By JENNIFER MAIER / Community Columnist

Young princesses from around Columbiana gathered on April 21 at the Columbiana Public Library for a Princess Party with Miss Shelby County, Hayley Barber, and Miss Shelby County Outstanding Teen, Kyra Callens.

The event was sponsored by Friends of the Columbiana Public Library. FOL members Phoebe Robinson and Sarah Atchison were on hand to make certain the princesses had a wonderful time.

Dressed in their finest gowns, the princesses dined on strawberry cupcakes and punch.

Each was given a gift bag full of goodies and allowed time to ask Miss Shelby County and Miss Shelby County Outstanding Teen how they became pageant winners.

Barber and Callens then read stories to the young ladies and spent time posing for photographs and autographing pictures as keepsakes for the event.

Young princesses in attendance were Rushton and Bird Robinson, Berkeley Smith, Jill Harrison, Cora and Madeline Gingo, Kayla Lin and Ruby and Joy Poe.

It was clear that Barber and Callens enjoyed the event as much as the young princesses.

Barber, who will compete for the title of Miss Alabama on June 8-11, enjoys the chance to meet new people in her duties as Miss Shelby County.

“I appreciate the opportunity to serve the people I have been surrounded by my whole life,” Barber said, explaining that her service as Miss Shelby County is a great way for her to give back to all the people in the community who have helped her grow into the person she is today.

Callens, who competed in March and placed in the top 10 for Miss Alabama Outstanding Teen, reflected on the new experiences she has enjoyed.

“I love the appearances and meeting all the new people in the community,” Callens said. “I’ve enjoyed the chance to see what the county is really like and feel like I’ve been able to make an impact.”

The Miss Shelby County and Miss Shelby County Teen pageants are sponsored by the Vignette Club of Shelby County. The pageants are preliminaries to the Miss Alabama/Miss America Organization.

A new Miss Shelby County and Miss Shelby County Teen will be crowned on July 17 at the Miss Shelby County Pageant at Shelby County High School.

Coming up on May 19 at 4 p.m., the FOL will host a Superheroes Party at the Columbiana library, where superhero boys and wonder women girls are invited to attend and are welcome to wear proper superhero attire.