Students, faculty and parents filled the George and Sharon Mabry Concert Hall in the MMC on Monday, Nov. 11, to witness the competition to crown the new Miss Austin Peay and Miss Queen City, sponsored by Sigma Chi Fraternity and Student Life and Engagement.
Each delegate was sponsored by a campus organization or local business that helps with promotion and financial costs. “We have a streak going on,” said Daniel Pitts, president of Kappa Alpha Order. “Ever since Miss Austin Peay has been brought back to campus, Kappa Alpha Order fraternity has sponsored the winner.”
Other students came to support their fellow friends. “We are supporting Taylor Springer,” said student, Dominik Shannon. “She is a great candidate.”
With the theme of “celebration,” this scholarship pageant consisted of five competitions: swimsuit and fitness, private interview, talent, evening wear and onstage question. Each section of the competition counted for a specific percentage of the delegates’ overall total. Swimsuit and fitness was fifteen percent, the private interview was twenty percent, talent was thirty-five percent, evening wear was twenty percent and the onstage question was five percent.
The MC of the night were Nikki Peterson and Cydney Miller and a total of six judges were there: Gabrael Dunham, Vanessa Fountain, Vicki Little, Rocky Moreno, Tim Strobl and Carrie Youell.
Throughout the night, entertainment was provided. Last year’s Miss Austin Peay, Lesleigh Stanfill performed a piano piece, APSU Pom Squad was the opening act, as well as others.
Each delegate promoted her platform, including “love is not abuse,” “prescription drug abuse,” “education through music” and more.
After the competition, judges deliberated to decide each winner. Miss Congeniality, voted on by all the delegates, was awarded to Consuelo Torres, who also won a scholarship of $100 as the third runner-up. The second runner-up, Jessica Wimberly, was awarded $150.
Jasmine Secrest was named first runner-up with $250 in scholarship money. Aria Stiles, a student from Belmont University, was named 2014 Miss Queen City, and Victoria Davis was crowned 2014 Miss Austin Peay. Both received a $1000 scholarship.
Both Miss Queen City and Miss Austin Peay will continue on to the Miss Tennessee pageant, which will take place in Jackson, Tenn. in June of this year.