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By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Parents, friends and community members watched on as 13 young ladies received their crowns during the 2025 USA National Miss Alabama pageant in Alabaster.

Thompson High School hosted the USA National Miss Scholarship Organization’s second annual state preliminary competition in its Performing Arts Center Jan. 18-19.

During the pageant, 13 ladies were crowned the 2025 USA National Miss Alabama, Crimson and Yellowhammer queens. The winners were awarded the opportunity to advance to nationals and represent Alabama with their $550 registration fees paid so they can compete in UNM’s upcoming national competition July 13-19 in Orlando, Florida. Additionally, winners received a combined prize package totaling $30,000 from local and national sponsorships.

“These girls did so amazing, and the judges saw truly who they were at their core in interviews,” said Shannon Cook, USA National Miss Alabama director. “They believe in our system and they believe in these girls and in the futures that they have that pageantry can give them.”

The following individuals were crowned during the preliminary competition:

• Caroliena Neuens – USA National Miss Alabama
• Jasmine Loren Jones – USA National Miss Teen Alabama
• Aubrey Mcelvey – USA National Miss Auburn Teen
• Simone Jones – USA National Miss Jr. Teen Alabama
• Mia Hill – People’s Choice USA National Miss Yellowhammer
• Emma Moreland – People’s Choice USA National Miss Yellowhammer
• Jay’den Ellis – USA National Miss Crimson State Jr. Teen
• Isabella Blake Burroughs – USA National Miss Alabama Pre-Teen
• Annabeth Kilgore – USA National Miss Crimson State Pre-Teen
• Macie Grace Day – USA National Miss Alabama Princess
• Charlotte Heard – USA National Miss Crimson State Princess
• Sadie Rose Cristan – USA National Miss Alabama Jr. Princess
• Hadlee James Bloodworth – USA National Miss Crimson State Jr. Princess

Over the course of two days, pageant participants went through a variety of experiences, including a pink runway, photoshoot, girl chat and a party entitled, “UNMChella.” Before the pageant officially began, Cook said each of the candidates were paired with a buddy from another group which helped set the atmosphere and culture of the event.

“I would say my greatest strength and daughter’s greatest strength is creating an atmosphere with a positive culture and with that synergy of empowering these girls and building confidence and making sure that they had a buddy,” Cook said.

The competition portion of the pageant on Sunday saw participants engage in an interview as well as a runway and evening gown section.

The interview portion of the pageant took up 40 percent of each contestants score—placing an emphasis on the candidate’s ability to speak and express their intellect as opposed to purely aesthetic factors.

“We are really about judging the girl—not the dress, not the hair—but who she is to her core,” Cook said.

The judging panel during the preliminary competition was comprised of a nationally recognized H&M Artist, a pageant coach and a pageant mom of a former Miss America title holder and the director of Miss Alabama America.

“The judges… did a fantasist job selecting an amazing line up of state representatives,” Cook said.

The 13 winners of the USA National Miss Alabama preliminary competition will go on to compete for a chance to be of the national titleholders and receive thousands of dollars in cash and prizes. In preparation for the national stage, the winners of the preliminary will also be receiving approximately $5,000 worth of coaching for free.

“They’re going to be coached by these national coaches to help them get ready for nationals,” Cook said. “We’re going to do a lot of team building things and just really become a very, very close family very quickly.”

The organization is still attempting to fill three additional open spots in nationals and will host a virtual pageant in February. Those interested in learning how to win a chance to get registration fees to nationals paid and want to enter the February Virtual Pageant or purchase an appointed title or get more info on the 2026 state preliminary competition may email Shannon Cook at unmalabama@gmail.com call or at 205-790-0065. Those interested may also register online at Usanationalmiss.com/alabama.