Miss Cache Valley crowned
Mallory Henderson was selected as Miss Cache Valley 2013 at the Ellen Eccles Theatre on Saturday in Logan.
She will continue on to compete to become Miss Utah in June, and if she selected as the new Miss Utah, she will go on to Miss America for 2014.
David Fannin, Radio DJ on Q92, co-hosted the pageant with Miss Cache Valley 2012, Lindsey Lopez. Fannin quoted a line from “Miss Congeniality”: “After all, this is not a beauty pageant. It is a scholarship program.”
Lopez disagrees with the movie character.
“It’s not a scholarship program,” she said. “It’s a legacy.”
The new Miss Cache Valley received a $1,000 scholarship while the runners up received $700, $500 and $300 prizes, but Lopez hoped Henderson would carry on the legacy left by her and her predecessors.
“I was the most seen Miss Cache Valley in the last 20 years,” Lopez said.
Lopez had 400 hours of recorded community service and appeared in press and media throughout 2012 at different events.
In one of the final events during the competition, each contestant was asked an on-stage question from an assortment of topics. However, before the contestants drew their question, they were first asked to explain their platform.
Their platforms reflected what they wanted to do to improve the community in Cache Valley. Lopez’s platform was the Dove campaign: Real beauty is on the inside.
“I didn’t put on airs as Miss Cache Valley,” she said. “I am who I am.”
During her year as Miss Cache Valley Lopez was active in the community. Henderson will be able to leave her own footprint in the community.
“I want to create community service opportunities for the youth,” Henderson said.
Ten contestants were judged on a private interview for 25 percent of total score, their lifestyle and fitness – the swimsuit competition – for 15 percent, a 90-second performance of their chosen talent for 35 percent and a modeling around the stage in an evening gown for 20 percent.
“I spent a lot of with the girls,” Lopez said. “They’re all beautiful, intelligent, talented girls. It’s going to be a hard contest.”
There were five different judges from different backgrounds from around the country. They all had some prior experience with beauty pageants.
Throughout the pageant, Fannin and Lopez said, “I’m glad I’m not judging.”
The 10 young women lined the stage, awaiting Fannin to announce the winners.
“Will you read it, already?” Lopez said. “I can’t take the suspense.”
The first runner-up was Allie Howe, the second runner-up was Karlie Major and third was Brittney Infanger.
They all received tiaras from Lopez and a bouquet of roses handed to them by Cache Valley’s Little Miss 2012, Izabelle Rudd, and Cache Valley’s Honorary Little Miss, Sydney Mecham.
Henderson’s name was announced as Miss Cache Valley and Lopez placed a four-point crown on her head.
“You totally deserve this,” said Juliet Tietjen, Miss Utah 2012, to Henderson.
– katrimw@gmail.com