By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

NORTH SHELBY—The Oak Mountain High School Choral Boosters are once again putting the fun in fundraiser with the second annual Pageant Fundraiser on Feb. 13.

This year’s event, the King and Queen of Hearts Pageant, is open to boys and girls from birth to eighth grade and will include an emcee and panel of pageant stars, including Miss Shelby County and Miss Shelby County Outstanding Teen director Pam Oliver, Miss Shelby County 2015 Hayley Barber, Miss Alabama 2013 Chandler Champion, Miss Alabama Outstanding Teen 2011 Mi’a Callens and current OMHS junior and Miss Shelby County Outstanding Teen 2016 Kyra Callens.

“We also chose our judges panel and emcee to try to motivate the participants to encourage excitement about being a part of the pageant and to make them feel really special!” pageant organizer Cassandra Callens wrote in an email.

Contestants will be evaluated for poise, smile, personality, hair, makeup and dress. Gowns are optional, but each contestant should be dressed in age-appropriate attire. Fifty contestants are expected and winners will be crowned in four age groups.

While the pageant supports the OMHS choirs, it also benefits the contestants, building their confidence and giving them a chance in the spotlight, Cassandra Callens said.

“(The pageant) builds that child up,” Cassandra Callens said. “We’re also teaching the child how to dress themselves and how to carry themselves in an age-appropriate manner.”

The pageant entry fee is $40 per contestant and $45 if the contestant enters the photogenic contest.

Proceeds from the King and Queen of Hearts Pageant go directly to the OMHS choirs, helping to fund travel, costumes, equipment and more.

“Our inspiration and goal is to raise money for the Oak Mountain High School choir…it can really be used any way,” Cassandra Callens said, noting the choir has been an influential part of her daughters’, Mi’a and Kyra, lives.

Kyra is a current student at OMHS and an active member of the OMHS Show Choir, Cassandra said.

“Like doesn’t explain (it)…she absolutely loves it,” Cassandra said. “She’s able to combine her talents of dancing and singing.”

Cassandra also noted the hard work and commitment of Kyra’s choir peers.

“It’s a lot of commitment from the kids, they put a lot of hard work into the costuming (and preparing),” Callens said.

The King and Queen of Hearts pageant will be held on Feb. 13 at 1:30 p.m. in the OMHS Performing Arts Center. For more information, visit Omhschoirs.com/pageant.