Fifteen local young ladies are preparing for a title fight.
On Saturday evening, one of them will be crowned Miss Grays Harbor 2018 and one will be crowned this year’s Outstanding Teen.
“We’re pretty well represented across the county, from McCleary to Ocean Shores,” said co-Executive Director Liisa Mayberry.
Miss Grays Harbor is a regional preliminary for the Miss America pageant. Local winners go on to compete for the state crown in July — the final step before the national event.
It’s already been a long road, said Mayberry: “We’ve been practicing since the beginning of November.”
Their talents run the gamut from singing and dancing to instrumentals and even tumbling. One unusual display will be presented by Miss Grays Harbor contestant Mercedes Pinnell, a senior at Hoquiam High School. A budding fashion designer, she will show and talk about several items of clothing she designed and sewed herself — including the outfit she’ll be wearing.
During Monday’s dress rehearsal, the hopefuls — six vying for Miss Grays Harbor and nine for Outstanding Teen — practiced their presentations in costume and in proper order.
In the background, the control board was a flurry of activity.
The show’s producer, Keaton Bradley, watched the stage intently, striving to determine just the right lighting for each contestant — while simultaneously comparing notes on music and placement with Choreographer Dayna Daneker, and on general presentation with the directors. His fingers flew over the control board, punching in cues for lights and sound, as he carried on two or three conversations at a time.
“Keaton’s our go-to for everything,” said co-Executive Director Nikki Elledge.
From the floor, Mayberry offered bits of advice to the contestants about details such as enunciation, fidgeting and sticking to the interview questions asked. Backstage, Elledge helped them with preparations and gave more feedback.
“We work especially hard on their interviewing skills, because that’s something they can use for the rest of their lives,” said Mayberry.
Those vying for Outstanding Teen must be between the ages of 14 and 17 (but not past their junior year of high school). For Miss Grays Harbor, they must be 17 (and a senior in high school) to 25 years old.
Besides displaying a talent, each contestant must choose a platform — a cause she’s personally passionate about and would use her crown to support further. Many of this year’s stated platforms are conceptual, such as prevention of bullying, sexual assault or suicide. Others cite specific nonprofit organizations, including American Humane, Habitat for Humanity and the Dyspraxia Foundation.
The Little Sisters also will perform a dance during the event. They’re part of the Miss Grays Harbor mentorship program: Girls ages 7 to 11 are paired up with Misses and Teens each year to learn the ropes. “I actually started as a Little Sister,” said Mayberry.
The reigning champions also will participate in Saturday’s pageant. 2017 Outstanding Teen Paicyn Dragoo will give her American Sign Language rendition of Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror,” and Miss Grays Harbor 2017 Ariana Barre will play saxophone and sing “Audition,” from the movie “La La Land.”
And at the end of the evening, they will officially pass their crowns to the 2018 winners.
The combined pageant will begin at 7 p.m. Saturday at the 7th Street Theatre, 313 Seventh St. in Hoquiam.
Tickets are $20, available at the door or in advance through Harbor Drug in Hoquiam, City Center Drug in Aberdeen and www.brownpapertickets.com.
THE CONTENDERS
Miss Grays Harbor
1. Kylie Shepard, 21
Graduate student, Chicago School of Professional Psychology (online)
Talent: Irish dance
Platform: Dyspraxia Foundation
Parents: Dianne and Craig “Bud” Shepard
2. Dakota Roos, 17
Senior, Montesano Junior/Senior High School
Talent: Jazz tap dance
Platform: Adopt a Senior
Parents: Michelle and Eric Roos
3. Mercedes Pinnell, 18
Senior, Hoquiam High School
Talent: Fashion design
Platform: Suicide prevention
Parent: Andrea Pinnell
4. Courtney Glenn, 17
Senior, Aberdeen High School
Talent: Singing
Platform: American Humane
Parents: Kris and John Glenn
5. Emma Bradford, 17
Senior, Aberdeen High School
Talent: Playing ukulele and singing
Platform: Coastal Harvest
Parents: Sarah Bradford and Kyle Brook
6. Kuinn Karaffa, 22
Graduate student, Washington State University Pre-Law
Talent: Piano
Platform: Habitat for Humanity
Parents: Barb Karaffa and the late Kurt Karaffa
Outstanding Teen
1. Peyton Wood, 16
Junior, Hoquiam High School
Talent: Singing
Platform: Homeless hunger
Parents: Adrian Wood and Crystal Blair
2. Dannah Gleason, 17
Junior, Aberdeen High School
Talent: Contemporary dance
Platform: Helping the Harbor’s homeless
Parents: Chera Smith and Daniel Gleason
3. Morgan Lamont, 15
Sophomore, Capital High School
Talent: Singing
Platform: Body positivity
Parents: Dawn Frafjord and Randy Lamont
4. Aspen Roberts, 16
Sophomore, Aberdeen High School
Talent: Flute
Platform: Food Ball
Parents: Karlyanna Green and George Roberts
5. Ellie Winkelman, 13
Eighth-grader, St. Mary School
Talent: Jazz dance
Platform: Reducing the use of plastic bags
Parents: Ben and Jennifer Winkelman
6. Macy Holcomb, 14
Eighth-grader, Montesano Junior/Senior High School
Talent: Singing
Platform: Clothing the community
Parents: Ginger and Matt Holcomb
7. Mercedes Morrill, 13
Eighth-grader, Montesano Junior/Senior High School
Talent: Tumbling
Platform: Physical fitness for young girls and teens
Parents: Lucas Morrill and Kali Hudson
8. Shayli Burlingame, 14
Freshman, Aberdeen High School
Talent: Singing
Platform: Bullying prevention
Parents: Robin Green and Mark Burlingame
9. Sofia Da Silva, 13
Eighth-grader, Montesano Junior/Senior High School
Talent: Singing
Platform: Sexual assault
Parent: Erin Jany
JUDGING
Five judges will preside over the competition: four with experience and one novice, as per the rules. They will award points in five categories, each with a different weight on the final determination:
• Private Interviews (25 percent of the overall total) — These are conducted by the judges before the pageant and are much more in-depth than the quick ones done onstage during the pageant.
• Talent (30 percent for Misses, 35 percent for Teens)
• Evening Gown (15% for Misses, 25 percent for Teens)
• Onstage Interview (20 percent for Misses, score combined with Evening Gown for Teens)
• Lifestyle/Fitness (10% for Misses in swimsuit, 15 percent for Teens in activewear)
The nine contestants for Outstanding Teen 2018, from left: Peyton Wood, Dannah Gleason, Morgan Lamont, Aspen Roberts, Ellie Winkelman, Macy Holcomb, Mercedes Morrill, Shayli Burlingame and Sofia Da Silva.
