By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

Pelham High School senior Savanna Windham was chosen out of 51 contestants to represent the school as Miss PHS during a Jan. 19 pageant in the PHS auditorium.

Windham was crowned by last year’s winner, Bethany Wood, after a day full of pageant competition for the contestants.

Several hours before the pageant began at 6:30 p.m., the girls had individual interview sessions with the panel of three judges. The girls started off the pageant by entering the stage in jeans and white button-down shirts and introducing themselves to the capacity crowd gathered in the auditorium.

After the contestants showcased their evening dresses, the judges narrowed the pool to the top 20 contestants. Following the announcement of the top 20, the remaining contestants then held another evening dress beauty walk.

The judges chose the top 10 contestants, and allowed them to answer on-stage questions before announcing Miss PHS, the top runners-up and Miss Congeniality.

The school’s jazz band provided swinging tunes throughout the pageant, which was emceed by PHS teachers Karen Varner and Keith Beard. Escorts for the pageant were Michael Boyd, Tanner Adams, Mauricio Sandoval, John Perko, Thomas Lowery, Connor Slane, Drew Romanowski, Gerardo Hernandez and Will Wallace.

The fourth runner-up was Kaitlyn Peterson and the third runner-up was Lydia Cobb. Tied for second runner-up were Morgan Wood and Maddie Gathings and first runner-up was Alexis Maske. Miss Congeniality was senior Tarsi Woods.