Kassadie Deal crowned Miss SCHS

31 girls competed on Saturday night, but only one was crowned Miss Stephens County High School.

The pageant showcased 31 girls, made up of Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors, in three rounds of competition: casual and evening wear and an interview.

This year’s pageant was judged by Jodie Bell,  Miss Georgia 2017 Alyssa Beasley, and Shlea Wright.

Stephens County High School Senior Kassadie Deal was crowned Miss SCHS 2019.

Deal also was the recipient of a $500 scholarship sponsored by the Miss SCHS Pageant.

The 2019 Miss SCHS Pageant was produced by Tabitha Smith and Stacey Hemphill.

Smith told WNEG News that she would like to see the typical stereotypes surrounding pageants to be broken.

“We just really want to break that stereotype of what a pageant is,” Smith said. “We really want these girls to step out of their comfort zone and build new friendships and build interviewing skills and just build their presence overall, and build that self confidence for them. You know, from both of us (Smith and Hemphill) being in High School and in the pageants and it being a huge deal in our community, we wanted to bring that tradition back and get the community involved in it, and we just hope it continues to grow. It’s really a great experience for these young ladies.”

Hemphill said the pageant allows the girls to gain experience in interviewing, along with, an opportunity to redefine how beauty is perceived amongst their peers.

She said in its 5th year, the pageant continues to grow through community support.

“Every single year it grows with more community support and more people willing to come on board with us and help make it bigger and better,” Hemphill said. “I think it’s always changing and growing and by adding that community supported award it just illustrates how much the community wants to give back and pour into this.”

The judges also selected girls for other titles, which includes:

Miss Freshman Bradyn Williams;

Miss Sophomore Emma Hopper;

Miss Junior Kaitlin Quick;

Miss Senior Krista Shirley, who also was named Miss Congeniality, sponsored by Chamber of Commerce’s Julie Paysen;

Miss Indian Spirit, sponsored by Natalie White, went to Hazel Collier;

Best Interview Award, sponsored by Talan Properties’ Michelle Ivester, went to Kassadie Deal;

Most Photogenic, sponsored by Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley, went to Kaitlin Quick;

And Miss SCHS Young Entrepreneur, sponsored by Keller Williams’ Dee Dee Arrowood, went to Aubrey Fraser-Tarpley, who also received a $100 scholarship.