By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–The Helena High School auditorium was packed on Saturday, Jan. 9 as Twenty-one Helena High School students competed for the title of Miss HHS 2016.

The 21 girls competing ranged from freshmen to seniors at Helena High School and three judges ranked the girls on a variety of criteria.

The girls were judged based on their performance in a formal interview, poise and appearance and personality.

After all was said and done, the judges crowned senior Lillie Brewer as Miss HHS 2016.

“I was really surprised and excited,” Brewer said after being crowned. “I have to give a lot of credit to my mom. She is my pageant coach and I also have a pageant coach. My mom helped me a lot along the way and I’m just really honored.”

After the 21 contestants were introduced, the girls competed in a beauty walk and based on the formal interview and beauty walk, the judges revealed the top eight.

The top eight contestants were Lauren Caver, Claire Vaughn, Shireen Rashid, Bailey Everett, Abigail Manasco, Emily Gallant, Tiffany Hogue and Brewer.

After recognition of escorts and another beauty walk by the top eight, the judges then revealed their top five.

The top five Miss HHS contestants were Hogue, Everett, Rashid, Brewer and Manasco.

Before the pageant, all of the contestants were provided a list of interview questions they could be asked during the pageant if they made the top five.

Brewer was asked her opinion on what she thought was the biggest problem facing teenagers today.

“It seems like every one is compared by the accomplishments of others and we’re all able to do great things,” said Brewer. “We need to try our best and just be ourselves and we will be all winners.”

In addition to the crowning of Miss HHS 2016, numerous other girls were recognized on the night.

The rest of the pageant winners were as follows:

• Reagan Curtis, Miss Congeniality
• Tiffany Hogue, Miss Photogenic
• Lauren Caver, 9^th Grade Elite
• Haley Rogers, 10^th Grade Elite
• Katherine Barton, 11^th Grade Elite
• Claire Vaughn, 12^th Grade Elite
• Bailey Everett, Fourth Alternate
• Shireen Rashid, Third Alternate
• Abigail Manasco, Second Alternate
• Tiffany Hogue, First Alternate