Woodward, Okla. — Young ladies from throughout Northwest Oklahoma will display talent ranging from singing to dancing to guitar solos at Saturday's Miss Northwest Pageant.

The annual pageant starts at 7 p.m. inside the Woodward Arts Theatre.

Pageant Co-Director Sally Miller said there will be 21 girls participating in the various age groups which include: 3- to 5-years-old, 6- to 8-years-old, 9- to 11-years-old, 12- to 14-years-old, and 15 to 17-years-old.

“There are girls coming from Woodward and the surrounding areas such as Mooreland and Sharon,” Miller said.

Pageant Co-Director Jennica Kenny added girls will also be coming from Freedom and Buffalo.

“We have girls coming from a good area of Northwest Oklahoma,” Kenny said.

The directors said the girls will compete in 3 different categories.

“All of the girls will compete in an interview, talent and evening wear model,” Miller said, noting the younger girls will model in an evening/party dress.

Miller said each age group will have a talent winner, 1st runner-up and overall winner.

“The winners are based on how well they perform during the 3 categories,” Kenny said.

Miller said the winners will receive different items.

“They will receive crowns, trophies, saving bonds and some other prizes,” she said, noting the saving bonds are from area banks and range in price from $50 to $100.

Kenny said the girls will begin practice at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday at the Woodward Arts Theatre in preparation for the pageant at 7 p.m.

There is an admission fee for the pageant which is a fundraiser for the Miss Northwest Passage Scholarship and Miss Northwest Passage Outstanding Teen Scholarship pageants held in the fall, she said.

Kenny said competing in pageants teaches the girls confidence.

“The biggest thing I stress is pageants teach the girls to believe in themselves because they are surrounded by people who are encouraging them,” she said.

The interview portion of the pageant teaches the girls public speaking, but also lets them give their opinion on various topics, she said.

“On the talent side, it allows the girls to get on stage and not be fearful and help them develop their talents,” Kenny said.

In fact, she said her favorite part of the competition is "watching them get more comfortable on stage."

Because of the confidence and hard work it takes to participate in pageants, Kenny said, “Even if they aren’t crowned, all the girls are still winners for competing.”

Contestants

Ages 3-5

• Daisy Cook; Woodward, singing and dancing to "Benjamin Bunny."               

• Ally Nusser; Freedom, vocal solo to "Twinkle, Twinkle."                       

• Leah Taylor; Mutual, tap dance to "Animal Crakers."                       

• Rylee Ferguson; Mooreland, vocal solo to "The Cuppycake Song."          

• Mattilyn Bixler; Morrison, tap dance to "Bumblebee."                 

• Olivia Kornele; Mooreland, vocal solo to "Take Me Out To The Ball Game."            

• Marissa Anderson; Mooreland, ballet dance to "Butterfly Fly Away."      

               

Ages 6-8

• JoLee Guthrie-Denton; Woodward, jazz dance to "My Boyfriend's Back."                               

• Alexa Bell; Woodward, a dance                 

• Caroline Price; Woodward, jazz dance to "Big and Loud."     

• Shaylin Petty; Buffalo, vocal solo to "Tomorrow."      

 

Ages 9-11

• Dessa Gainer; Mooreland, gymnastic routine to "You Should Be Dancing."             

• Avery Williams; tap dance to "Hand Jive."                                 

• Rylei Kornele; Mooreland, guitar solo to "Twinkle, Twinkle."            

• Taylor Harrison; Woodward, ballet dance to "Temporary Home."        

• Natalie Yadon; Woodward, jazz dance to "Wild Child."

• Abby Miles; Mooreland, vocal solo to "Maybe."            

 

Ages 12-14

• Taylor Frech; Woodward, a dance.            

• Alexis Arrasmith; Woodward, vocal solo to "Popular."      

 

Ages 15-17

• Ariane England; Woodward, tap dance to "Devil Went Down To Georgia."

• Brooklynne McGehee; Buffalo, acrojazz to "With You."