CROWLEY – Beauties were abound in the Rice Capital of America Saturday night as the 2009 Miss Crowley Pageants were held at the Rice Theatre. The pageants, which are sponsored by the Crowley Professional Women’s Club, are in their 73rd year.

Miss Kailey Hanks, whose sponsor for the evening wasH & H Electrical Services, was crowned as the newest Ambassador to the Rice Capital of America, Miss Crowley 2009 by Miss Crowley 2008, Alana Catherine Immel. She will serve as the City of Crowley’s Ambassador to the 2010 International Rice Festival.

She is the 17 year old daughter of Audie and Kiisha Hanks. She stands 5’4” tall, has dark blonde hair and hazel eyes. Kailey is currently a Senior at Notre Dame High School where she is a 3 year member of the Frontier Staff and a Student Council Representative. She has been a basketball cheerleader for 1 year and a football cheerleader for 2 years. Being a member of the Speech and Drama Club for 3 years, she has participated in the school play “Phantom of the Opera.” Her high school awards and honors include placing 1st place in District Rally for Original Oratory Speech, being named to the All State Cast in District Rally for Theatre and being on the honor roll all throughout her high school career. She is a volunteer for the Redemptorist Catholic School Bazaar, a volunteer for the American Legion Home Bingo Hall, a participant in the Southwind Nursing Home Senior Prom and a participant of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Holiday Food Basket Service for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Her plans after high school are to begin her college career at LSUE and major in Nursing and then continue on to LSU to become a Nurse Anesthetist. She is currently employed as a clothing sales person at Abercrombie.

Her court included first runner up, Valerie Rue who was sponsored by Shann Productions and who will be representing the City of Crowley at the Evangeline Oil and Gas Festival, second runner up, Andre’ Lyons who was sponsored by St. Martin Bank, and who will represent the City of Crowley at the Iowa Rabbit Festival and third runner up, Heidi Romero who was sponsored by Home Bank who will represent the City of Crowley at the Jennings Bar-B-Que Festival.

Taking the crown as Teen Miss Crowley 2009 was Paige Mire, who was sponsored by Crowley Flower Shop. Being crowned by 2008 Teen Miss Crowley, Kayla Louise Kebodeaux, Paige is the 16 year old daughter of Tiger and Tricia Mire. She stands 5 feet 4 inches tall and has brown hair and hazel eyes. Paige is currently a junior at Notre Dame High School of Acadia Parish. She is actively involved in Notre Dame’s Speech and Drama Club, Campus Ministry and the Beta Club where she participated in the annual Tasting Bee. She has been listed on the honor roll all throughout her high school career and is currently has the 17th ranked GPA in her class. Paige is an active parishioner of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Crowley where she is an assistant teacher at Vacation Bible School. She has been an emcee at several area events, was named as Junior Miss Crowley in 2006 and Miss Teen Evangeline Oil & Gas in 2008. Her plans for the future are to attend the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and study performing arts. Paige is currently employed as a dance teacher at Core Dance Center.

First runner up for this year’s pageant in the Teen Division was Kathleen Cormier, who was sponsored by Acadiana Smiles, and second runner up was Brittany Bailey, who was sponsored by D & L Communications.

Reigning as Junior Miss Crowley for the year 2009 will be Elise Miller. She was crowned by Junior Miss Crowley 2008, Kayleigh Elise Credeur, and her sponsor for the evening was Louisiana Rice Mill. She is the 12 year old daughter of Patrick and Tiffany Miller. She has blonde hair and hazel eyes and stands 5 feet tall. She is currently a student at Redemptorist Catholic School in Crowley. Elise is a member of the cheerleading squad, the basketball team and the track team. She has been an active member of the 4-H club for 4 years and has held the office of secretary and helped to raise money for many benefits. She is also a member of the RCS bell choir. Her honors and awards include placing 1st in the Parish Social Studies Fair and receiving multiple ribbons for 4-H Achievement Day and Winter Contest Day. She has also been honored for being in the top 10% of 4-H member in Acadia Parish. Elise has performed with the Acadia Players in “The Nun Cracker” and “Bridge to Terabithia.” She has also participated in and placed in the International Rice Festival Rice Cookery contest for the past 3 years.

Her court included first runner up Lacey Patin sponsored by LaGrange Food Mart and second runner up Melaina Doughty, sponsored by Carmichael’s. In addition to the crowning of the newest royalty, there were also awards given for Miss Congeniality, Miss Photogenic and scholarships in the Miss Division.

Miss Congeniality for the Junior Division was Haley Spell. Taking the honor in the Teen Division was Devin Richard and Ruth Ann Francis received the award among the Miss Contestants.

The winner of the $800 scholarship was Olivia LeJeune. The $500 scholarship was awarded to Kailey Hanks, and the $250 scholarship was awarded to Patrice LaCombe

Receiving the award for Most Photogenic in the Junior Division was Melaina Doughty, in the Teen division was Devin Richard and in the Miss division was Heidi Romero.

The evening, which was emceed by Jay Suire and Deborah N Whiting was filled with the excitement of the pageants, entertainment by the International Rice Festival Dance Troupe, and remarks from Mayor Greg Jones, as well as the 73rd International Rice Festival President, Janet Hebert.

Also, on hand to congratulate the 2009 queens were Miss Crowley title holders from years past and visiting queens from Louisiana’s fairs and festivals. Shortly before the crowning of the new royalty, 2008 Miss Crowley, Alana Immel, who will be the City of Crowley’s representative to the 2009 International Rice Festival, offered a farewell speech and spoke of her reign.

Among the local businesses who donated gifts for the new queens were the accounting firm of Dugas, Soileau and Breaux, Ruddock’s Bakery, and Sheriff Wayne Melancon.

Other contestants competing in the Junior Division was Samantha Lyons, In the teen division, also competing were Brandi Broussard and in the Miss division wereJulia Maynard.

The ladies began their day with interviews held at Crowley City Hall and hosted by the Crowley Professional Women’s Club.

Visiting queens from throughout Louisiana were offered a day of fun and activities, hosted by the 2008 Royalty and Peter and Alexa John.

Immediately following the pageant, the new queens were honored at a reception hosted by Mayor Greg Jones and the Crowley City Council at Crowley City Hall. On behalf of the Pageant chairperson, Ruthie Piron, and all members of the Crowley Professional Women’s Club, much gratitude and appreciation go out to all who helped to make this year’s pageant a success.