Beautiful dresses, high heels and big smiles were in abundance last Friday night at Shelby County High School.

Following a week of hard work and dedication that culminated in Friday night’s program, Katie Boyd emerged as Miss Shelby County.

Boyd was chosen from 10 of the county’s best and brightest.

On hand to crown Boyd were Miss Shelby County 2004 Crystal Bedwell and Miss Alabama Deidre Downs, whose first foray into pageants was as Miss Shelby County 2000.

As Miss Shelby County 2005, Boyd will receive a full tuition ($10,000) scholarship to Jefferson State Community College; a $1,000 tuition scholarship to the University of Montevallo; $1,000 from Alabama Power Company; $500 from the Vignette Club of Columbiana; $250 from the Novella Club of Columbiana; $100 from state Rep. Jimmy Martin; a $50 savings bond from First Commercial Bank; and a $30 gift certificate from Limestone Spa & Boutique.

Boyd also won awards in the talent and swimsuit competitions. She performed classical ballet en pointe to Reuben Studdard’s &uot;Flying Without Wings.&uot;

As the talent winner, she received $100 from Lowe & Associates Realty; $100 from Donald Real Estate; and $25 from Judge Hub Harrington.

As the swimsuit competition winner, she received $100 from the Culture Club of Columbiana and $75 from Seventh Heaven.

Boyd wore a yellow, strapless gown, and spoke of her platform which is anti-smoking in middle school.

Chosen as first alternate was Jessica Headley, 19, of Hoover, a student at Birmingham Southern College. Second alternate was Elizabeth Fairley, 22, of Chelsea, a student at Jacksonville State University; third alternate was Ashley Lawhorn, 19, a Helena resident and student at the University of Montevallo; and April Sinyard, 21, a Columbiana resident and UM student, was chosen as fourth alternate.

First runner-up Headley received $500 from Judge Patti Smith; $125 from Barton Clay Jewelers; $100 from Gordon Timberlands; a $50 savings bond from Colonial Bank; a $30 gift certificate from Limestone Spa & Boutique; and a $20 gift certificate to the Fish Market Restaurant.

Second runner-up Fairley received $250 from ITT Technical Institute; $250 from Regions Bank; $100 from Shelby County Commissioner Lindsey Allison; a $30 gift certificate from Limestone Spa; and a $20 gift certificate to the Fish Market.

Third runner-up Lawhorn received $100 from Cahaba Title Insurance Company; $100 from Alagasco; $100 from Rep. Jim Carns; $100 from Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin; $50 from Rep. Jim McClendon; a $30 gift certificate from Limestone Spa; and a $20 gift certificate from the Fish Market.

Fourth runner-up Sinyard received $100 from Sen. Steve French; $100 from Rep. Mike Hill; $100 from Sen. Jabo Waggoner; $50 from Robert and Gerie Kelley; and a $20 gift certificate from the Fish Market.

Theme of this year’s Miss Shelby County pageant was &uot;Miss Shelby County Goes Hollywood&uot; and in keeping with that theme, Miss Alabama Downs performed &uot;Rock-A-Bye My Baby&uot; by Judy Garland.

Miss Shelby County 2004 Bedwell performed her clogging number to &uot;Think&uot; by Aretha Franklin.

Bedwell offered advice to Boyd during her final walk at the end of the night.

&uot;Do as much as you can and make every moment a memory,&uot; she said.

Bedwell offered thanks to the Columbiana Vignette Club, organizers of the pageant for the past 17 years.

As for Downs, who was chosen as Miss Alabama only just over a week ago, the Miss Shelby County pageant was her first official appearance.

Downs, a graduate of Pelham High School, will represent the state in Atlantic City, N.J., at the Miss America pageant on Sept. 18.

Major sponsors of the Miss Shelby County pageant are First National Bank of Shelby County, the event’s oldest and largest supporter; the South Shelby Chamber of Commerce; the Vignette Club; BellSouth; and new sponsor, Martin Marietta