At 41, AHS pageant gets new twists

The 41st annual Miss Memolusia Pageant will feature 56 lovely contestants vying for more than $6,100 in scholarships and prizes – a first for the Andalusia High School pageant.

“We wanted to add scholarships and prizes to encourage the girls to enter and to reward them with something that could truly impact their lives,” said pageant director and AHS teacher Dawn Thompson. “We are so appreciative of the incredible generosity of these donors.”

The pageant, which will be held tonight in the AHS auditorium at 6:30, will also feature an interview category – another first for the pageant.

Thompson said this year, the senior top 10 will participate in a “virtue” category.

The participants have been given a list of 13 virtues that Miss Memolusia should possess, such as gratitude, accountability and perseverance, Thompson said. Each participant will draw a word and have 30 seconds to speak on that word, she said.

“We want Miss Memolusia to be an effective communicator,” Thompson said. “Also, the contestants are learning the meaning of positive characteristics that they can apply to their lives.”

To help the girls prepare, Thompson offered a pageant eBlock class. Guest speakers included Bill Alverson, Cathy Edmondson, Nancy Dove, Katie King, Leigh Brown, Valeria Burnett and Sara Catherine Patrick. They offered advice on poise and appearance by demonstrating how to walk, dress, fix hair and apply make-up.

Alverson, who has coached back-to-back Miss America winners, said, “This pageant gives the girls an opportunity to present themselves. The pageant experience, especially speaking onstage, will empower them for the next step of their lives.”

Scholarships to be presented include:

• Miss Memolusia: $2,500, Stacy L. Jones Memorial Scholarship, established by Dr. Troy Jones in the memory of his late wife, Stacey. The couple’s son, Chandler, an AHS sophomore, will present the scholarship;

• First alternate: $1,000 from The John H and Grace M Estep Foundation;

• Second alternate: $750 in scholarships – $500 from Andalusia Distributing Company and $250 from The Jane Barnes Scholarship;

• Third alternate: $500 from Henderson Sewing Machines;

• Fourth Alternate: $250 from The Jane Barnes Scholarship;

• Miss Congeniality: $500 from The Faye Hugghins Scholarship;

• Freshman, Sophomore and Junior beauties: $100 each from The Karlyn Pugh Scholarship; and,

• Miss Photogenic awards will be gifts from Walker Home and Gifts and Walker Business.

Admission is $7 per person, and all proceeds will benefit the yearbook.