me and other young women in our state. I will be forever grateful to this amazing community!”

“The moment I became Miss Shelby County Outstanding Teen I knew I was at home,” said Pennington. “God truly has a plan for me. He gave me everything I needed and more, from giving me an amazing sister, Amanda, a wonderful director, Mrs. Pam Oliver, and the Vignette Club to the parades, school visits, many appearances and mock interviews, but most important the love and support.

“I couldn’t have made it through the state pageant without all my supporters,” she said. “I’m going to miss being Miss Shelby County Outstanding Teen. But I have made life-long friends.”

Both our Misses represented Shelby County well in their respective state pageant.

Ford won the Impact Award for her community service work.

She also won the Sonya Lefkovits Community Service Award at the Miss Shelby County she won.

Pennington was first runner-up at Miss Alabama Outstanding Teen Pageant. Congratulations to you both, good luck in the future and thank you for your service to Shelby County!