The tradition continued with the Miss Elk City/Queen of the West Contest Saturday evening at 6. p.m., in the Kelli O’Hara Performing Arts Center, with Samantha Rother being named Miss Elk City Teen, Angela Nichols crowned Miss Elk City, and Lexi Neahring was presented the Queen of the West crown. Lake Carpenter was the host for the event and kept the show moving through the various competition categories.
Other awards that were presented were the Miss Congeniality titles. Those were voted on by the other competitors in each category. They were Aubrey Lamar in the Miss Elk City Teen category, Kayla Peeler was named Miss Congeniality for the Miss Elk City category, and Emma Valgora was Queen of the West Miss Congeniality. All of these ladies received $100 in cash awards.
The first runners-up included Katie Davis as the Miss Elk City Teen, Kayla Peeler as Miss Elk City, and Emma Valgora as Queen of the West. Each runner-up also received a monetary scholarship, along with the title winners. Scholarships were provided by the Miss Elk City Organization and the Elk City Rotary Club. The winner’s bouquets were provided by Hylton’s Flowers.
Each competitor was judged in the following categories: onstage conversation, health and fitness, performing arts talent, her story presentations, and evening gown. Each of these categories were weighted by points. Judges for the competition were Winston Banta, Dr. Maybree Lawrence, Bill Helton, Melissa Valencia, and Meaghan Dorn. The auditors were Cynthia Krehbiel and Julie Copeland.
The sponsors that made the event possi- ble included the Elk City Rotary Club, Davis Printing, Troy Jones, Pedro’s Mexican Grill, Holiday Inn Express in Elk City, Hylton’s Flowers, Crowning Around, Tres Jolie, Great Plains Bank of Elk City, Elk City Walmart, The Vogue Boutique, Elk City Newspaper, Outlaw Oilfield Supply, and Elk City Sonic.
The Elk City competition is the longest running competition in the Miss Oklahoma organization. This event proved what can be done in a short period of time, with dedicated people at the helm. It is something to mark as a “have to see” event for next year.
